Greenwich House History
A Legacy of Social Service
The History of Greenwich House
Our roots in New York City go all the way back to the turn of the 20th century, to a time when our city -- and its many social problems -- were growing at an incredible pace.
A Rich Legacy Begins A Pioneer in Social Services A Commitment to the Arts Keeping Up with the Times
A Rich Legacy Begins
Greenwich House first opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1902 to improve the living conditions of the predominantly immigrant population in Greenwich Village -- at that time New York's most congested neighborhood.
Founders Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch, Jacob Riis, Carl Schurz, Felix Adler and other social reformers wanted to help immigrants adjust to a new world and raise their quality of life.
In our more than 100 years of service, our reach has grown well beyond the borders of Greenwich Village -- today we serve citizens all across New York City.
A Pioneer in Social Services
In the very early days, the settlement’s day-to-day work with, and care for, the people of the community established it as a ground-breaking social service agency.
| A Look at Important Greenwich House & Settlement House “Firsts” | |
|---|---|
| 1903: | Publishes the country's first tenants manual |
| 1942: | Opens the After-School Program |
| 1962: | Establishes a drug-free outpatient counseling center |
| Our Impact on Social Reform | |
|---|---|
| 1903: | The Greenwich Village Improvement Society, the city's first neighborhood association, is formed |
| 1916: | Lobbying efforts result in the zoning of Greenwich Village as a residential district |
| 1919: | Greenwich House and other settlement houses around the country found the National Federation of Settlements,now known as United Neighborhood House, the umbrella group for New York City settlement houses |
| 1937: | GH Director Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch, as the first Vice-Chairman of New York City’s Housing Authority, co-authors the National Housing Act, defining the federal government’s responsibility in providing low-income housing |
A Commitment to the Arts
Greenwich House has always celebrated the arts as a dynamic stimulus for cultural enrichment and individual growth. Our arts curricula -- and its excellent reputation -- have been shaped throughout its history both by the Greenwich House mission and the dedication of citizens from the community.
Over the years, our many distinguished supporters have included the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Gertrude Payne Whitney, Daniel Chester French, Jackson Pollock and Kirk Douglas, just to name a few. Their gifts of time and money helped pave the way for us. Help us stay on the path they built.
Keeping Up with the Times
For the past half century, Greenwich House has remained true to the founders’ vision while responding to the ever-changing complexities of urban life.
We have continued to offer programs that have proven to be of ongoing value. Yet at the same time, we have implemented new programs to meet new and urgent health, education and child-care needs.
Every year, with the support of private and public sources -- and people like you -- our initiatives help more people in more ways and in more neighborhoods all across our great city. You can continue to help -- donate now.
Greenwich House Programs such as the Children's Safety Program for abused youngsters and their families, the AIDS Mental Health Project, Senior Health & Consultation and the Parole Treatment Program continue to have a positive impact on our community.
Greenwich House is proud to be a Better Business Bureau accredited charity.
Inside Greenwich House Programs
Arts
Children’s Education
Senior Services
Health & Social Services