University Settlement Society of New York

University Settlement Society of New York America's first settlement house. Our programs impact the lives of over 40,000 New Yorkers each year at 30+ locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

www.universitysettlement.org More than 130 years ago, University Settlement launched an innovative movement that changed New York City and the country. With University Settlement leading, settlement houses established the idea that immigrants and low-income families deserve basic services like quality education, decent housing, access to open space for exercise and health, and support for the agin

g. They proved that with a little help, these families could get a foothold on the American dream. Providing social services that give families a helping hand has become part of our national fabric. University Settlement has continued to set the standard and invent best practices for others to follow in America. Today, University Settlement has remained true to its first principle: to strengthen a community, you must strengthen families. And to strengthen a family, you must provide a range of services and support. Not just childcare. Not just after-school programs. Not just education for adults or meals for seniors. Providing integrated services that strengthen a whole family makes all the difference.

We were proud to co-host “Networking: It’s Not a Nice to Have, It’s Essential” with United Neighborhood Houses earlier t...
06/12/2026

We were proud to co-host “Networking: It’s Not a Nice to Have, It’s Essential” with United Neighborhood Houses earlier this month. 💬

The discussion was led by Melissa Aase (CEO, University Settlement) and Maria Lizardo (Executive Director, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation), who shared their experiences and explained how strategic relationships, shared purpose, and communal action can help drive meaningful change. Attendees discussed how networks can support policy advocacy, community mobilization, resource sharing, and collaborative solutions to the pressing challenges facing our neighborhoods.

Thank you to UNH, NMIC, Maria, Melissa, and everyone who joined us!

New York City must follow the law and keep its promise to the people who educate and care for New Yorkers in every commu...
06/12/2026

New York City must follow the law and keep its promise to the people who educate and care for New Yorkers in every community and of all ages.

It’s been reported that City Hall is considering delaying or reducing the legally required payments to contracted human services organizations that are due beginning July 1st.

If the City fails to make these payments then summer camps, senior centers and Meals on Wheels, foster care, home care, shelters and housing programs will be in immediate crisis, unable to pay staff and bills. Our organizations, which have been starved for years by late and low payments while responding to rising community needs, have planned financially for these advances, and we need them to run our programs - and partner with the City to advance the goals of health, equity and safety we all are working toward.

The City must find another way, and not manage its cash flow on the backs of our communities, our staff, and our anchor community institutions.

This not just a plea. This is not crying wolf. This is about the City saying some New Yorkers matter less. This is the law and we will defend our communities.

NYC Mayor's Office

Five dedicated soccer players from our Beacon program, which offers after-school and summer youth development opportunit...
06/11/2026

Five dedicated soccer players from our Beacon program, which offers after-school and summer youth development opportunities at East Side Community School, are headed to a World Cup Round of 32 match on June 30th! 🏟️

Thanks to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, five students from our Beacon’s soccer program will get to attend a World Cup match this summer. The students selected have shown real commitment to their team, and we’re delighted they’ll get to be part of such a special experience.

"Soccer has been a huge part of my life for years, so being selected to attend a World Cup match is an incredible honor,” shared Sinclair Thorne IV, a senior. “Watching the world’s best players compete on the biggest stage is something I’ve always dreamed about. I’m thankful for this opportunity and excited to experience the energy, passion, and unity that the World Cup brings.”

This opportunity was made possible thanks to Stavros Niarchos, a foundation partner that currently funds The Creative Center, our award-winning arts-in-health and creative aging program. Knowing that we also offer youth programs, they reached out to share the opportunity with all of their NYC-area youth-serving partners.

A huge thank you to Stavros Niarchos for making this possible – and congratulations to our Beacon soccer players! Read the full press release at the link in our bio.

Graduation is approaching, and our seniors at College Passport are getting a firsthand look at one of the most practical...
06/09/2026

Graduation is approaching, and our seniors at College Passport are getting a firsthand look at one of the most practical skills they’ll carry into college: financial literacy! 💸

Last month, College Passport students from New Design High School and East Side Community School visited First Manhattan for a workshop led by employee volunteers. This was our second year partnering with First Manhattan for this workshop, and after a successful event last year, their team once again planned and hosted a thoughtful day in their offices.

Students rotated through three breakout groups focused on budgeting, lending, and financial success, with space to ask questions and connect what they were learning to real decisions that come with college and young adulthood.

Thank you to our partners at First Manhattan for welcoming our students, and for sharing your time and expertise!

Yesterday’s Village View NORC Wellness Day brought important health conversations closer to home. 🩺Over 85 neighbors sto...
06/05/2026

Yesterday’s Village View NORC Wellness Day brought important health conversations closer to home. 🩺

Over 85 neighbors stopped by the Village View NORC courtyard for an afternoon of health resources, free food, music, and time together. Our partners from NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Gracie Square Hospital were on site to share information and answer questions about vision care, breast care, mental health, and more. Public Health Solutions assisted with health insurance options, a nurse from VNS Health provided consults and blood pressure screenings, and a contracted nutritionist from the National Enrichment Group gave advice on healthy eating. Between visits to resource tables, neighbors caught up with each other, shared a meal, listened to music, and enjoyed the warm weather.

Big thanks to our healthcare partners, the Village View NORC team, and everyone who joined us yesterday!

Every year, our College Passport program partners with more than 1,600 public school students as they graduate from high...
06/03/2026

Every year, our College Passport program partners with more than 1,600 public school students as they graduate from high school and transition to college.

Sophia Ramos, a junior at East Side Community School, recently sat down with us to talk about what College Passport means to her:

“Through College Passport, I’ve been able to go on college trips to schools such as visits to Rowan University, Mount St. Mary, and Lafayette College. It was much easier for me to go on these organized trips with the group College Passport leads, since they take place during the school day and I don’t have to worry about finding my own transportation and dealing with traffic. And now that I’ve gone on these trips I feel much more confident visiting colleges by myself when necessary.

From these trips, I’ve found that I like smaller schools. I also have recognized how important diversity on a college campus is to me, so I won’t feel as isolated. When we go on trips, Simone, our college counselor, provides anecdotes about her own college life, which is also super valuable. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had through this program and am excited about applying to colleges next year. I’m thinking I want to stay in New York to get in-state tuition.”

We’re celebrating 140 years of University Settlement! 🥳On Saturday, we hosted a kickoff party for our 140th birthday. Sp...
06/01/2026

We’re celebrating 140 years of University Settlement! 🥳

On Saturday, we hosted a kickoff party for our 140th birthday. Speyer Hall was buzzing with conversation as neighbors enjoyed lunch from delicious Lower East Side eateries. Our CEO Melissa Aase gave remarks before we started our trivia contest, which reflected on the many ways NYC and University Settlement have evolved together. We all learned something new about the organization, and the winner left with a University Settlement tote bag and water bottle. The celebration also featured multiple performances: our EXCEL program participants performed some dance routines, and members of our HeART program put on a Tai Chi demo.

Sheila Fontanive (Director, The Creative Center) also led a collaborative art project inviting participants to customize a paper bird, inspired by their vision of our collective future. The result: a colorful and creative mural we all gathered in front of to take a picture.


Huge thanks to everyone who made the day possible – and don’t worry, our birthday celebrations are just getting started! Keep an eye out for more information about our Manhattan and Brooklyn block parties coming up this fall.

College Passport is offering a FREE SAT prep summer program! 📖All NYC high school students are eligible to join us every...
05/29/2026

College Passport is offering a FREE SAT prep summer program! 📖

All NYC high school students are eligible to join us every Tuesday from July 7 to August 6, 1-4 PM at East Side Community High School (420 East 12th Street) for a comprehensive SAT prep experience. By completing the course, students will be better prepared for the exam and increase their chances of achieving desired scores. The course covers all sections of the exam, including reading and math, and includes practice tests and personalized feedback to help identify areas that need improvement. With the guidance of experienced instructors, students will learn test-taking strategies, time management skills, and how to approach different types of questions. There will also be office hours from 1 PM to 4 PM on Thursdays during the program.

Sign up at https://forms.gle/QBvq2kk1SxvwKD9H9 no later than June 7th, and don’t forget to share this with someone preparing for the SAT!

This May, our HeART participants are celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Tai Chi!Our HeART program for older adults cre...
05/27/2026

This May, our HeART participants are celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Tai Chi!

Our HeART program for older adults creates opportunities for participants to practice Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese movement practice that many in our community have long been familiar with and others are learning for the first time. Tai Chi is rooted in balance, discipline, presence, and care for the whole self. Through steady movement and focused breathing, older adults in our programs have a chance to stay active, be present in the moment, and build community with each other.

This Saturday, you can see a demo for yourself at our 140th Birthday Kickoff! Reserve free tickets at https://tinyurl.com/us140-053026

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184 Eldridge Street
New York, NY
10002

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

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