Built Around Community
Meeting Rochester's Needs
Harambee Community Action Initiative provides compassionate, accessible support for individuals facing homelessness, substance use, mental health concerns, health-related social needs, and barriers to stability.
We believe meaningful change begins with connection. By meeting people where they are and responding without judgment, we help individuals access resources, navigate complex systems, and move toward greater stability, recovery, and well-being.
Harambee means “pulling together.” That principle guides our commitment to collective action, shared responsibility, and stronger communities.
HEALTH. HOPE. HEALING
Everyone Deserves A Path Forward
Help Build a Stronger Community
Your support helps Harambee Community Action Initiative connect individuals with housing, food, clothing, healthcare, recovery resources, benefits, employment support, education, and other essential services.
Support That Meets Real Needs
How We Can Help
Many of the people we serve are navigating multiple challenges at the same time. Housing instability may exist alongside untreated health conditions, behavioral health needs, substance use, unemployment, food insecurity, or difficulty accessing public benefits.
Harambee works to connect these pieces so individuals can receive practical, coordinated support built around their circumstances.
Housing Support
A Path Toward Stability
We assist individuals in accessing emergency housing, reintegration and rehabilitation programs, supportive living environments, independent housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and public housing resources.
Health & Care Navigation
Connecting People to Care
We help individuals identify healthcare providers, understand insurance options, navigate Medicaid and healthcare resources, and connect with behavioral health and substance-use services.
Community Resources
Support Beyond One Need
From meals and clothing to employment, benefits, education, and legal-resource navigation, Harambee helps individuals connect with the practical resources that support stability and independence.
Safe Housing. Stronger Foundations.
Housing Support
Emergency Housing
We assist individuals with identifying emergency housing options and connecting with appropriate community resources when immediate shelter is needed.
Permanent Housing
We help individuals explore independent and permanent housing opportunities while providing guidance with housing applications and available community programs.
Supportive Living
Harambee provides referrals and navigation support for reintegration, rehabilitation, and supportive living programs based on individual needs.
Housing Navigation
Support may include guidance related to Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing applications, and other resources that can contribute to long-term housing stability.
Care Through Connection
Health & Recovery Support
Addiction Treatment Referrals
We help facilitate connections with inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient treatment, and medically supervised detoxification services.
Healthcare Navigation
We assist individuals in identifying primary-care providers, navigating health-insurance options, understanding healthcare resources, and applying for Medicaid.
Non-Emergency Crisis Support
Harambee provides crisis de-escalation, brief stabilization, warm hand-offs to appropriate crisis-response resources, and support when emergency intervention is not required.
Coordinated Support
Practical Help For Everyday Needs
Community Resource Support
Food Access
Individuals can access on-site snacks, bagged meals, and water while also receiving connections to local food banks and community food resources.
Benefits Navigation
We help individuals navigate applications for programs such as Temporary Assistance, SNAP, and Social Security.
Clothing Assistance
Harambee provides access to available clothing and referrals to additional community-based clothing resources.
Employment & Education
Support may include online job applications, employment-readiness resources, workforce referrals, GED enrollment, college admissions navigation, and financial-aid guidance.
Compassion. Connection. Community.
Looking for support or community resources?
Whether someone needs housing support, food, healthcare navigation, recovery resources, benefits assistance, or simply help understanding where to turn next, Harambee works to create pathways to care and stability.
Harambee Community Action Initiative was founded to respond to the needs of individuals experiencing housing insecurity, substance-use challenges, chronic mental-health conditions, and other barriers to stability in Rochester, New York.
The word Harambee means “pulling together.”
That principle represents our belief that stronger outcomes happen when individuals, families, community organizations, healthcare providers, and support systems work together.
Our approach is compassionate, trauma-informed, and person-centered. We recognize that each individual’s circumstances are different and that lasting change is often gradual.
We meet people where they are, help remove barriers to essential resources, and support each person’s journey toward greater stability, recovery, dignity, and overall well-being.
Community-Focused Leadership
Meet Our Leadership
Chief Executive Officer
Sabrina Holmes
Sabrina Holmes is an experienced mental health and substance-use clinician with more than 20 years of service to underserved communities.
Her work focuses on trauma-informed practice, culturally responsive care, behavioral health, housing instability, and the integration of health-related social needs into service delivery.
As Chief Executive Officer, Sabrina leads Harambee with a commitment to dignity, self-determination, compassionate care, and sustainable community change.
Chair of the Board
Chaneisse Reaves, RN
Chaneisse Reaves brings extensive clinical expertise and leadership experience working with individuals affected by co-occurring substance-use and mental-health disorders.
Her background also includes supporting homeless populations living with chronic health conditions. Her leadership helps Harambee maintain a compassionate, holistic, person-centered approach to serving underserved communities.
Vice Chair
Irene Wilson, CRPA
Irene Wilson is a Certified Peer Recovery Advocate who draws on lived experience to help support individuals navigating mental-health and substance-use recovery.
We Are Here For You
How Can We Help?
Whether you are looking for support, seeking community resources, interested in partnering with Harambee, or want to learn more about our work, we invite you to reach out.