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

On the agenda:

• Advocacy about rental assistance voucher programs like CityFHEPS

• Starting to plan our policy priorities for 2027!

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

This event is great for adults and college students, whether you’re new to Open Hearts or a longtime volunteer.

RSVP is required, and exact location will be provided upon RSVP. Use the button below to RSVP! Questions? Email Jayme at jayme@openheartsinitiative.org.

I want to volunteer at the Free Store:

We need LOTS of volunteers on the day of the Free Store, from setting up and sorting donations before store opening to cleaning up afterwards.  Volunteer shifts are available from 11am - 4pm. 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 at Roots Cafe in Park Slope, or at Grace-Hanson United Methodist Church from 11-1pm on 10/17.

Donate to the paypal to help us provide food for the event here!

New to volunteering with OHI? Join us for a new volunteer orientation as part of our monthly Homelessness: Learning From Experience (HLFE) meetup.

At the orientation, you’ll:

• Get to know other OHI volunteers and unhoused neighbors

• Learn more about OHI’s work and how you can get involved

• Find ways to plug in as an OHI volunteer

RSVP below to join us.

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

On the agenda:

• Planning actions in support of our policy priorities

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

Queens Open Hearts is hosting a coffee hour at a senior supportive housing site in Jamaica on Friday, September 25th from 3:30-4:30pm.

Join us to meet your neighbors over coffee, snacks, and NYC-themed trivia. This is an opportunity to gather in a casual setting and get to know more of your Queens neighbors!

This event is great for new and existing adult volunteers. Click the button below to RSVP and join us for a coffee!

Looking to deepen your understanding of homelessness in NYC? Want to advocate for local housing and shelter solutions, but feel you need a stronger foundation? Our Homelessness Basics workshop–part of OHI’s advocacy workshop series–is an ideal starting point.

Designed as a virtual, small-group session, this workshop emphasizes active participation–we aim to explore and learn together rather than deliver a lecture. At the end of the workshop, you’ll get an opportunity to put your learning into practice by taking a quick advocacy action. No prior experience is needed.

This workshop will cover:

• Why does homelessness exist?

• How we got here: history of homelessness in NYC

• What happens when someone becomes homeless

Event Details:

• Date & Time: Tuesday, September 22, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

• Time commitment: 90 minutes of active participation during the workshop + 20-30 minutes of “pre-reading” beforehand

• Format: Zoom (we’ll send you the link and pre-reading upon RSVP)

• Cost: Completely free!

PLEASE NOTE: If your plans change after registering and you can no longer join us, we completely understand! However, please cancel your RSVP promptly so we can offer your spot to someone on the waitlist.

To RSVP, click the button below.

Have any questions? Reach out to Will at will@openheartsinitiative.org.

On Saturday, September 19th from 2-4PM, our Upper West Side chapter will be hosting an event in Riverside Park for local families with children in shelter. There will be sports, games, and snacks! Exact location will be provided upon RSVP.

Join us—and bring your kids!—for some fun community-building.

We are seeking volunteers and donations to make the day a success!

Please fill out the form with the button below to see our full list of donation items and volunteer roles. If you are not available on the 19th but still would like to help , we have two donation drop off location on the UWS and are also looking for volunteers to help with event logistics and outreach!

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 at Roots Cafe in Park Slope, or at Grace-Hanson United Methodist Church from 11-1pm on 9/19.

Donate to the paypal for hygiene supplies and snacks here!

Join Lower Manhattan Open Hearts to assemble care kits for neighbors experiencing street homelessness. These kits are a great way to connect with your homeless neighbors and show your support.

These kits include hygiene basics like deodorant wipes, hand sanitizer, and toothbrushes. We also always include “kindness notes”, which are a great way to personalize the kits and make our street homeless neighbors feel more welcome.

We’re packing kits on Tuesday, September 15th from 6-7pm in the Union Square area.

Once packed, we’ll each take a few care kits home to distribute on an as-needed basis. A few of us may also walk to Union Square to hand them out immediately after the assembly event.

This event is great for old and new volunteers of all ages! If you want to support your street homeless neighbors, RSVP to join us in September!

Join us for our monthly Housing Justice is Racial Justice discussion group. This month, we'll be deconstructing myths about homelessness and personal responsibility. The discussion is open to anyone interested in learning more, and is especially geared toward OHI members and volunteers.

We'll be discussing a few pages from Mary Brosnahan's They Just Need to Get a Job: 15 Myths on Homelessness. No need to get the book—we'll send you the pages! We'll focus on the myths that people experiencing homelessness “just need to get a job” and “just need to learn to save.”

This is an informal, 101-level reading and discussion group about the connections between housing justice and racial justice. No prior knowledge or expertise is required—we're especially excited to welcome folks who are newer to these topics. We'll learn together about the roots of the housing and homelessness crisis and the policies that have shaped it.

Each meeting focuses on a different text chosen by an OHI member as a jumping-off point for discussion. Want to choose a text and help facilitate a future meeting? Reach out to Will at will@openheartsinitiative.org.

Interested in joining? RSVP below and we'll send you the reading and Zoom details.

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.

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

On the agenda:

• Planning actions in support of our policy priorities

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

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 summer/fall clothing, hygiene supplies, and food pantry items. These items can be dropped off any time at Roots Cafe in Park Slope, or at Grace-Hanson United Methodist Church from 11-1pm on 8/15.

Donate to the paypal for hygiene supplies and snacks here!