In the early 1970s, Hayes began his career in journalism as an assistant editor for
Passenger Transport and an investigative journalist for the
Long Island Catholic Newspaper. After working as a legislative assistant in healthcare from 1975 to 1977, Hayes began practicing law with
Sullivan & Cromwell in 1977. Hayes left Sullivan & Comwell in 1982 to launch the
National Coalition for the Homeless. He remained with the coalition until 1989 where he brought numerous lawsuits expanding the right to shelter to women and families, and winning multiple cases involving the rights of people with mental disabilities and children. He later resumed his law career with the
Los Angeles,
California firm
O'Melveny & Myers. In 1992, he moved to
Portland, Maine to work with the law firm Moon, Moss, Gill & Bachelder. Hayes shifted from law to healthcare upon his move to
Hartsdale, New York in 2002. At the
Medicare Rights Center, he served as president in 2002. Hayes held his executive position until he resigned in 2009. Hayes extended his career in health as a member of the
quality assurance department for
Universal American between 2010 and 2015. In January 2015, Hayes became the president of
Community Healthcare Network in New York. ==Awards and honors==