United Neighborhood Houses

One of our neighborhood houses' most dynamic duo, Maria Lizardo of Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation and Melissa Aase of University Settlement Society of New York, hosted a Conversations with Leaders on how networks are no longer optional—they are essential. They shared experiences about the role of strategic relationships, shared purpose, and aligned action in driving meaningful, systemic change.

Our Public Service Announcement is now LIVE on select LinkNYC screens in Queens, The Bronx, and Brooklyn until June 19th! Next time you're strolling in this wonderful city we all call home, you might spot us! As always, the biggest thank yous to our volunteer artist Hannah Kochmann (who took this picture in Brooklyn!) and our Havas team!

Next time you're in a yellow cab, look up! You might see our Public Service Announcement - when neighbors come together, the possibilities are endless! More soon to be launched on PSA Network, LinkNYC, and Captivate screens so keep your eyes peeled. 👀

Yesterday, UNH joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, Chancellor Kamar Samuels, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Council Member Jen Gutierrez, and Emmy Liss as they announced nearly 100,000 offers to families for 3-K and Pre-K for the upcoming school year in programs closer to their homes.

Not only do neighborhood settlement houses deliver critical early childhood education for New York's cutest, but they have been on the forefront of the fight for universal child care.

UNH is grateful for the providers who keep our early childhood education programs running and look forward to continuing the work to ensure every family has access to child care.

Last week, UNH attended the Mayor's Child Care Educator Appreciation Dinner with Queens Community House's Margarita Basombrio. Margarita was recognized by her colleagues at QCH for being an incredible early childhood educator who has truly dedicated herself to learning and growing alongside her students. She embodies what the settlement house movement stands for - strong communities start with investing in the people.

Her colleagues at QCH share, "What makes Margarita so special is the love and care she brings into her program every single day. She thoughtfully creates activities for all age groups and ensures that every child, regardless of age or learning ability, feels included, safe, valued, and capable of learning. She connects with children not only educationally, but emotionally and mentally as well. She treats every child as if they were her own, helping them build confidence, feel loved, and know they belong. Margarita is truly helping shape the confident next generation, and we are so grateful for the amazing work she does."

United Neighborhood Houses and our neighborhood settlement houses were among the two thousand of nonprofit workers to call for for human services workers and rally in support of Council Member Althea Stevens' Wage Equity Legislation (Intro 052).

Nonprofit human services workers earn 30% less than City human services workers for the same work. Nonprofit human service workers keep this City running - it is overdue that we pay them what they're worth.

Thank you Human Services Council of New York - HSC for organizing, Maria Lizardo of Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation for emceeing, and Council Members Althea Stevens, Tiffany Cabán , Alexa Avilés, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, Council Member Gale A. Brewer, Council Member Julie Won, Shahana Hanif, and Council Member Lincoln Restler for speaking!

We didn’t think the budget news could get any better for child care this year, but Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani proved us wrong (in the best way) when he released his Executive Budget Proposal today.

The Proposal includes investments in outreach to make sure parents know to sign up, in Family Child Care providers who have been overlooked for too long, and in raising the per-child reimbursement rate for centers that are still operating on 2021 budgets. It goes to show that he and his team really understand this issue and how to actualize the vision of universal care in New York City!

Last Thursday, Tara Klein, UNH's Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy, sat on a panel on combatting SNAP skimming at NYCBenefits' (of NYC Department of Social Services ) convening with The Legal Aid Society and our neighborhood settlement houses Chinese-American Planning Council and The Arab-American Family Support Center. UNH has been leading the coalition to combat SNAP skimming, along with the essential direct service and advocacy work of AAFSC, broader state legislative advocacy efforts of our coalition partners, and The Legal Aid Society's federal lawsuit!

Special thanks to Katie Brennan for organizing this panel!

This morning, UNH; our partner New Yorkers United for Child Care; and our neighborhood settlement houses(Center for Family Life, Sunnyside Community Services, East Side House Settlement, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Grand St. Settlement, and Goddard Riverside) joined Governor Kathy Hochul's announcement of the State Budget's landmark $4.5 billion investment in universal child care.

UNH's Susan Stamler was quoted in the Governor's press release, citing the neighborhood settlement house movement's century-long fight for early childhood education as a public good from opening the nation's first kindergartens in the early 1900s to championing Universal Pre-K to leading the campaign for 2-Care today.

Thank you Governor Hochul for your vision to put New York on a path to universal child care.