Lutheran Social Services of New York

Lutheran Social Services of New York Strengthening Lives, Families and Communities since 1886!

Our agency helps seniors live independently, provides families for children, provides safe affordable housing, educational services, maintains hunger prevention centers and provides services for immigrants and refugees.

"I always wanted to be a superhero, but I chose the next best thing. A social worker." Congratulations to Donovan Clemmo...
06/02/2026

"I always wanted to be a superhero, but I chose the next best thing. A social worker."

Congratulations to Donovan Clemmons, Senior/High Risk Case Manager at our Bergen Street Residence!

He earned his Master of Social Work degree last week.

We recommended Donovan for the DMH one-year residency program at Hunter College. Thanks to our contract with DMH for our Bergen Street program, he was able to obtain a scholarship. Site Director Asma Aljahmi served as Donovan's field instructor and earned her Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) certification in the process.

Says Rachel Bleecker, LSSNY’s Executive Director for Residential Services, “They are both huge assets to LSSNY, to the social work field, and I simply couldn't be prouder!”

Read Donovan’s 2025 spotlight about his own personal superhero — his grandfather — and how, as a black male social worker, he’s particularly able to serve clients who had previously felt misunderstood and therefore disengaged.

https://lssny.org/social-work-superhero/

LSSNY provides trusted, community-rooted support that meets urgent needs and builds lasting change.

05/29/2026

The reason they were put into foster care? No one else was taking care of their medical and mental health needs.

Meet Christine Amodeo, Lutheran Social Services of New York’s Assistant Executive Director of Children’s Services.

Learn how LSSNY provides extensive services for those in foster care, many of whom have experienced all kinds of trauma.

And view a sneak peek of our foster care clinic renovation. Lighter and brighter all around!

LSSNY provides trusted, community-rooted support that meets urgent needs and builds lasting change.

AMazingLOvingSTrongHappy SElflessGRacefulStunningWhat is the thread that unites these adjectives?As you can see from the...
05/28/2026

AMazing
LOving
STrong
Happy
SElfless
GRaceful
Stunning

What is the thread that unites these adjectives?

As you can see from the signage — mothers!

These are scenes from Our Sister’s Place, Lutheran Social Services of New York’s foster care residence for six expectant and young mothers and their babies. The women range in age from 17 to 21.

Our Sister’s Place provides professional therapeutic services, informal parenting guidance, a weekly cooking class, and financial literacy from a Fair Futures NYC coach. Each youth has a permanency goal. The first is to be reunited with a family member. The second is to acquire housing. When a program participant turns seventeen-and-a-half years old, they can apply for EPLA housing. Last year, two of the young women moved into their own apartments.

NYC Administration for Children's Services- ACS provides for entertainment excursions. Says Anita McCoy, Director of Our Sister’s Place, “Laughter is important for the trauma that we suppress. A lot of these young ladies come from trauma…and some is unthinkable. For some, it started when they were two or three years old. Some have been in other foster homes and lost sight of what love is.”

Rather than strive for what she calls “grandiose opportunities,” Anita’s approach is “very simple and very basic.” This can take the form of celebrating birthdays, and — in the case of Mother’s Day — celebrating motherhood.

Earlier this month, we held a Mother's Day brunch. “The day was filled with gratefulness and joy,” said Anita. “The youths enjoyed their time together with their children.”

We are grateful for LSSNY’s Dr. Diaon Clarke, LCSW-R, Director of Socio-Therapeutic Services, as well as her daughter. They raised money to provide gifts from Bath & Body Works. We supplemented this with Victoria's Secret gift certificates.

LSSNY provides trusted, community-rooted support that meets urgent needs and builds lasting change.

05/18/2026

Free internet access comes to the Bronx!

Lutheran Social Services of New York proudly hosted a press conference with NYC Mayor's Office, Rep. Ritchie Torres, NYPL The New York Public Library, Althea Stevens, and our resident Caridad Suarez.

Our St. John’s supportive housing residences are part of the pilot program to bring free broadband Internet access to over 2,000 low-income residents in the South Bronx and Upper Manhattan, with Internet installed and provided by Flume Internet, Inc.

At the open house, The New York Public Library worked with our residents to enable their connectivity at home.

There was hands-on assistance, food, music, balloons, and photo ops with The NYPL lion. Some of us were treated to a resident’s service dog repeating the words, “I love you.” We’ll share that video too.

Our Neighborhood Internet open house was paired with the dedication of The Darden Garden at St. John’s II, named in memory of the late James Darden, LSSNY’s former Central Office Manager, Advancement & Communications. In attendance: His widow Mrs. Darden, LSSNY Board Member Steven Jones, and New York State Assemblyman Michael Blake.

Reliable, high-speed Internet access is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s world. Yet one in five Bronx households lacks broadband access. As our President and CEO Damyn Kelly, J.D., PhD said, “One’s zip code should never dictate one’s access to information. This new initiative helps to guarantee that.”

Our residential program serves just under 500 individuals and consists of five residences in Brooklyn and the Bronx. We provide residential support, mental health and substance abuse counseling, job and vocational training, case management, peer support, and crisis intervention. Our shelter services assist approximately 1,500 additional individuals.

LSSNY provides trusted, community-rooted support that meets urgent needs and builds lasting change.

"To the world, you are a mother, but to your family, you are the world."—unknown authorOn Mother’s Day, we recognized st...
05/12/2026

"To the world, you are a mother, but to your family, you are the world."—unknown author

On Mother’s Day, we recognized staff at our Non-Secure Detention Center.

Gift baskets included a plant, notepad, fluffy socks, mug and spoon, tea, and candle. A recipe for wellness and relaxation!

Our center provides residential care and case management for justice-involved youth.

At LSSNY, we provide trusted, community-rooted support that meets urgent needs and builds lasting change.

To all the mothers and mother figures — you are appreciated for all that you do. Happy Mother’s Day!
05/10/2026

To all the mothers and mother figures — you are appreciated for all that you do.

Happy Mother’s Day!

05/07/2026

Equaling the playing field.

For education. Finding a job. Accessing healthcare. Building community.

At our St John’s II supportive housing residence in the Bronx, NYC Mayor's Office and Rep. Ritchie Torres announced a $2 million expansion to bring free broadband Internet access to over 2,000 low-income residents. We were delighted to host this press conference.

The Neighborhood Internet program — the first of its kind in the country — serves New Yorkers in the South Bronx and Upper Manhattan. It’s a groundbreaking partnership with NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) and NYPL The New York Public Library, with Internet installed and provided by Flume Internet, Inc.

Reliable, high-speed Internet access is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s world.

Yet one in five Bronx households lacks broadband access.

Caridad Suarez, a resident of LSSNY’s St. John’s supportive housing development, spoke about using the Internet to schedule Access-A-Rides and acupuncture appointments, find free things to do with her grandchildren, and keep learning. She expressed excitement about her first NYPL card and gratitude about the NYPL’s Internet tech support and everything the library has to offer.

“Food is expensive and I have four grandchildren that love their grandmother's cooking,” she said. “But now, thanks to the Neighborhood Internet, I'm saving $204 every month.”

Our residential program serves just under 500 individuals and consists of five residences in Brooklyn and the Bronx. We provide residential support, mental health and substance abuse counseling, job and vocational training, case management, peer support, and crisis intervention. Our shelter services assist approximately 1,500 additional individuals.

LSSNY provides trusted, community-rooted support that meets urgent needs and builds lasting change.

Watch this space.

Althea Stevens Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson

Remember scrapbooks — the analog version of Pinterest where you curate and save your favorites?Our Community House progr...
04/27/2026

Remember scrapbooks — the analog version of Pinterest where you curate and save your favorites?

Our Community House program participants created their own books, using stickers, scissors, and glue sticks. At this residence, along with providing case management services, we also provide interactive groups such as art therapy, cooking classes, gaming, and morning coffee.

Our residential program serves more than 500 individuals and consists of six residences in Brooklyn and the Bronx. We provide residential support, mental health and substance abuse counseling, job and vocational training, case management, peer support, and crisis intervention. Our shelter services assist approximately 1,500 additional individuals.

Green thumbs start young!On Earth Day, children in our Early Life childhood education program did some planting.The seed...
04/23/2026

Green thumbs start young!

On Earth Day, children in our Early Life childhood education program did some planting.

The seed for our gardening initiative was planted years ago by a father in our program. He wanted his child's walk to school to include trees and pleasant scenery.

While we could not plant trees on New York City streets, we could create school gardens. We also wanted to find a way to help the families experiencing food insecurity due to COVID. We pursued and obtained a grant from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to provide an opportunity that would promote biodiversity, food security, quality nutrition, activity, and quality learning spaces through our school gardens.

With the additional support of Tierra Bruja, a self-described “landscape design firm that specializes in feeling the earth, not just seeing it,” we were able to design gardens geared deliberately and specifically to the needs of our children and communities.

The program is designed to help children in urban areas develop life skills. By caring for plants, they learn about responsibility. They also gain understanding as they learn about cause and effect, such as plant growth being thwarted by weeds and plants dying without water.

Growing fresh fruit and vegetables helps children expand their palates. Our teachers take this time to provide information about healthy eating. Children who participate in school gardens tend to have a better and healthier relationship with food thanks to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

The gardens provide an ongoing platform for our teachers to create innovative learning experiences at each of our Early Life locations. Among the items being grown are tomatoes, squash, peppers, and lettuce.

Says Executive Director of Early Life Beatrice Hutcherson, MS. SpEd, “Each class is so proud of the progress!”

Our Early LIFE program provides early childhood education to over 500 students aged two to five in our childcare centers. We support a network of 98 home-based childcare providers, serving more than 900 children aged six weeks to three years.

Good attendance can elude any student, but it’s even more difficult for children who are experiencing home insecurity.Th...
04/20/2026

Good attendance can elude any student, but it’s even more difficult for children who are experiencing home insecurity.

That’s why New York City Public Schools have Students in Temporary Housing (STH) community coordinator services. This role serves as a liaison to ensure that students in temporary housing get the support they need, including school selection and enrollment, transportation assistance, and referrals to city agency and community support.

At Lutheran Social Services of New York's Concord House residence, we held an event to recognize and celebrate students and families for strong attendance. We call these students our Attendance Superstars!

Laiza Blanco, M.Ed., STH Community Coordinator, told LSSNY, “Because of your partnership, we were able to create a positive and uplifting experience that reinforces the importance of attendance and community support. The impact of this event will continue to motivate our students moving forward.”

LSSNY serves more than 7,000 vulnerable New Yorkers, providing early childhood education, safe and affordable housing, hunger prevention, foster care, and immigration legal services.

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New York, NY

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12128701100

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