Education & GED
Union Settlement - Adult Education
Manhattan
Free HSE exam prep, ESOL, digital literacy and career training (age minimums vary: most programs 21+, GED and digital literacy 18+); referrals to other services.
Education & GED in NYC
Education programs cover high school equivalency (GED) prep and testing, adult literacy, English classes, college access and programs that continue college work started in prison. Most adult education here is free.
Tip: if you earned credits, a certificate or a diploma while incarcerated, request your transcript from the facility or the college that ran the program, so you get credit for that work instead of repeating it.
168 services across the five boroughs
Education & GED by borough
Housing & Shelter
Covenant House New York
Manhattan
24-hour walk-in center and shelter for young adults: crisis care, shelter, transitional living, healthcare, job readiness, education support, legal services, outreach. Health and Wellness Center 212.613.0315.
Education & GED
Per Scholas
Bronx
Tuition-free tech training and career placement (IT support, cybersecurity, software engineering, AWS).
Education & GED
Chinese-American Planning Council - Adult Literacy Program
Manhattan
Free ESOL classes plus job development workshops and support for students, part of CPC's broader services for immigrants and low-income New Yorkers.
Education & GED
Literacy Partners
Manhattan
Offers free English-for-parents classes and Spanish-language parenting programs for people with children ages 0-7, basic reading classes for all adults, and HSE prep for Bronx Community College students, both online and in person.
Education & GED
NYPL Free English Classes
Citywide
Free ESOL, ABE and English-for-Work classes in 10-week cycles.
Housing & Shelter
The Fortune Society
Queens
Full-service reentry hub: housing (emergency to permanent), benefits enrollment, case management, education, employment, outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, family services, HIV/AIDS services and ATI programs. No legal services.
Education & GED
The Fortune Society - Digital Equity Program
Queens
Beginner to advanced digital literacy training (email, smartphones, Google Suite, video conferencing, resume writing, digital safety) and free devices for people impacted by the criminal legal system.
Benefits & Financial Help
The New York Public Library (NYPL) - Financial Literacy Services
Manhattan
Offers webinars and one-on-one help on budgeting, saving, investing, avoiding scams, and college financial planning. Its Budget and Credit Coaching program gives ongoing help with debt problems, and its Medicare Counseling covers enrollment, coverage, and drug plan costs.
Education & GED
Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) - Bard Microcolleges
Manhattan · Brooklyn
Full tuition-scholarship, accredited college program where students earn a Bard College Associate in Arts degree attending classes at the Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library or a location on 125th Street in Harlem, with faculty, tutors and academic advisors.
Education & GED
Bronx Community College - Adult Education & Training Program
Bronx
Free ESOL and adult education services for adults seeking to improve their English language skills.
Education & GED
Bronx Community College - Future Now
Bronx
Free HSE and vocational classes, counseling and college prep for ages 17-24.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library - Adult Learning Centers
Brooklyn
Provides free Adult Basic Education, multiple High School Equivalency (HSE) pathways (including NEDP, Fast Track, and Spanish-language GED), industry-recognized credential classes, ESOL, computer literacy, citizenship prep, case management, and laptop/hotspot loans.
Benefits & Financial Help
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Financial Services
Brooklyn
Provides free virtual financial counseling and classes on budgeting, investing, student loans, and retirement planning, plus tax help and one-on-one guidance connecting patrons to entrepreneurial, employment, and education opportunities.
Family & Reunification
Children's Aid
Manhattan
Provides adoption and foster care, education, school- and community-based health clinics, Head Start classes, after-school/summer programs, and parenting and substance-use/teen-pregnancy prevention programs in high-need NYC neighborhoods. Also offers high school equivalency prep, job readiness, and housing assistance for youth in the Bronx and Manhattan.
Education & GED
Columbia Law School - Paralegal Pathways Initiative
Manhattan
A 12-week evening training program providing skills-based legal training and professional mentorship to formerly incarcerated people preparing for legal careers, covering legal research and writing, ethics, client interviewing, and civil litigation basics.
Education & GED
CUNY Fatherhood Academy
Bronx · Brooklyn · Queens
Free HSE prep or college prep track with tutoring, counseling, parenting seminars, financial incentives and job preparation.
Substance Use Recovery
Exponents
Manhattan
Provides treatment and recovery services, education, and professional development for people affected by HIV/AIDS, substance use disorder, incarceration, and behavioral health challenges, through programs including drug treatment services, reentry services, and the Judith Loeb Chiara Recovery and Wellness Center. Letters of reasonable assurance are provided, and a crisis line runs 24 hours daily except Thursday.
Employment & Job Training
Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO)
Manhattan
A reentry program for young men ages 16-24 focused on education, employment, and emotional well-being; offers supportive counseling, educational support, vocational training, workforce development, technology like phones, and referrals to mental health, substance use, anger management, and emergency housing services.
Education & GED
Goddard Riverside - Options Center
Manhattan
College and post-secondary planning help: financial aid, scholarships, essays, campus visits, supplies, transportation, transfers and re-enrollment.
Education & GED
Imani House, Inc. - Adult Literacy Program
Brooklyn
Offers free small-group and one-on-one classes in basic literacy, ESOL, HSE test preparation, pre-HSE, and math tutoring.
Family & Reunification
New York Foundling
Manhattan
Provides foster care, educational programs, mental health services, and community-based services for children, families, and adults; services for court-involved youth include intervention, alternatives-to-incarceration, and reentry services, plus a mental health clinic for youth and families and support such as counseling, case planning, and emergency food/supply assistance.
Education & GED
NYC Public Libraries - Neighborhood Tech Help
Citywide
A joint program of NYC's three public library systems offering free, one-on-one tech support to help New Yorkers use devices, connect to the internet, set up online accounts, and build tech skills.
Education & GED
NYPL TechConnect
Citywide
Free computer-training workshops: internet basics, Microsoft Office, video chat, coding, online job searching.
Education & GED
NYS Department of Education - High School Equivalency (HSE)
Citywide
State office providing information on all pathways to a High School Equivalency diploma: application forms, eligibility, required documents and test sites. The call center gives recorded information Tue-Thu 10am-12pm.
Education & GED
Queens Public Library - Adult Learner Program & New Americans Program
Queens
Offers ESOL classes and conversation groups, Adult Basic Education, HSE/pre-HSE prep (including for ages 16-24), citizenship prep, technology training, and case-manager referrals to social services; the New Americans Program adds free workshops on citizenship, jobs, and other topics in Queens' most widely spoken immigrant languages.
Employment & Job Training
Queens Public Library - Job & Business Academy
Queens
Free technology-focused training and workshops for job seekers, entrepreneurs and business owners.
Education & GED
Reentry@Lehman (Lehman College)
Bronx
Support for Lehman students impacted by the criminal legal system: enrollment, registration, financial aid, referrals to housing, employment, legal and scholarship resources.
Family & Reunification
SCO Family of Services
Citywide
Provides services to children, families, and adults, including therapeutic, educational, vocational, and supportive services for young adults on Rikers Island before and after release, Multi-Systemic Therapy for court-involved youth, foster care, early childhood education, and family/community services such as counseling, employment, and substance use treatment.
Employment & Job Training
Strive International
Manhattan
A work-readiness and job-placement program for people 18+, offering a job readiness workshop followed by hard-skills training in construction/maintenance or health/office operations, industry-recognized certifications, employer internships, and lifetime alumni support.
Substance Use Recovery
Argus Community
Bronx
Treatment and prevention programs: care management, intensive residential treatment, outpatient services, career training, money management, a reentry initiative and an HSE program.
Employment & Job Training
Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES)
Brooklyn
Provides alternative-to-incarceration programming, mental health and substance use treatment, and youth education and employment services for court-involved New Yorkers.
Education & GED
College & Community Fellowship (CCF)
Manhattan
Supports women with criminal legal system involvement in pursuing higher education or certification programs, offering a sisterhood community, resources, advocacy opportunities, financial assistance, and career guidance.
Education & GED
CUNY Adult Literacy Program
Citywide
Free ESOL, Basic Education and HSE/GED preparation classes at CUNY campuses.
Education & GED
John Jay College - Pathways to GED Program
Manhattan
HSE classes for people with criminal legal system involvement; students receive daily meals, milestone incentives, a rented laptop and WiFi card.
Employment & Job Training
Justice Through Code at Columbia University
Manhattan
Free coding and career skills program for formerly incarcerated people with two AI career paths (Builder and Implementer).
Education & GED
NYC Department of Education - Adult Education
Citywide
Free basic education, ESOL and HSE test preparation for adults 21+ without a US high school diploma or equivalency, plus tuition-free career and technical education classes; some classes may have material/exam fees.
Family & Reunification
NYC Department of Education (DOE) - Infant and Toddler Programs
Citywide
Offers free or low-cost early childhood education for children ages six weeks to three years old who are not yet eligible for 3-K, including education, health, nutrition, and social services.
Education & GED
Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT)
Brooklyn
Employment training centers for adults and youth offering HSE preparation, adult literacy, ESOL, foundational industry courses, and advanced hands-on training in fields such as construction, healthcare, and technology, plus job placement.
Employment & Job Training
Streetwise Partners
Manhattan
Connects underemployed and unemployed New Yorkers with professional mentors, helping with resume writing, office and computer skills, interview prep, AI literacy, and personalized career roadmaps over a 13-week commitment.
Education & GED
SUNY - Student Success Initiative Program
Manhattan
Academic counseling and support for college enrollment and retention for formerly incarcerated and court-involved individuals, across SUNY's 64 campuses; first-year students are paired with a peer mentor and an academic counselor.
Family & Reunification
The Child Center of NY
Citywide
Offers counseling, substance use treatment, early childhood mental health and education programs (including Head Start and Early Head Start), and after-school and enrichment programs for youth in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. The Jamaica Family Wellness Center serves court-involved youth, and the Benefits Access program helps families enroll in entitlement benefits and health insurance and get referrals for financial and legal assistance.
Benefits & Financial Help
Urban Upbound
Queens
Serves public housing residents and other low-income New Yorkers with employment services, financial counseling, free tax preparation, a federal credit union, youth development, a college access program, a worker cooperative initiative, and free mental health counseling at locations across NYC.
Housing & Shelter
WIN NYC
Manhattan
Provides shelter and supportive services for women with children in NYC, including job-readiness training, HSE classes, childcare, and college preparedness.
Family & Reunification
Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC)
Brooklyn · Bronx
After-school tutoring, summer camp, mentoring, a licensed mental health clinic and family engagement services for children of incarcerated parents.
Education & GED
City University of New York (CUNY)
Citywide
26 colleges plus adult education (ESOL, HSE, college transition). Support page for students with conviction records.
Healthcare
Haitian-American Community Coalition (HCC)
Brooklyn
Serves low-income and houseless New Yorkers, primarily of Caribbean descent, with health and fitness programs, adult literacy, housing placement assistance, HIV/AIDS testing and prevention education (including PrEP/PEP), and mental health counseling at its Be Well Center.
Housing & Shelter
Thrive for Life Prison Project
Citywide
A faith-based organization offering housing, continuity-of-care support, and education for formerly incarcerated individuals at Abraham House and Ignacio House. Residents can access scholarships to partnering colleges and job-readiness and career-development support, plus help finding permanent affordable housing; a food pantry operates Saturdays at its Bronx location (340 Willis Avenue).
Housing & Shelter
A Beautiful Heart Ministries
Queens
Supports formerly incarcerated women, girls, and gender-fluid individuals with trauma-informed care, safe housing, employment pathways, and entrepreneurship support. Programs include 'She Writes Her Trauma,' a writing-based healing workshop, and 'When She Comes Home,' which offers care packages and transitional support to women and girls returning from incarceration.
Family & Reunification
Social Justice Network (SJN)
Manhattan
Runs three programs for people impacted by incarceration: the Reentry Assessment Program connects currently incarcerated or transitional-housing residents to service providers; the Reentry Educational Program supports access to higher education; and the Family Assistance Program connects families of impacted individuals to clothing, food, mental health, and healthcare providers. Also runs a Comic Books for Justice literacy initiative in correctional facilities and NYC public schools.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Advocates for Children (AFC)
Manhattan
Advocates and works on behalf of children who are at risk for school-based discrimination and/or academic failure due to poverty, disability, race, ethnicity, immigrant or English language learner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, homelessness, or involvement in the foster care or juvenile court systems.
Education & GED
American Indian College Fund
Citywide
Scholarships for Native students at accredited nonprofit colleges.
Education & GED
APIA Scholars
Citywide
Scholarships and an emergency fund for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Arab American Association of New York
Brooklyn
Immigration help, English classes, youth programs and family support in Bay Ridge.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Avenues for Justice
Manhattan
Alternative-to-incarceration program for court-involved youth with court advocacy, tutoring and mentoring.
Education & GED
Bard Prison Initiative (BPI)
Citywide
Associate and bachelor's degrees in 7 NYS prisons; reentry workshops, a paid ConnectED series after release, and alumni fellowships.
Education & GED
Black & Pink NYC
Manhattan
Works toward prison abolition in solidarity with LGBTQIA2S+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are incarcerated, on parole, or recently released in NY/NJ/CT. Services for incarcerated members include letter-writing, pen-pal matching, birthday and holiday cards; prison visits; quarterly chapter newsletters...
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Bronxconnect
Bronx
A faith-based community organization offering alternatives-todetention and -incarceration to court-involved youth in the Bronx and Manhattan.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library - Computer Workshops
Brooklyn
Free Computer Basics, Internet Searching and Microsoft Word workshops.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Community Health & Social Work
Brooklyn
The Community Health Team connects people to health and wellness services through education and resources, provided via virtual webinars, programming, trainings, and community partner events.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Immigrant Services
Brooklyn
Offers free in-person and virtual citizenship classes; for more information email immigrantservices@bklynlibrary.org. Offers programs in multiple languages including English language classes and conversation groups, family cultural events, free citizenship classes, and adult literacy courses.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Justice Initiatives - Telestory
Citywide
The TeleStory program connects families with loved ones incarcerated in 10 NYS DOCCS facilities through free one-hour video calls. Video calls are available at 13 Brooklyn Public Library branches, where families can also access a range of library resources and support.
Employment & Job Training
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Services for Older Adults
Brooklyn
Offers a range of programs, services, resources, and events for adults ages 50 and over and their caregivers including lectures, health and wellness series, musical performances, art classes, classes on computer basics, and more. Also provides retirement literacy, estate planning workshops, and job-readiness programs.
Education & GED
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) - Youth & Family Services
Brooklyn
Offers a range of materials and programs for young people, birth through teens, and their families and educators. Programs include Babies and Books; Storytime; Ready, Set, Kindergarten!; STEM programs; Inclusive Services programs for children and teens with and without disabilities; and more.
Education & GED
Center for Anti-Violence Education
Citywide
Offers Self-Defense and Upstander workshops for women, LGBTQIAGNC people, and anyone at risk from racism and xenophobia. Also provides programs and workshops for young people.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) - Youth Services NYC
Brooklyn
Provides services to youth, both court-involved and non-court-involved, including case management, financial literacy and life skills workshops, civic engagement opportunities, community benefits projects, internships, unsubsidized job placements, and mentoring. Visit the website for more information and requirements.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Center for Justice Innovation (CJI) - The Staten Island Justice Center
Staten Island
Provides a range of programs for both young people and adults impacted by the criminal legal system. Services include individual counseling, psychoeducational group programming, youth leadership, mentorship programming, and workforce development training.
Education & GED
College Initiative
Citywide
Helps formerly incarcerated people apply to and succeed in college, with mentoring and academic support.
Education & GED
Columbia Center for Justice - Justice-in-Education Initiative
Manhattan
Free college courses at Columbia University for formerly incarcerated people.
Family & Reunification
Community Mediation Services (CMS)
Queens
Provides a network of mediation and conflict resolution programs to individuals, youth, and families in NYC. Visitation/custody and divorce mediation offered on a sliding fee scale. Other services include court diversion programs, therapeutic interventions, specialized educational programs, and school-based services.
Employment & Job Training
Consortium for Worker Education (CWE)
Citywide
Union-affiliated workforce training and job placement across many industries.
Education & GED
Cornell Academic Reentry Services (CARS)
Citywide
Reentry support for CPEP alumni: housing and job help, benefits navigation, computers, and limited coming-home funds.
Education & GED
Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP)
Citywide
Liberal arts college program at Auburn, Cayuga, Elmira and Five Points; associate degrees via SUNY partners.
Education & GED
CUNY School of Law - Formerly Incarcerated Law Student Advocacy Association
Queens
Support for formerly incarcerated people applying to law school: support letters, LSAT tutoring, and an affinity group once enrolled.
Employment & Job Training
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation - Workforce
Brooklyn
Job readiness, training and placement in Cypress Hills and East New York.
Education & GED
Dorot
Manhattan
Provides cultural and educational enrichment services for adults ages 60 and over. Visit the website or email info@dorotusa.org for a list of ongoing programs.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Education Justice Project - A New PATH: a Guide to the Challenges & Opportunities After Deportation
Citywide
A free guide for people who live with the threat of deportation to Mexico or Central America. Information includes Know Your Rights, legal help information, and a plan in case of possible deportation.
Housing & Shelter
Education Justice Project (EJP) - Mapping Your Future: National Edition
Citywide
A free national reentry guide including information on housing, employment, healthcare, substance use, and more. The guide is broken into four sections including: (1) Before You Leave, (2) Once You’re Out, (3) Healing and Moving Forward, and (4) The Reentry Directory.
Housing & Shelter
Elite Learners - Reentry Services
Brooklyn
Offers support services to youth where mentees receive one-toone case management, general issue advocacy training, as well as wrap-around family support.
Housing & Shelter
Emma's Torch
Brooklyn
An 11-week paid apprenticeship program in culinary training for refugees, asylees, or survivors of human trafficking ages 18 and over, who are authorized to work in the US. Offered throughout the program are weekly English classes focused on culinary vocabulary and interview preparation, job-readiness workshops,...
Education & GED
Exalt Youth
Brooklyn · Manhattan
Education and paid internships for court-involved youth.
Education & GED
FAFSA - Federal Student Aid
Citywide
Federal application for college financial aid, including Pell Grants (restored for incarcerated students in approved programs).
Employment & Job Training
Fedcap Rehabilitation Services
Manhattan
Offers comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities who are ages 18 and over and referred by ACCES-VR, the Commission for the Blind, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides business solutions and educational services.
Education & GED
FinAid
Citywide
Online guide to scholarships, grants, loans and college cost calculators.
Education & GED
Friends of Island Academy
Manhattan
Youth development, mentoring, education and job readiness for young people released from Rikers and other facilities.
Housing & Shelter
Generation NYC
Citywide
An online platform with resources and support for NYC teens and young adults. Provides easy-to-read information on many subjects including school, work, budgeting, counseling, voting, housing, health, and more.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS)
Manhattan
Provides counseling, therapeutic and recreational groups, referrals to housing, legal and educational resources, transitional housing, court advocacy, and peer mentoring for girls and women ages 12–29 who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and/ or domestic trafficking.
Family & Reunification
Good Shepherd Services
Citywide
Youth development, foster care, transfer schools and family support.
Employment & Job Training
Grace Institute
Manhattan
Tuition-free administrative and professional job training for women.
Employment & Job Training
Green City Force
Citywide
Service corps training young NYCHA residents for green economy careers.
Education & GED
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) - NYC Chapter
Manhattan
Provides information, education, support, and advocacy for people with hearing loss. Visit the website for chapter meeting information.
Employment & Job Training
Henry Street Settlement - Workforce Development Center
Manhattan
Career counseling, job training and placement on the Lower East Side.
Mental Health & Counseling
Hetrick-Martin Institute
Manhattan
Youth center offering meals, counseling, education and job readiness for LGBTQ+ young people.
Housing & Shelter
Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI)
Manhattan
Provides free year-round programs and services for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13–24 and their families.
Education & GED
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Citywide
College scholarships and application support for Hispanic students.
Education & GED
How Our Lives Link Altogether (H.O.L.L.A!)
Manhattan
Conducts youth organizing training programs designed to build capacity for critical social analysis, community organizing, and healing. Programming includes an LGBTQI+ retreat center, political education, intersectional healing, and community organizing skillbuilding.
Education & GED
Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison
Citywide
College degree programs in NYS prisons plus alumni support for graduates after release.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Informed Immigrant
Citywide
A website that provides guides for undocumented immigrants on rights, family preparedness, help for people in detention or facing deportation, a directory to find free or low-cost legal services by zip code, and more. Also provides resources for service providers and schools.
Education & GED
Institute for Justice and Opportunity (John Jay College)
Manhattan
Runs college-in-prison, Prison-to-College Pipeline, and reentry education and employment programs.
Education & GED
JBI Library
Manhattan
Provides Jewish-interest and other reading materials for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have a reading disability or a physical disability that makes it difficult to read a book or standard print. Audio books are available in multiple languages, including English, Russian, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
Education & GED
John Jay College - Institute for Justice and Opportunity
Manhattan
College Initiative (college enrollment counseling and peer mentors), Career Pathways into human services, Tech 101 and Navigator Certificate.
Education & GED
John Jay College - Prison-to-College Pathways (P2CP)
Citywide
College courses at Otisville; passing students are guaranteed a CUNY spot on release.
Employment & Job Training
JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA)
Manhattan
Leadership training and advocacy organization run by people directly impacted by incarceration.
Mental Health & Counseling
Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI)
Brooklyn
Hospital- and school-based violence prevention with counseling and mentoring for young people.
Education & GED
LaGuardia Community College - Adult & Continuing Education
Queens
HSE prep, English classes and job training programs through CUNY.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Make the Road New York
Brooklyn
Legal services, adult education, job help and organizing for immigrant and working-class communities.
Education & GED
Marymount Manhattan - Bedford Hills College Program
Citywide
Open-admissions associate and bachelor's programs at Bedford Hills; tutoring, library and advising.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Mixteca Organization Inc.
Brooklyn
Provides a range of services to Spanish speaking immigrants in NYC. Offers ESOL classes, computer classes, and adult basic education and literacy classes in Spanish.
Benefits & Financial Help
Modern Military
Citywide
Provides education and advocates for the rights and well being of LGBTQ+ service members, veterans, and their families, as well as people living with HIV. Service members, military spouses/family members, or veterans can report LGBTQ+ or HIV discrimination on the website.
Education & GED
Music on the Inside (MOTI)
Citywide
Pairs formerly incarcerated people with professional musicians for music and life-skills mentorship; workshops for court-impacted young adults.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
National Center for LGBTQ Rights (NCLR)
Citywide
A national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of LGBTQI+ people, and their families, through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.
Employment & Job Training
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)
Citywide
A healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color (QTPoC).
Employment & Job Training
New Pride Agenda (NPA)
Manhattan
An advocacy organization for LGBTQIA+ people.
Education & GED
North Country Community College - Second Chance Pell
Citywide
Credit-bearing associate programs at Adirondack, Bare Hill, Franklin and FCI-Ray Brook.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights (NMCIR)
Manhattan
Immigration legal services and education in Washington Heights.
Employment & Job Training
NPower New York
Citywide
Free tech training (IT support, cloud, cybersecurity) and job placement for young adults and veterans.
Housing & Shelter
NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)
Manhattan
Offers a wide range of programs for NYC youth including afterschool, community development, family support, literary services, youth services, youth workshop development, internships, and job placement. Services include vocational training, HSE preparation, and assistance with finding jobs and shelter.
Family & Reunification
NYC DYCD - Youth Connect
Citywide
Hotline connecting young people and families to city youth programs, jobs and services.
Housing & Shelter
NYC Health - NYC Teenspace
Citywide
A free mental health support program available to any teenager ages 13–17 living in NYC, regardless of school, income level, or insurance status, powered by Talkspace.
Housing & Shelter
NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
Manhattan
Offers information and referrals in the areas of housing, transportation, discrimination, education, employment, health, Social Security, and services to the homebound. Multiple languages spoken.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs - Immigration Legal Services
Citywide
Offers free, safe immigration legal help in a network of trusted community organizations and schools.
Education & GED
NYC Office of Technology & Innovation - Digital Equity
Citywide
Provides a range of programs and services for people in NYC. Call or visit the website for more information about any of the following services/programs.
Family & Reunification
NYC Public Libraries - Culture Pass
Citywide
A program for NYC public library cardholders ages 13 and over. By using a library card, New Yorkers can reserve a pass and get free admission to partnering NYC cultural institutions including museums, historical societies, heritage centers, public gardens, and more.
Benefits & Financial Help
NYC Public Schools - Student OMNY Cards
Citywide
Provides eligible NYC public school students free OMNY Card tapto-go passes for the subway and city buses. Cards are good for 4 rides a day, 24 hours a day, all year long, including weekends, holidays, and summer break.
Employment & Job Training
NYS ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation)
Citywide
State vocational rehab: job training, education funding and placement for people with disabilities.
Family & Reunification
NYS Council on Children and Families (CCF) - Help Hub for Families
Citywide
An online resource for finding information and resources for mental health, behavioral health, education, human services, disability, and more for newborns through age 22.
Employment & Job Training
NYS Department of Education - ACCES-VR (vocational Rehabilitation)
Citywide
Provides vocational training and job placement services. Also offers individual counseling and can help sponsor a client through college.
Education & GED
NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) - TAP
Citywide
Runs NY's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other state grants and scholarships.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
NYS Office for New Americans (ONA)
Citywide
Provides information on ESOL classes, naturalization and DACA assistance, federal immigration law and policy information and referrals, and business development training in centers throughout NYS. Call the hotline for general questions about immigration and naturalization, referrals, and locations.
Education & GED
NYU Prison Education Program
Manhattan
College courses in prison and a reentry program supporting students continuing their degrees after release.
Education & GED
NYU Prison Education Program (NYU PEP)
Citywide
Associate degree at Wallkill taught by NYU faculty, with reentry student services after release. Does not consider conviction or disciplinary record.
Education & GED
Open Campus - College Inside Newsletter
Citywide
Newsletter on college education in prisons; print version available by mail.
Benefits & Financial Help
PCs for People
Citywide
Low-cost refurbished computers and internet for low-income households.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Police Athletic League (PAL) - Juvenile Justice
Brooklyn
The Brooklyn location offers the Mentorship and Advocacy Program (MAAP) for court-involved and underserved youth ages 12–21, where participants are matched with a mentor after a referral from either the Juvenile Justice Initiative (JJI), Close to Home, or the Family Assistance Program (FAP).
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Possibility Project - Youth Justice Program
Manhattan
A performing arts program open to NYC youth ages 15–21 who are or who have been involved in the legal system. Participants meet Mondays and Wednesdays during after-school hours from August through December.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Prison Legal News
Citywide
Monthly magazine on incarcerated people's rights, court rulings and criminal legal news.
Education & GED
Prison Scholar Fund
Citywide
Education and employment help for currently and formerly incarcerated people.
Employment & Job Training
Pursuit
Queens
Software engineering and AI training program with job placement.
ID & Vital Documents
Queens Public Library - Prison, Jails & Reentry Outreach
Queens
Connects justice-impacted people to resources, helps get a NYS ID through ID Assist, and publishes a Queens Reentry Resource Guide.
Education & GED
Queens Public Library - Tech Workshops
Queens
Free computer classes from mouse basics and email to Microsoft Office certification prep; lends tablets and laptops at some branches.
Education & GED
Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA)
Citywide
Theater, dance, music and writing programs in NYS prisons, with an alumni network after release.
Education & GED
Rising Hope - Program in Ministry and Human Services
Citywide
Two-semester college-level program at Fishkill, Sing Sing and Woodbourne preparing students for helping professions; alumni support after release. Open to any or no faith.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Safe Passage Project
Manhattan
Offers help with the legal needs of indigent immigrant youth living in NYC. Provides representation for unaccompanied minors in immigration court and resources for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), asylum, as well as other possible immigration alternatives for children.
Education & GED
Shawn Carter Foundation - Scholarship Fund
Citywide
Scholarships for people facing economic hardship pursuing higher education.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Start Small Think Big
Citywide
Provides free legal, financial, and marketing services for entrepreneurs and small business owners in NYC. Also offers classes and workshops on a range of business-related topics. Programs and services are all remote.
Benefits & Financial Help
Stateside Legal
Citywide
A website for veterans, service members, and the general public looking to understand the complex systems of laws and benefits unique to those with military service.
Education & GED
Student Borrower Protection Center
Citywide
An advocacy organization focused on eliminating the burden of student debt. The website has resources for students, including webinars on a myriad of topics relating to student loans such as delinquency and default loans, what people need to know about student loans, paths to student debt cancellation, and more.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Team TLC NYC
Manhattan
The Kindness Center provides resources and services for Asylum Seekers who have been in NYC five years or less, including legal assistance, enrollment in English classes, stress management, job readiness, Know Your Rights, reduced fare OMNY cards, health insurance information, school assistance, and free...
Education & GED
The Brotherhood/Sister Sol
Manhattan
Rites-of-passage, education and leadership programs for Black and Latinx youth in Harlem.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
The Children's Village
Bronx
Provides services including residential treatment centers, shelters for undocumented children, foster homes, mom/baby boarding homes, runaway/homeless shelters, foster care related services, residential programs, community centers, after-school programs, mentoring initiatives for court-involved youth, and daycare...
Healthcare
The Door
Manhattan
One-stop youth center with health care, legal help, education, job training and meals.
Employment & Job Training
The Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee
Citywide
A volunteer-run network of hundreds of workers, organizers, and supporters. Provides support, education, and training to any non-union worker in any industry interested in organizing their workplace.
Education & GED
The Focus Forward Project
Citywide
12-week course with book discussion, resume writing, interviewing, budgeting and reentry planning; referrals to virtual mental health care and jobs.
Education & GED
The Institute of Student Loan Advisors (TISLA)
Citywide
Provides free, neutral, and clear student loan advice and dispute resolution assistance, including information on deciding on repayment plans; determining eligibility for loan forgiveness or discharge; guidance on any disputes regarding your student loans; guidance on required forms and applications; and help...
Housing & Shelter
The Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM)
Citywide
Supports women and girls affected by incarceration with housing, education, entrepreneurship and advocacy.
Education & GED
The Marshall Project - News Inside
Citywide
Free print news publication sent to jails and prisons three times a year, plus the Inside Story video series on facility tablets.
Education & GED
The New York Historical - The Citizenship Project
Manhattan
Offers citizenship courses to prepare permanent residents for the civics test portion of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization interview. Citizenship classes are taught in English and are accessible to English Language Learners.
Education & GED
The New York Public Library (NYPL) - Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
Manhattan
Provides reading materials for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have a reading disability or a physical disability that makes it difficult to read a book or standard print.
Education & GED
The New York Public Library (NYPL) - Family & Cultural Programming
Citywide
Offers free programs, classes, and events for children and teens. Programs include story hours for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, science and art workshops for children of all ages, homework help and tutoring, musical performances, and more.
Education & GED
The New York Public Library (NYPL) - Services for Immigrants
Citywide
Offers a series of free programs and services related to work and life skills development through local partnerships and volunteers for people of all ages. Offers free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes.
Education & GED
The New York Public Library (NYPL) - Services for People with Disabilities
Citywide
NYPL complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides reasonable accommodations upon request for physical access, communications, or other needs to ensure services, activities, and programs are available to people with disabilities. Most library sites are accessible to people using wheelchairs.
Education & GED
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Citywide
Scholarships, internships and fellowships for minority students.
Legal Aid & Record Relief
Unlocal
Manhattan
A community-centered non-profit organization that provides direct immigration legal representation and community education to NYC’s undocumented immigrant communities.
Education & GED
US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Manhattan
Provides near-comprehensive healthcare services to eligible military veterans at VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country, along with several non-healthcare benefits including disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, education assistance, home loans, and life insurance.
Employment & Job Training
Visions
Manhattan
Provides rehabilitation and social services to blind and visually impaired people of all ages to adjust to blindness and vision loss, lead independent lives, and obtain work.
Employment & Job Training
Wildcat Service Corporation
Citywide
Transitional work and job training for people facing barriers, including people with justice involvement (part of Fedcap).
Employment & Job Training
Year Up Greater New York
Manhattan
Tuition-free tech and business job training with paid internships for young adults.
Employment & Job Training
Year Up New York
Manhattan
Paid job training and corporate internships in tech and business.