Become a Listing Partner
Organizations, programs, community initiatives, and mutual aid groups that become a Listing Partner with helpNYC go through a rigorous and thorough onboarding process.
This page is provided to help programs understand what to expect during the onboarding process with helpNYC.
We encourage all who provide entry-level and low-barrier services to underserved New Yorkers to schedule a meeting with the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator Team. To schedule a meeting go to the bottom of this page.
If you have any questions, please contact outreach@helpNYC.info.
NOTE: This page is only for those who would like to become Listing Partners. If you would like to suggest a listing, please complete the Listing Suggestion Form by clicking here.
Listing Partner Benefits
Marketing of Programs
helpNYC provides the essential service of letting people know programs exist. For entry-level service providers, one of the most cost-prohibitive functions is to market programs to the populations they serve, allowing those who need services to know they exist.
Spreading Demand
New Yorkers find it difficult to find services they need in their neighborhoods, so they rely on the services of providers that have a larger public image and reach causing a program’s capacity to be exceeded. helpNYC believes that if we can accurately identify and list programs across New York City we can not only keep New Yorkers close to services they need but keep programs in other areas from exceeding their capacity.
Networking
helpNYC’s Listing and Community Partners find value in being associated with other organizations that do the same work they do. Many of the Partners use helpNYC as a way to partner with other programs to get challenges solved or to create coalitions with other organizations to fight for policy change, community organizing, or even establish collective buying. helpNYC encourages Partners to ask us for help in finding solutions to their programs, we personally introduce our partners on a regular basis.
Organizational Support
helpNYC has provided many hours of administrative, technical, and organizational support to its Community and Listing Partners. We encourage our Partners to reach out to us to explore solutions to challenges.
Participant Referrals
Partners know that they can trust helpNYC to have up-to-date, reliable information about services that help underserved New Yorkers. Many partners turn to helpNYC when their program participants need help that is outside of their service scope. Also, if a program has exceeded capacity or has to close Partners can contact helpNYC to help with generating flyers, and plans to allow their participants to get the services they need.
Organizing & Advocacy
Since our Partners communicate with helpNYC on a regular basis, we often find trends in the challenges they face. helpNYC has been able to build coalitions that advocate for the needs of its Partners.
Listing Partnership Overview
What is a Listing Partner?
Listing Partners are programs within community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, community initiatives, mutual aid groups, businesses, governmental bodies, and other entities that list their services on the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator program website. These partners have completed a rigorous onboarding process to establish a mutually beneficial partnership that is centered on helping underserved New Yorkers.
Is there a fee to be a Listing Partner?
No. Listing Partners do not have to pay a fee to be listed on the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator. Our work is supported by private contributions, foundational grants, and government grants.
What is the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator?
The helpNYC.info Resource Navigator connects New Yorkers to verified, low-barrier entry-level services at www.helpNYC.info. The Navigator is the signature program and the primary focus of the helpNYC Corporation, a State of New York Charities Bureau registered and U.S. Internal Revenue determined 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in New York City.
Why does the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator exist?
New York City has one of the largest and extremely comprehensive public health and social service systems in the world, there are only a few, if any, challenges New Yorkers can’t get help with. However, that system of services and resources is extremely challenging to navigate for even the most resourceful of individuals. The Navigator is the first program to simplify the navigation of services and resources in a person first, system second approach.
helpNYC actively works to use technology, best practices, language, and other innovative methods to eliminate barriers for those in need to access services, resources, and information from our programs. Even the Program’s website is programmed to be accessible on all platforms and bandwidths, especially government-subsidized technology like cell phones and other devices.
What makes the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator different from other directories and navigators?
The Navigator is the first of its kind not to require a New Yorker to navigate a database or know how to query the services they need. We list services at the program level, not at the organization level. The information provided on the Navigator is regularly verified through the partnerships with the programs listed to ensure that any program changes are reflected as soon as they happen.
Other directories and navigators do not have the rigorous onboarding and listing standards that helpNYC does. They usually are an auxiliary platform to another program that doesn’t allow for comprehensive, if any, regular maintenance of relevant information for New Yorkers seeking help.
Why is the Listing Partner Onboarding so important?
The onboarding process is purposely rigorous to ensure underserved New Yorkers get the correct, relevant, up-to-date information. It is critical that helpNYC understand what needs to be communicated to the person seeking help from our Navigator program. helpNYC maintains this standard to ensure the person seeking help has all the information they need to make their visit to a program successful.
What does low-barrier mean?
Barriers to service can come in many, many different styles and ways. A program barrier may be that a person seeking services is required to provide documentation like a birth certificate, government-issued identification, or proof of residence. Other barriers include programs that only provide services to certain populations, geographic barriers, and abilities. Barriers can be obvious or could be very nuanced or invisible.
Also, some barriers may be person-centered, such as their ability to travel, ability to read, write, speak or hear, or their ability to self-advocate or ask for help. Also, many underserved New Yorkers who have experience seeking services may have experienced traumatic situations with service providers, causing them to not trust programs and services.
Many programs have reporting requirements and strict guidelines set by their funders and regulators requiring certain barriers to be present. helpNYC works with these programs to explore how, through transparency and information dissemination, they can lower barriers and still maintain the program’s integrity and policies.
What type of resources and services does the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator program list?
The Program lists resources, services, and programs that fit into the SAMSHA Eight Dimensions of Wellness; Emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, financial, occupational, and social. The listings are not partial to any secular, denomination, political organization, or institution--private or public.
Listing Partner Onboarding & Lifecycle
Program vs. Organizational Onboarding
helpNYC lists programs at the program level, not the organization level. helpNYC's Listing Team will ask to meet with a program's director(s) or the direct service provider(s) to get program-level information.
For large organizations that have several programs, the helpNYC Listings Team will ask to meet with the organization's senior leadership to create an organizational onboarding plan and schedule to onboard the individual programs, which includes meeting with individual program staff.
Listing Partner Lifecycle
Service & Resource Identification
helpNYC receives a listing suggestion, an organization approaches helpNYC, or helpNYC finds an organization for possible listing.
Partnership Building
helpNYC connects with potential Listing Partners to introduce the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator Program, learn about the potential Listing Partner’s Organization and their program(s).
Listing(s) Research
helpNYC meets with program staff and then moves to identifies, researches, verifies the potential Listing Partner’s listing(s). Listings are drafted based on the results of the research and verification parameters of the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator
Listing(s) Approval
The potential listing(s) are approved within the matrix to ensure quality control of the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator Program’s listing requirements.
Listing(s) Publishing
Once Listing(s) are approved, the listing is published on the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator website.\
Listing(s) Maintenance
helpNYC maintains listing(s) by reverifying the Listing Partner’s information on a predetermined, periodic basis. helpNYC asks its Listing Partners to proactively update helpNYC with program changes as well, so the listing(s) is up-to-date.
Listing Removal
If helpNYC cannot verify the listing or the organization ends its partnership with helpNYC the listing will be removed from the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator website immediately.
Appeal
If the Listing Partner disagrees with the way a listing is published or disagrees with the removal of a listing, the Listing Partner is encouraged to engage helpNYC to discuss the situation.
Program Listing Parameters
Listing Criteria
The program has no barriers or low-barriers to service entry.
The only consideration to a listing that is not low-barrier is if the service is unique to its location or service type AND helpNYC is able to verify all barriers, and such is disclosed reasonably within the listing. This consideration must be disclosed within the listing publicly.
The service(s) are rendered within the five boroughs of New York City. Are open to all New York City Residents.
The listing can be verified and maintained on a regular basis through a partnership between the program’s organizational staff, leadership, or lead volunteer(s). Ideally with a minimum of two points of contact within a program.
Depending on the service type listings will vary in the information provided. All listings must contain the following basic information:
Name of Organization
Name of Program (if different from the Organization)
Program Point of Service Street Address and Contact Information (phone, email, website)
Program Service Schedule (Days/Dates and Times)
Program Restrictions and Requirements (if any) (This can be generalized if the program’s website clearly communicates this information. The Listing Note should include this referral.)
Become a helpNYC Listing Partner
Ready to get your program listed on the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator?
Due to elevated interest in new listing partnerships, we have gone to an invite-only structure for welcoming new listing partners.
Please use the Listing Suggestion Form to suggest your program or organization be listed on the helpNYC.info Resource Navigator. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause while we build capacity to onboard new partners.