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Haitian Response Initiative

The Haitian Response Initiative (HRI) provides services, resources, and information to Haitian New Yorkers in their language, and regardless of their immigration status.

The initiative consists of a partnership between the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), eight Haitian-serving nonprofits listed below, and CUNY Brooklyn College's Haitian Studies Institute.

Through this partnership, community members receive linguistically and culturally responsive services including:

  • Case management and social services, directly and through referrals.
  • Immigration legal assistance such as eligibility screenings, legal consultations, application assistance, removal defense, and self-help information.

You can call the City-funded, free, and safe MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365, or call 311 and say, "Immigration Legal," between 9:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, to get:

  • Answers to immigration policy questions
  • Information on how and where to find City-funded, free, and safe immigration legal help

Please note that the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline does not schedule people for legal appointments directly. If you would like information on how to find a provider that speaks your language and is near your neighborhood, please call 800-354-0365. If your annual household income is more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may not be eligible to receive services from certain City-funded legal service providers.

If you have general questions, please call the NYC Immigrant Affairs Hotline at 212-788-7654 or email askMOIA@cityhall.nyc.gov.

This program is intended to serve individuals who meet the following criteria:

  • New York City resident
  • Newly arrived Haitian national

Please click the organization name below to access their website.

Caribbean Women's Health Association

Caribbean Women's Health Association

  • Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
  • Instagram: @cwhaassociation
  • Services Offered:
    • Free HIV Testing and Health Education
    • Health Insurance Enrollment
    • Referrals for Health Services
    • Breastfeeding and Parenting Workshops
    • Immigration Legal Services
      • Legal assistance services are primarily for cases submitted to USCIS. Legal assistance may be provided for a limited number of cases in immigration court.
  • Language(s): English, Spanish, Haitian Creole
    • For all other languages, will connect to LanguageLine
  • Phone Number: 929-399-8070
  • Population(s) Served: NYC residents
    • Note: For legal services, only residents who meet the following criteria:
      • Not convicted of a felony
      • Income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
  • Please note: Callers will receive a call back within 48 hours.
  • Walk-In Services:
    • CWHA provides walk-in services for Free HIV Testing from Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm. For all other services, constituents must call the office's number for further assistance and for further inquiries.
    • Additionally, CWHA provides walk in services for Health Insurance Enrollment on Thursdays to Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. However, the Health Insurance Navigator's hours are subject to change. Therefore, clients can be referred via email (dmichel@cwha.org) to avoid any confusion or delay in the enrollment process.
    • They ask that upon entry, clients sign in, sanitize, and wear a face mask.
Diaspora Community Services

Diaspora Community Services

  • Hours of Operation: 9:00am to 5:00pm
  • Instagram: @diasporacs
  • Twitter: @diasporacs
  • LinkedIn: Diaspora Community Services on LinkedIn
  • Services Offered:
    • HIV Testing
    • Hepatitis C Testing
    • Evidence Based Interventions
    • Health Screenings
    • Substance Use Interventions
    • Health Education
    • Behavioral/Mental Health Services
    • Mental Health Awareness Training
    • Maternal Health Education
    • Insurance Attainment for those living with HIV/AIDS
    • Medical Case Management
    • Non-Medical Case Management
    • Navigation/Care Coordination
    • Shelter for Asylum Seekers
    • Temporary Housing for Teens and Runaway Youth
    • Workshops
    • Youth Educational Curriculums
    • Art Workshops/Events
    • Free Distribution of Condom/Safe Sex Materials
    • Sexual Assault Support/Counseling
  • Language(s): English, French, Haitian Creole, Spanish
  • Phone Number: 718-399-0200
  • Email Address: info@diasporacs.org
  • Population(s) Served: Migrants; asylum seekers; Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY); LGBTQIA+; youth aged 13-25; Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA); people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS; intimate partner violence victims
  • Please note: Expect a call back within 2 weeks and expect an appointment within 2-3 weeks.
  • Walk-In Services: DCS provides walk-in services for health screenings, HIV testing, and HCV testing. Their main office site is located at 921 B East New York Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, and they are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday.
Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project

Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project

  • Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm; Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00pm
  • Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project's Facebook page
  • Instagram: @flanbwayan
  • Services Offered:
    • High School Enrollment
    • Academic Support
    • Leadership Development Activities
    • Cultural Folklore Dance
    • Girls/Boys Group
    • Support services for immigrant youth 14-21 years old
  • Language(s): Haitian Creole
  • Phone: 718-774-3037
  • Email: info@flanbwayan.org
  • Address: 3116 Clarendon Road, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11226
  • Population(s) Served: Newly arrived Haitian youth (14-21 years old)
  • Please note: You can expect a call back within a week
  • Walk-In Services: Yes
Haitian Americans United for Progress

Haitian Americans United for Progress

  • Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 6:00pm
  • Facebook: HAUP – Haitian Americans United for Progress, Inc.
  • Services Offered:
    • Immigration Services
    • Migrant Enrichment Services Initiative (MESI)
    • Special Needs Services
      • Community Habilitation
      • In Home Respite
      • Afterschool
      • Day Habilitation
      • Recreational
    • Maternal Infant Health Services
    • Afterschool Program
      • SONYC – P.S. 189
      • COMPASS – P.S. 241
    • Domestic Violence (DOVE)
    • Free Universal Pre-K
    • Translation Services
    • Vaccine Access & Resource Initiative (VARI)
    • Excluded Workers Fund
  • Language(s): English, French, Haitian Creole
  • Email Address: info@haupinc.org
  • Phone Number(s): 315-506-7602; 347-808-1309
  • Population(s) Served: Haitians, Bangladeshis, Colombians, Ecuadorians, Dominicans
  • Please note: Expect a call back in 2 to 3 days.
  • Walk-In Services: Walk-ins are only accepted for healthcare and translation services at their Queens location (209-05 Jamaica Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11428).
Haitian American Community Coalition

Haitian American Community Coalition

  • Hours of Operation: 11:00am to 6:00pm
  • Facebook: @ HCCNYC
  • Instagram: @ HCCINC
  • Twitter: @ HCCORG
  • Services Offered:
    • BeWell Mental Health Services
    • Substance Abuse Counseling and Support
    • Linkage and Navigation for PrEP and PEP
    • Education and advocacy for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses
    • Targeted prevention and supportive services
    • Supporting Housing for people living with HIV/AIDS
    • Immigration services
    • Case Management
    • LGBTQ+ Outreach, Advocacy, and Support
    • Community Outreach via HCC mobile health unit
    • Fitness education
  • Language(s): English, Haitian Creole, French
  • Phone Number: 718-940-2200
  • Population(s) Served: Immigrant population, both documented and undocumented (Haitian, Caribbean, African); LGBTQ+ Community; anyone who is eligible for the services provided
  • Please note: If not available, expect a response in 2-3 business days
  • Walk-Ins: Appointments are preferred, and walk-ins are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Walk-in services are offered for HIV testing, condom pickups, and translation services.
Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees

Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees

  • Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm
  • Instagram: @haitianwomen4haitianrefugees
  • Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees' Facebook page
  • Services Offered:
    • Immigration Legal Screenings
    • Social service referrals
      • Education and job readiness
      • Community resources and public benefits
      • Medical/health, mental health
    • Trauma Informed Wellness Support
      • Healing Justice Circle for Survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) VAWA/U-VISA
      • Support Group for SIJS applicants
      • Provide referrals for survivors of torture
    • Grassroots advocacy and community organizing
      • Community organizing, leadership development, and collective action
        • Participatory action research
        • Immigration campaign work
        • Direct actions
      • Grassroots advocacy
  • Language(s): Haitian Creole
  • Office Phone: 718-462-0791
  • Email: haitianrefugees@gmail.com
  • Population(s) Served: Haitian immigrants/refugees
  • Please note: Expect a call back within 48 hours.
  • Walk-In Services: Appointment only
Life of Hope

Life of Hope

  • Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 7:00pm; Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm
  • Life of Hope's Facebook page
  • Life of Hope's Instagram page
  • Life of Hope's Twitter page
  • Life of Hope's YouTube page
  • Services Offered:
    • Food Pantry
    • Youth Programs
    • Adult & Family Programs
    • Community Empowerment
    • Mentorship
    • Immigration Free Legal Services
    • Health & Wellness
    • Financial Literacy
    • Referrals
  • Language(s): English, Haitian Creole, French, Spanish
  • Phone Number: 718-362-3161
  • Email: info@lohnyc.com
  • Access the Life of Hope Volunteer Form
  • Population(s) Served: Everyone, especially people in the East Flatbush area
  • Please note: Expect a call back within 3-4 days, maximum.
  • Walk-In Services:
    • Site Address: 4123 Avenue D Brooklyn, NY 11203
    • Walk-In Procedures: The prospective client can walk-in during their hours of operations and for all the services that they offer, such as immigration appointments, maternal assistance, adult classes, IDNYC, food pantries, and childcare services including diapers, clothing, etc.
Catholic Charities Community Services of New York (CCCS)

Catholic Charities Community Services of New York (CCCS)

  • Phone: 888-744-7900

Map of Providers