Know Your Rights, Know Your Resources

For additional Know Your Rights information consider the following links from our partners:

New York Immigration Coalition: Know Your Rights	Hispanic Federation: Conoce Tus Derechos

Find Immigration Legal Help and Other Resources through the New York State New Americans Hotline.

Call 1-800-566-7636 from Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m (except federal holidays). All calls are confidential and anonymous. Information and referrals available in 200+ languages.  Call the New Americans Hotline in order to:

• Get answers to immigration and naturalization questions.
• Receive referrals to free legal help and immigrant services and programs.
• Report fraud or scams against immigrant communities. 

Find a Health Care Center

Certain health centers offer checkups and sick visits regardless of the person’s ability to pay, insurance status or immigration status. Find a Health Care Center near you by clicking here or call 311 (for New York City) and 211 (for all other counties in New York State) and ask about your closest health center.

Get Health Insurance

Some immigrants are eligible for health insurance depending on their status. For assistance visit New York State of Health or a Health Care Navigator.

Get Health Related Support

The New York State Department of Health operates the Growing Up Healthy Hotline, which provides information and referrals about health care, nutrition and other health services 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and Spanish and other languages. All calls are confidential. Contact the Hotline at 1-800-522-5006.

Find Mental Health Support

The New York State Mental Health Hotline can be contacted at 1-800-273-8255. You can find a mental health program in your area here using the Mental Health Program Directory. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be contacted by dialing 988.

Find Addiction Services and Supports

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) hosts the New York State HOPEline which offers help and hope 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for alcoholism, drug abuse and problem gambling. Call 1-877-8-HOPENY(467369) or text HOPENY (467369). Toll-free and confidential.

Find Family Support through Community Action Agencies

Community Action Agencies provide services to help low-income families, including immigrants. Services include employment and training, education, housing, emergency food, and childcare. To find your nearest Community Action Agency, check here.

Find Help with New York Family Law and Family Court Matters

• New York State Courts Help Center: Provides free information about the law and court procedure to people who do not have an attorney. However, Help Center staff do not provide legal advice and are unable to represent you. To obtain the Help Center in your New York State county click here.
• Family Legal Care: Has the mission to increase access to justice in New York State Family Court. Their Helpline gives family law and court information by phone, email, and live chat. Contact them at 1-212-343-1122 (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) or visit their website. The Helpline accepts calls from New York state correctional facilities. Family Legal Care also provides free legal consultations. Appointments can be scheduled through the Helpline. Visit their website for their Legal Resource Guides and their Digital Justice Initiative.

Kinship Navigator

Kinship care refers to grandparents, other relatives, and even family friends who are caring for children. Most kinship caregivers are not foster parents and privately provide full-time care for children. The Kinship Navigator provides information, referrals, and assistance to all families in New York State. To reach the Kinship Navigator visit NYSNavigator.org or call the toll-free Hotline 1-877-454-6463.

Find Employment

The New York State Department of Labor offers free career and employment services including for newcomers.  To learn more, visit a NYS Department of Labor Career Center or see their Asylum Seekers Employment Efforts.

Know Your Rights as a Worker

The NYS Department of Labor is committed to protecting and promoting workers' safety & health, wages, and working conditions by providing education, consultation and enforcement services. Visit here for more information.

Know Your Rights as a Farmworker

The Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs within the New York State Department of Labor conducts outreach with immigrant communities and monitors compliance with labor laws by farms and farmers in the state. For more information, visit the NYS Department of Labor Division of Compliance and Education or call 1-877-466-9757.

Find Consumer Protection Information

For information on how to file a consumer complaint, call the Consumer Assistance Hotline at 1-800-697-1220 or visit us here. The Hotline is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fight Crime and Discrimination in New York State

Report incidents of bias and discrimination with the State Division of Human Rights by calling 1-888-392-3644. The hotline is available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. If you need to report a crime or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.

Report Housing Discrimination

Housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, disability, among others is illegal, regardless of an individual’s immigration status. To report housing discrimination and file a complaint, contact the New York State Division of Human Rights at 1-888-392-3644. If you are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, contact your local Department of Social Services.

Report Human Trafficking

If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Report Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the New York State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-942-6906. The Hotline provides free and confidential assistance. Interpretation services are available.

Protect Your Address

The New York State Address Confidentiality Program is a cost-free program that allows victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, kidnapping or stalking to shield their address. Participants are assigned a substitute address which they will use for receipt of all first-class, registered and certified mail.  For more information call 1-855-350-4595 or visit our website.