Do you live, work, or go to school in the Bronx and want to connect with other neighbors organizing to welcome and support folks experiencing homelessness in our neighborhood? Join our Bronx Open Hearts chapter for its beginning-of-year meeting to set some goals for the year as a chapter. Zoom link to be shared upon RSVP—RSVP using the button below.

Do you live, work, or go to school on the Upper West Side? Join Upper West Side Open Hearts for its beginning-of-year meeting to set some goals for the year as a chapter. Zoom link to be shared upon RSVP—RSVP using the button below.

Do you live, work, or go to school in Manhattan between 14th St and 59th St? Join our Midtown Open Hearts chapter for its beginning-of-year meeting to set some goals for the year as a chapter. Zoom link to be shared upon RSVP—RSVP using the button below.

Join us for our monthly Housing Justice is Racial Justice meeting. This month’s topic: what does a new mayor mean for housing?

This is an informal reading and discussion group for OHI members to learn together about the intersections of housing justice and racial justice and the roots of the housing and homelessness crisis in policies driven by systemic racism. It's a "101" type of space to learn and grow together, so no expertise is required (in fact, it’s geared towards folks who may not know much about these topics!) and is open to all OHI members. Each meeting focuses on a different “text” chosen by an OHI member that will serve as a jumping-off point for discussion. (Want to choose a text and help facilitate a meeting in the future? Reach out to Will at will@openheartsinitiative.org.)

If you're interested in joining, click the button below to RSVP, and we’ll share the Zoom details.

Interested in getting involved in OHI’s city- and state-level policy advocacy efforts to end homelessness in NYC? Join OHI's member-led Policy and Advocacy Committee for our next meeting.

On the agenda:

• Finalizing (!!) our policy priorities for 2026

This meeting will be on Zoom. RSVP below to get the Zoom link!

Our monthly Homelessness: Learning From Experience (HLFE) meetings provide a space for unhoused neighbors to share experiences, build connections, and provide input that informs OHI's work. These meetings are also a great opportunity for folks who are housed to listen and learn about homelessness and build connections with neighbors in a casual setting.

If you're interested in joining us, click the button below to RSVP. Location will be shared upon RSVP.

We’ll be talking about:

• To Be Announced!

Questions? Email Will at will@openheartsinitiative.org.

Want to build your knowledge about homelessness in NYC? Interested in advocating for housing and shelters in your neighborhood and citywide, but not sure you know enough to do so? Our Homelessness Basics workshop is a great place to start. This virtual, small-group workshop is highly interactive, so come ready to participate!

This workshop is part of our advocacy workshop series. We’ll cover:

• The evidence for why homelessness is a housing problem

• History of homelessness in NYC

• Different types of shelter and housing

This workshop will take place on Zoom on Thursday, February 12, from 6:45pm-8:45pm. It’s totally free. NOTE: If you RSVP initially and are no longer able to attend, no hard feelings--we understand that life happens--but we ask you to cancel your RSVP so we can admit additional participants off the waitlist.

Sign up here or using the button below. Questions? Email Will at will@openheartsinitiative.org. 

I want to volunteer at the Free Store:

We need LOTS of volunteers on the day of the Free Store, including for shifts before and after the event. Sign up here

I want to donate items to the Free Store:

There are two ways to donate:

Drop off donations: We're looking for new or gently used fall clothing, hygiene supplies, and food pantry items. These items can be dropped off any time in Harlem, or every Sunday from 11-12:30 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. You can also arrange a drop-off in Clinton Hill, East New York, or Manhattan. Sign up to donate here.

Donate to the paypal for hygiene supplies and snacks here!