Mental Health Awareness: Henry Street Settlement Offers Vital Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize NYCHA’s partnerships with organizations and nonprofits throughout New York City that provide crucial mental health resources to residents. One such partnership is with Henry Street Settlement, a 130-year-old community-based organization that supports Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, the arts, and health care programs such as mental health counseling.  

“Inextricably linked with NYCHA since the developments were built, we were literally here from day one,” explained David Garza, President and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Street Settlement. “We’re in 18 locations, all within a square mile of, half of them physically operated out of, NYCHA developments—from LaGuardia, Vladeck, Baruch, Wald, Riis, and others.” Mr. Garza continued, “We’re a settlement. We settle into the neighborhood to understand the needs of the people living here. We have a constellation of services that serve the whole person, including employment resources, health and wellness, transitional and supportive housing, and visual and performing arts.” 

“With mental health so critically important to someone’s well-being, we have clinical social workers at older adult centers, youth centers, and homeless shelters,” Mr. Garza explained. “We also have social workers operating out of school-based mental health clinics, where a large percentage of students live in NYCHA developments. In fact, our founding mental health clinic in LaGuardia Houses was the first-of-its-kind mental health clinic in the city and potentially the country.” 

Korey Smith, a lifelong NYCHA resident, has experienced meaningful and positive results since joining CONNECT (Continuous Engagement between Community and Clinic Treatment) — a Henry Street program started in January 2022 that offers a clinic-without-walls approach for New Yorkers with mental health challenges, both emotionally and geographically. CONNECT social workers can provide therapy in a home, office, hospital, or even walking down the street. “This has been my first experience with a therapist who speaks to me from a human place,” Mr. Smith said. “In addition to my therapy appointment every week, I attend two of CONNECT’s weekly support groups. Through these groups, I feel like I’ve become more social and have reintegrated myself into society. I feel better in leaps and bounds. Now I’m making friends and making connections in the business world. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t come to the Settlement.”  

Korey Smith at the Henry Street food pantry

“Collaborations with community-based organizations like Henry Street Settlement are an important part of how we extend our support of, and outreach to, our residents,” added NYCHA’s Senior Director of Community Partnerships Erin Giventer. “Access to quality health care, particularly mental health support, remains critical to the well-being of our residents. Organizations like Henry Street Settlement, which provide population-sensitive services directly to the local community where our residents reside, increase that access. We’re glad to partner with Henry Street Settlement in service to our residents.” 

To access Henry Street Settlement’s mental health and community resources, please email info@henrystreet.org or call (212) 766-9200. 

Featured photo caption: NYCHA resident Korey Smith and his Henry Street CONNECT therapist