Harlem's Picture The Homeless Launches Fund To Stay Afloat

EAST HARLEM, NY — East Harlem nonprofit Picture the Homeless has launched a fund in an attempt to rebuild the organization and hang on to its neighborhood office after falling on rough financial times.

Picture the Homeless was forced to shut down operations at its East 126th Street office and fire its staff in June, according to a GoFundMe campaign. A team of volunteers and the organization's board is working to keep the organization running, but it may be forced to close permanently if the fund is unsuccessful.

"Picture the Homeless has put together a transition team and can certainly come out stronger following this hard time. We are focused and in fight mode right now so please trust that we are working 24/7 to keep PTH afloat," a statement on the GoFundMe page reads.

Donations are currently being put toward paying the monthly rent of $6,600 for the East Harlem office space, amNewYork first reported. The organization is also planning a "pay the rent" party on July 27 to help keep the space.

Picture the Homeless board member Jermain Abdullah told amNewYork the organization has fallen on tough times due to a lack of grant money and donations.

Members of Picture the Homeless, many experiencing homelessness, used the East Harlem office as a place to organize the group's many advocacy campaigns. Local campaigns led by the group include an effort to re-open a public restroom located under the Metro North viaduct in East Harlem and efforts to protest the displacement of low-income residents. The organization's East Harlem office also serves as a place where members could stop in for shelter and get their mail delivered.

The GoFundMe campaign, which has a goal of $100,000, has raised more than $7,400 in eight days.

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