The New York Junior League’s (NYJL) Community Improvement Project (CIP) has selected Settlement Housing Fund and SCAN-Harbor as its 2023–2024 community partners. The NYJL’s hands-on restorations of these vital community spaces will create a welcoming environment for single parent families at Settlement Housing Fund who have previously experienced homelessness and are working towards long-term housing security and enable SCAN-Harbor to expand its programming for nursery school students in one of New York City’s most underserved communities.
As one of the NYJL’s largest community programs, CIP has partnered with organizations across the City since 2012 to provide community space renovations. CIP will provide a trained team of NYJL volunteers to lead and carry out the renovations, contributing hundreds of hours of work, and an investment of more than $70,000 in supplies and in-kind services to maximize impact.
“The NYJL is proud to work with community partners addressing two of the biggest issues facing New Yorkers today — homelessness and childhood literacy,” said NYJL President Serra Eken. “Through these large-scale renovations of community spaces, the Community Improvement Project will support our partners in expanding critical programming and improving lives.”
Settlement Housing Fund provides affordable housing and supportive services for lower income families, including a substantial number who have experienced homelessness. CIP plans to renovate Settlement Housing Fund’s Semiperm Residence on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, which serves approximately 50 single parents and their children who have formerly experienced homelessness. CIP’s renovation of the building’s community room and administrative office will enable Semiperm to increase programming and host a dignified, self-affirming space for clients to meet with case workers. Amidst New York City’s current housing and homelessness crises, Settlement Housing Funds’ work providing stable housing and programming is more important than ever — allowing families to access critical pathways to long-term affordable housing, education, employment, and wellness.
SCAN-Harbor’s Eisman Nursery at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)’s Holmes Towers, located in Yorkville, provides a learning space for approximately 60 children from ages 2-5 years old. CIP will transform an underutilized room currently used for storage into a children’s library and gathering space for students and staff. The new library and gathering space will be used for increased programming, helping students achieve age-appropriate literacy early in their development. Research has shown that the first five years of life are critical for a child’s brain development, with early childhood literacy a critical component of future success in school and in life, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
To learn more about the NYJL, visit nyjl.org. Community organizations are encouraged to email cip@nyjl.org to be alerted when the application to be a 2024-2025 CIP partner opens in Spring 2024.
About the New York Junior League
Since 1901, the New York Junior League (NYJL) has responded to New York City’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges. Powered by over 2,400 women volunteers, the NYJL works with more than 60 community-based organizations to advance children’s social-emotional learning and to provide life skills programs to youth and adults who are navigating periods of difficult transition. Bringing their diverse experiences and talents, trained NYJL volunteers engage women and children in health, education, and arts workshops specially customized to their needs. The NYJL also advocates with state and city government for women- and children-centered policies and develops volunteers’ leadership skills for service in the NYJL and on other nonprofit boards, all while cultivating a community that reinforces women’s personal relationships and collective power as drivers of positive change.
About Settlement Housing Fund
Settlement Housing Fund creates and sustains high quality affordable housing and programs, building strong and economically diverse neighborhoods throughout New York City. Settlement Housing Fund works closely with community partners to provide low- and moderate-income New Yorkers with pathways to long-term affordable housing, education, employment, and wellness.
About SCAN-Harbor
Founded in 1977, SCAN-Harbor is a non-profit youth and family service organization that provides a variety of integrated support to the highest risk children and families of Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx. Serving over 7,600 children and teens and 1,000 adults and families each year at 23 program sites, SCAN-Harbor is the largest youth service provider in Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx.
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