University Settlement is the oldest settlement house in the country, providing comprehensive social services to residents of the Lower East Side of Manhattan since 1886. The Settlement provides high quality childcare and after-school services, counseling, senior services, an arts program, credit union, and youth services. Project Home's expertise is in eviction prevention, benefits advocacy, crisis intervention, and organizing. Both families and individuals are welcome.

University Settlement / Project Home believes that a holistic wrap-around approach is the best way to ensure that individuals and families are able to gain stability and thus achieve their goals. Therefore we feel it is essential to not only deal with the very real concrete issues that each family is struggling with, but to also address those issues at a larger societal level. Our involvement with the Empire State Economic Security (ES2) Campaign is one of the ways that we try to ensure that there is systematic change. Jennifer Vallone, Senior Housing Advocate, who has worked at University Settlement for six years, has been involved with ES2 for the last couple of years.

As founding members of ES2, University Settlement collaborated with HANNYS to create a statewide campaign to improve economic security for those most in need. University Settlement uses our work with the group to do many things. Educating elected officials about the importance of listening to their constituencies and enacting policy that benefits poor and working class household is vitally important.

Susan Kingsland, Project Home's Director points out that our presence "benefits the legislator because they can often be disconnected from their constituencies." In addition, too often the poor and working poor do not have a voice; as Maria Muentes, a housing advocate at Project Home argues "to counter corporate interests" it is essential that we make our presence known.

University Settlement's involvement with ES2 provides Project Home with a way to integrate and organize programs across the Settlement to work collectively for solutions that affect every consumer who comes through the door, whether seeking child care, welfare benefits, or a hot meal. Project Home always has a social work intern involved in the decision making and organizing of the ES2 events. Amy Tam Lao, a student from the Hunter College School of Social Work, worked hard this year to make sure the project was a success.

Rosa Rodriquez, a long time resident of the Lower East Side and an English student with the Settlement's Literacy program explains "I like to see so many people fighting for the good of everybody and I am glad that I was able to say how I feel about the Medicaid program. I don't think people in Albany realize how hard it is." Natasha Missick, a housing advocate with Project Home agrees, "coming with a group I feel stronger about speaking."

Juanita Morales, a senior who attends the Settlement's Senior Center, was a feisty speaker who clearly explained to elected officials why it is important to lower the cost of prescription drugs and to not cut services or health benefits to seniors. She made them listen and was proud of her work. She commented on the way home that she had been tempted to not make the trip -she wasn't feeling well and it was a long day- but she was so happy that she did. She met new people, learned new things, and gave Albany an earful about what really matters!