Takerootjustice

Housing rights: takeroot's affordable housing work has preserved more than 10,000 units of affordable housing, achieved millions of dollars' worth of repairs for low-income tenants, and kept thousands of new yorkers in their homes by preventing eviction and displacement. Takeroot's housing rights team provides legal support to neighborhood groups across the city that are organizing low-income tenants to fight back against gentrification and preserve the affordability of new york's housing stock. Takeroot provides civil legal services to low-income tenants by bringing suit on behalf of tenant associations against landlords attempting to displace low-income tenants by withholding repairs, illegally increasing rents, harassing and intimidating tenants. Takeroot's housing rights team also provides legal assistance through Community workshops and training, legal clinics and a advice hotline. In coalition with local grassroots organizations, takeroot's housing rights team also works to strengthen tenant protections at the local and state level to ensure housing stability for all new yorkers

Immigrants' rights: takeroot's immigrants' rights team finds innovative ways to use and change laws in order to build power in immigrant communities of color. Takeroot employs the tools of direct representation, Community education, and advocacy to advance the rights of low-income immigrants. Takeroot partners with working class immigrant organizing groups to provide their members with comprehensive legal representation in affirmative and removal defense cases. Takeroot aims to protect individuals from detention and deportation, keep families together and build power in immigrant communities. Takeroot provides up-to-date know your rights ("kyr") workshops and materials to help our partners keep their base safe and informed of changes in immigration policy. Takeroot's team is also involved in efforts to support the Development of immigrant Community defense networks, advocacy to challenge harsh immigration laws and enforcement practices, and promote language access

Resource management and coalition coordination: takeroot's resource management team administers and manages the organization's government funding contracts and collects and analyzes data on takeroot's many programs and services. The team also includes professionals who coordinate and manage coalitions of nonprofit organizations engaged in housing, immigration and employment work in new york city.

Workers rights: takeroot's workers' rights practice combats wage theft, workplace exploitation and violations against workers who assert their rights under labor laws. Takeroot partners with worker centers and worker organizing groups to bring lawsuits on behalf of low-wage workers to combat violations such as unpaid minimum wages and overtime, tip theft, discrimination, harassment and retaliation against workers who assert their rights under the labor laws. We also engage in extensive advocacy with the new york and u.s. Departments of labor on behalf of individual workers whose workplace rights have been violated. Takeroot's workers' rights team has developed deep experience in litigating claims for violations of federal and state wage and hour laws, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination laws, anti-trafficking laws and the right to engage in concerted protected activity.

Equitable neighborhoods: takeroot's equitable neighborhoods practice works with grassroots groups, neighborhood organizations and Community coalitions to ensure that people of color, immigrants and low-income residents are not ignored or pushed out in the name of "progress." Takeroot partners with residents in historically under-resourced areas to fight for stable, affordable housing, Community spaces, jobs to make a good living and other opportunities that allow people to thrive. Takeroot's equitable neighborhoods team supports Community groups when they respond to new york city-initiated projects and plans, including neighborhood rezoning's; when they want to understand and influence big Development projects coming to their area; as they create or defend important Community spaces; and when they work to ensure public assets are being used for public good. Takeroot's team also supports grassroots efforts to reform policies to ensure that local people, businesses and Community institutions are not displaced by large developers.

Consumer justice: through free resources including legal clinics, Community education, consumer advocacy services, and legal representation, the consumer justice team builds Community strength and financial empowerment. Takeroot's consumer empowerment services include:- Community education workshops and materials that encourage greater public awareness around consumer and financial empowerment issues, such as credit reporting and access to banking, to demonstrate their impact on low-income communities. The organization strives to teach consumers how to protect and assert their rights.- direct legal services to represent consumers in debt collection litigation and to assert their rights against unlawful debt collection practices. The organization's areas of coverage include breach of lease, credit card debts, student loans, and identity theft, with special attention to the disparate impact of unlawful and fraudulent acts on immigrant communities.- support of Community organizations' advocacy campaigns to bring reform in the areas of employment agency fraud, injustice in the bail bond industry, and increased regulation of debt collectors and process servers in new york city.

Research and policy: takeroot's research & policy team partners with organizing groups on research projects and policy analysis to document problems, formalize issues for policy-makers, and help move campaigns forward.

Capacity building: takeroot's capacity building team offers Community groups the legal assistance they need to establish, grow, build power and bring new opportunities to their neighborhoods. Takeroot's attorneys help build the nonprofits' capacities for effective organizational management and support their organizing and advocacy efforts in the communities takeroot serves. Takeroot provides support in a variety of areas, including entity selection and formation, obtaining and maintaining tax exemption, creating governance documents, complying with employment laws, and engaging in real estate and lease transactions. Takeroot also assists with the formation of worker cooperatives, which gives workers greater control over their working conditions, income and economic futures.