University Settlement
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University Settlement sits at the heart of the Lower East Side, a beacon to the new immigrants and economically diverse families that live in this community. Every day, we strive to address their ever-changing needs, compassionately, holistically and precisely. Every year, we make a tangible difference in the lives of the 20,000 people that we serve.

Photo of child in the classroom

Our Early Childhood Center is one of the many services that we provide.

As the first settlement house in the United States, founded in 1886, University Settlement embodies the settlement ideal — working from within the community to buoy the lives of individuals, families and the collective whole. To this day, our historic headquarters on the corner of Rivington and Eldridge Streets serves as a vital neighborhood anchor.

No longer a literal home for immigrants, as it was in the early days, the Settlement remains a haven for Lower East Side residents of all ages. Here, they can find the best in child care, pre-school, housing assistance, mental health services, college and career preparation, crisis intervention, senior services, arts events, English classes, afterschool programs and more.

Beyond the day-to-day, University Settlement consistently looks to the future, pioneering new ideas, advocating for those most in need, and reinventing the settlement ideal for successive generations. It is this convergence of tradition and innovation that makes University Settlement a standout among community-based social service organizations.

University Settlement is a member of United Neighborhood Houses of New York and United Way of New York.

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184 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002  •  Phone (212) 674-9120