Henry Street Settlement: Youth Opportunity Hub Grantee

In February 2017, Henry Street Settlement was selected to receive funds under the Criminal Justice Investment Initiative (CJII) in response to the Manhattan District Attorney Office’s request for proposals to establish Youth Opportunity Hubs serving East Harlem, Central and West Harlem, Washington Heights, and the Lower East Side. The Youth Opportunity Hubs investment will create vibrant youth centers that provide comprehensive and coordinated services and opportunities, drawing upon young people’s strengths and addressing multiple risk factors and needs to prevent youth from becoming involved in the criminal justice system.

With these funds, Henry Street Settlement will partner with local organizations to form a Youth Opportunity Hub serving the Lower East Side. The Hub will include services such as job training and placement, housing assistance, parenting classes, family therapy, mental health services, college counseling, and legal/financial counseling. The Hub will have two main Henry Street service locations, but each of the five primary partner providers will provide Hub services at their Lower East Side/Chinatown locations. The Hub will benefit from Henry Street and its’ partners unparalleled experience running community-based programs in the Lower East Side. Partners for the Hub include Chinese American Planning Council, Grand Street Settlement, Educational Alliance, Hamilton-Madison House, University Settlement, ExpandED Schools, Center for Community Alternatives, GOLES, The LAMP, The Animation Project, VOLS, and Youth Represent.

Henry Street Settlement is one of five organizations to receive funds to create Youth Opportunity Hubs. These comprehensive, wraparound approaches help to reduce the likelihood of interaction with the justice system by cultivating a young person’s strengths, rather than focusing predominantly on risk and delinquency.

The Youth Opportunity Hubs, along with the other initiatives being developed under CJII, form a comprehensive set of strategic investments that, together, will have a significant, lasting impact on public safety and justice reform in New York City.