Hands Across Long Island

What Hands Across Long Island does

Hands Across Long Island (HALI), founded in 1988, is a nonprofit peer-run mental health organization headquartered in Central Islip, New York, and the only organization of its kind on Long Island. It delivers a portfolio of community-based mental health, recovery, and social-determinant services to adults with behavioral health conditions, individuals experiencing homelessness, and people with criminal justice involvement across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Core service lines include the INSET (Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team) program, a Peer Recovery Center, supported housing through the NYS Single Point of Access system, a Mobile Shower Unit (now two units) and Food Pantry for unsheltered individuals, peer-facilitated forensic bridging inside jails and prisons, the MYBody physical wellness program, a Support Line, and peer workforce development and certification support.

The underlying service architecture is a peer-led, community-embedded model that pairs staff with lived behavioral health experience with credentialed clinicians (LCSWs, CASACs, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, NYCPS-certified peer specialists). Service delivery is multimodal: fixed-site, mobile, embedded-in-hospital (via a Stony Brook Medicine CPEP partnership announced December 2024), and in-custody. The organization has built regulatory standing as one of only four NYS-designated INSET providers and the sole holder of the state's Forensic INSET grant (awarded July 2025).

HALI's revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Funding comes from the NYS Office of Mental Health, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, SAMHSA, Suffolk County Opioid Settlement funds, and the Wellness Collaborative of New York, supplemented by individual and organizational donations. All participant-facing services are provided free of charge. Marketing and growth occur through referral networks, county Single Point of Access systems, community events including the annual Bi-County Peer Workforce Empowerment Conference, and a small digital presence (website and LinkedIn).

Name

Hands Across Long Island

Legal name

Hands Across Long Island, Inc.

Website

https://hali88.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hands Across Long Island (HALI) is a nonprofit peer-run mental health organization serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties with community-based recovery, supported housing, homeless outreach, forensic bridging, and peer workforce development services delivered free to participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Community Housing Services (62422), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Peer support services
• Community mental health
• Supported housing
• Homeless outreach
• Recovery services

Headquarters

HQ city

Central Islip

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: HALI operates as a nonprofit funded primarily through government grants from NYS Office of Mental Health, Suffolk County Opioid Settlement funds, OTDA, and other state/county sources. Services are provided free to participants.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations through the website donation form.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HALI is a peer-run mental health organization on Long Island delivering community-based mental health and recovery services free of charge to participants. Core offerings include the INSET (Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team) program, a Peer Recovery Center, supported housing with rental subsidies, homeless outreach via Mobile Shower Unit and food/clothing pantries, forensic bridging services for justice-involved individuals, peer workforce development, and a peer support line.

Product overview

Hands Across Long Island (HALI) operates as a unified peer-run mental health organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community-based services. The core offerings include the INSET Program (Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team) as a flagship peer-driven model, the Peer Recovery Center as a community hub, Supported Housing with rental subsidies, Homeless Outreach Services featuring the Mobile Shower Unit and Food Pantry, Peer Workforce Development with training and internship programs, a Support Line for crisis listening, MYBody for physical wellness, Community Self-Help Groups, and Forensic Bridging for justice-involved individuals. These services are delivered across Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, with the organization serving as the only peer-run mental health organization in the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• INSET Program (Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team) A voluntary, community-based service reaching people who need more than conventional mental health supports, combining peer staff with lived experience and clinical staff (LCSWs, CASACs, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, Family Peer Advocates).
• Peer Recovery Center A peer-run daily drop-in center at 159 Brightside Ave, Central Islip offering coffee, breakfast, lunch, recreational activities, peer advocacy, community participation, employment exploration, and creative connections.
• Supported Housing Rental subsidy program in Nassau and Suffolk Counties accessed via the Single Point of Access (SPA) system, providing regular Housing Advocate visits for care coordination, daily living skills, and employment support.
• Homeless Outreach (Mobile Shower Unit, Food Pantry, Clothing Closet) Mobile hygiene services via a four-stall trailer serving Huntington, Patchogue, Wyandanch, Mastic, Blue Point, plus a Central Islip Food Pantry partnered with LI Cares and Island Harvest and a Clothing Closet for individuals without stable housing.
• Peer Workforce Development Training, certification support, paid internships, and professional development for peer specialists, in partnership with the Academy of Peer Services and including a Regional Peer Network for Long Island.
• Support Line A peer support hotline available at (631) 234-1925 ext. 1 and [email protected], providing listening support for individuals experiencing emotional distress or seeking connection.
• MYBody Physical Wellness Program Trauma-informed physical wellness program offering wellness coaching, cooking classes, a walking club, soccer, and cornhole to support sustainable healthy habits for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
• Community Self-Help Groups Peer-facilitated self-help groups held in partnership with hospitals, jails, and other facilities, focused on practical support for recovery and coping with obstacles.
• Forensic Bridging Peer-facilitated groups within local jails and state prisons, with post-release support including pick-up services, 1:1 support, and drop-in center groups aimed at reducing recidivism.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces recidivism through forensic bridging program
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mental Health Association of Nassau CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2026Ongoing partnership to co-host the Bi-County Peer Workforce Empowerment Conference. In 2026, more than 200 peer specialists attended the 33rd Annual conference with keynote by Clarencetine (Teena) Brooks of NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
• Stony Brook MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024HALI has partnered with Stony Brook Medicine to deploy experienced peer specialists to the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). This collaboration transforms emergency department visits into opportunities for healing, connection, and recovery.
• Academy of Peer Services (APS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHALI partners with APS Training and Support Network. APS provides required training for NY Peer Specialists free online. HALI offers the APS Learning Collaborative for group support with the APS process.
• Nassau and Suffolk County Departments of Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty Departments collaborate with HALI on INSET program delivery and community mental health services. Strategic partners in the INSET program alongside Association for Mental Health & Wellness and Response Crisis Center.
• LI Cares and Island HarvestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood pantry partners providing supplemental food distribution. HALI's Food Pantry in Central Islip partners with these organizations to eliminate food insecurity in Suffolk County.
• Local Places of Worship and LibrariesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity hosts for the Mobile Shower Unit throughout Suffolk County. Locations include churches, the Huntington Public Library, and other community sites.
• Temple University Collaborative for Community InclusionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the landmark peer support report 'Listening to the Peer Support Workforce' co-authored by HALI's Jeremy Reuling with Jessica Wolf and Rita Cronise. Report endorsed by Alliance for Rights and Recovery, Pat Deegan, and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery: National peer-run training and technical-assistance organization for peer specialists. Comparable peer-run mental-health model with a national training, certification, and capacity-building footprint.
• Mental Health Association of Nassau County: Long Island-based mental-health nonprofit serving overlapping populations in Nassau County. Co-hosts HALI's annual Bi-County Peer Workforce Empowerment Conference and operates peer-driven programs with similar populations.
• NYC Justice Peer Initiative: New York City-based peer-run criminal-justice reentry and peer workforce organization. Directly comparable on the Forensic INSET/justice-involvement services that HALI now offers, and awarded HALI the 2025 Guardians of Justice Award.
• Response Crisis Center: Co-partner with HALI and Association for Mental Health & Wellness in delivering the INSET program. Comparable peer-driven crisis and engagement services model.
• NAMI Long Island: Long Island affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness providing peer-led support groups, advocacy, and education. Directly comparable peer-support mission and regional service area.
• Wellness Collaborative of New York: Statewide Independent Practice Association for peer services in New York. Directly comparable mission around peer-specialist workforce development and a current grant-funder of HALI's Regional Peer Network Coordinator role.
• Federation of Organizations for the NYS Mental Health: New York nonprofit providing peer support, housing, and recovery services across multiple regions. Comparable peer-delivered services model with similar NYS government-grant funding structure.
• Association for Mental Health & Wellness (MHW): Connecticut-based peer-run mental-health nonprofit and a strategic partner on the INSET program. Directly comparable peer-run service delivery model serving individuals with mental-health conditions.

Regional players

• Long Island Coalition for the Homeless: Regional Long Island nonprofit focused on homelessness prevention and housing services. Comparable supported-housing and homeless-outreach mission overlapping with HALI's Supported Housing and Mobile Shower Unit programs in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health Association in Suffolk County: Established Suffolk County affiliate of Mental Health America offering broader mental-health programming. Overlaps with HALI in geographic service area and mental-health service population, though with a wider portfolio of programs beyond peer support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hali88
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hands-across-long-island

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hands Across Long Island