Company Profile
United South End Settlements
Company Overview
The mission of United South End Settlements (USES) is to harness the power of our diverse community to disrupt the cycle of poverty for children and their families. USES believes families have the best chance to reach their potential when they have long-term, holistic support. At USES, our focus is on helping caregivers and families with children under 12, although our door is open to children and adults from diverse family settings. We help families reach their goals through one-on-one coaching and connect parents/caregivers to our job training program and our quality education and enrichment opportunities for children, including early childhood education, after school and summer enrichment programming, and a sleepaway camp in New Hampshire.
USES also believes that children and their families can access the greatest opportunities when we welcome people from various backgrounds and perspectives. We intentionally promote community and bring together people from different backgrounds through diversified enrollment, volunteerism, networking and other community building opportunities. USES operates in three locations in the South End – Harriet Tubman House, South End House, and the Children’s Art Centre – and Camp Hale on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. To learn more, please visit our website at www.uses.org.
Company History
United South End Settlements (USES) was founded in 1891 as the Andover House, the first settlement house in Boston. The 1890s saw incredible change in the South End and in Boston. Emancipated slaves, new European and Asian immigrants, and rural laborers flocked to big cities in search of work, freedom, and opportunities. Many found poverty, bad housing, and fierce prejudice. To address these problems, a new form of engagement emerged: the Settlement House. The founding principle of these organizations was to provide college-aged, upper-class men and women with opportunities to live in impoverished neighborhoods and partner with residents in order to lift their neighbors out of poverty by strengthening families and building community.
Historically one of the poorest neighborhoods in Boston, the South End deteriorated rapidly after World War II due to “redlining” and urban renewal. Despite its poverty, the South End was a wonderful place to live. Children who grew up during this time fondly remember the corner stores, their neighbors, and the great sense of community in this uniquely multi-racial neighborhood. Post-World War II, the Settlement Houses addressed their community’s increasing distress and decreasing resources by consolidating five houses into one, United South End Settlements, in 1959.
As United South End Settlements celebrates its 125th year, we are now reaffirming our founding vision of an inclusive community where neighbors from all walks of life work together so that all can thrive, while implementing a bold, new model designed to promote economic mobility and social capital to break the generational cycle of poverty.