No one should disappear in death because their family lacked the resources to intervene.

There is no guidebook for what happens after someone dies—but families are expected to navigate it anyway.

The Problem

Every year, individuals in New York City are buried anonymously because their families cannot afford or navigate the legal and administrative systems required to reclaim them.

Families often exist. They want to act.
But barriers around cost, documentation, timing, and fragmented systems prevent them from doing so.

What We Do

The Death Advocacy Project provides direct advocacy and support to families navigating what happens after death—before and after someone is classified as unclaimed.

We:

• Help families intervene before anonymous burial

• Locate next of kin in unclaimed cases

• Navigate systems like the Medical Examiner, HRA, and funeral services

• Prepare and organize required documentation

• Coordinate logistics across agencies, housing, and service providers

• Provide guidance on burial, cremation, and culturally appropriate options

• Help families access financial assistance—or step in when it is not enough

We bridge the gap when families don’t know where to turn—offering clear options, coordination, and real-time support.

What This Looks Like

LINKS TO CASE STUDIES

What Your Support Makes Possible

Donations directly support:

• Cremation and burial costs

• Court filing and documentation fees

• Records access and next-of-kin location

• Real-time advocacy and coordination across agencies

• Direct assistance to help families reclaim loved ones

Your contribution helps ensure that families are able to make decisions, honor their loved ones, and avoid anonymous burial.

When you give, your donation goes directly toward helping individuals who would otherwise be buried without family intervention—and supporting the families working to bring them home.

Every donation creates the possibility for someone to be claimed.