Hope for New York

Why is the city “cracking down” on people experiencing homelessness in the subway system? Is there a relationship between neighborhood segregation and life expectancy? What does it mean when we talk about Biblical justice? You’ll find articles and videos that speak to these questions and more in this month’s Mercy & Justice Round-Up.

You could say that churches are our partners in partnering with our affiliates. We’re excited to introduce to you our three newest church partners: Christ Church NYC, Emmanuel Anglican Church, and Wellspring Church NYC. Find out more about each of them here.

At Hope for New York, we are so excited to be expanding our network by three new affiliate partners to reach even more New Yorkers in need. Learn more about them here.

We have so much to celebrate from this past fiscal year, including $2.1 million in grants to our affiliates, 3,200+ volunteers, one new church partner, and three new non-profit affiliates!

Sophia Miller grew up in St. James, Jamaica and came to New York a few years ago. It wasn’t long after moving here, though, that she and her two daughters ended up homeless. Sophia struggled to find work and started to lose hope all together. Then she met Dustee, the founder of Gifted Hands, our affiliate that provides educational art programs to build self-esteem and teach new skills. Here, Sophia shares her story of hope.

Raul Rivera grew up in the South Bronx in the 60s and 70s. From a young age, he got into the vices the neighborhood had to offer—drugs, violence, crime. He spent years of his life in and out of jail—until he got connected with our affiliate Graffiti at the age of 50.

Detra is a preacher’s daughter who moved from Arkansas to NYC to escape an abusive husband and then became homeless. She shares the story of how God used the New York City Rescue Mission to show her she can be real with her pain and walk in the freedom of who God created her to be.

We are so excited for our team of more than 80 HFNY Runners to participate in our Charity Run on March 17! Hear from a few of them (including our youngest runner, eight-year-old Rider!) about why they are running and fundraising for our neighbors in need through Hope for New York.

Justice Reyes got involved drinking and doing drugs as a middle schooler to escape reality. After a car accident involving drinking and driving, he realized he needed help and went to Brooklyn Teen Challenge and found the fulfillment he had been craving.

Wolfie Bright spent his life following other people, which led him to drugs, homelessness, and time in a nursing home. But God used Dustee, founder of Gifted Hands, to restore him to the Mr. Bright he was meant to be.