The mission of Episcopal Social Services (ESS) is to transform the lives and communities of New Yorkers in need through a broad range of programs in human services, including foster care and adoption, family preservation, early childhood education, after-school programs, group homes for developmentally disabled adults, and community re-integration of the formerly-incarcerated.

Description and/or History:
Established in 1831, Episcopal Social Services (ESS) was founded to help meet the pressing needs of the vast numbers of immigrants arriving in New York City in the nineteenth century. From its earliest days, ESS’ work was nonsectarian, as the Society’s workers offered assistance to anyone who was poor, sick, homeless, hungry, or imprisoned.

Throughout its over 175-year history, ESS has remained flexible in responding to the changing needs of the disadvantaged with an unchanging mission to help children, families, and individuals become independent and self-sufficient, and to make the most of their opportunities and potential. Over the years, this outreach has taken many forms: convalescent homes and summer camps in the country for ailing and undernourished residents of the tenements; temporary lodging and meals in St. Barnabas House, a facility opened in 1864 and operated by ESS for over 120 years; distribution of clothing, food, and emergency funds to the destitute; trade schools for the unskilled; and social clubs and free “reading rooms” to give young people an alternative to the rough-and-tumble streets.

Today ESS meaningfully impacts over 5,000 lives every year throughout all of New York City, with an emphasis on the South Bronx and Manhattan, and a growing presence in Brooklyn. ESS focuses on strengthening children, families, and adults through programs in foster care and adoption, early childhood education, after-school programs, group homes for developmentally disabled adults, and community re-integration of the formerly-incarcerated. As it has in the past, ESS continues to remain relevant and effective by being flexible in responding to the evolving needs of the communities it serves.

Contact person: Alisha Freeman, Volunteer Coordinator, (212) 886-5689, (email)

Address:

305 Seventh Avenue 2nd Floor New York, NY 10001 (See a map)

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 1 train/28th Street,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1   Nearest Bus Stop: Uptown M20 bus on 8th Ave. to 28th Street, or Downtown M20 bus on 7th Ave. to 28th Street, 1-5 minute walk