OUR COMMITMENT

TO EMPOWERMENT

And CHANGE

Hamilton-Madison House: A Legacy of Service

During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, thousands of European immigrants settled in the crowded tenements of the Lower East Side, facing extreme poverty, dire living conditions and rampant disease. Madison House was founded in 1898 and Hamilton House in 1902, part of a wave of settlement houses established to, for the first time, embrace the blossoming immigrant community and provide area residents with social services and educational programs. In 1954, Hamilton House and Madison House joined forces to welcome, support, nurture and empower the diverse populations of the Lower East Side, which have continued to evolve today, including immigrants from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. We take pride in the thousands of lives we have helped to improve since 1898.

Our Mission

To be the place for care and connection in the Lower East Side by creating a thriving community, one personal interaction at a time. We strive to never turn away, providing support citywide.

Our Core Values Illuminate Our Mission

Connection

We are better together. Our strength is forged in the bonds we create. Together we amplify our collective potential.

Commitment

Each day we honor HMH’s legacy, committing to our community and ourselves. We have been here since 1898 and we will be here long into the future.

Welcoming

Our neighborhood is diverse. Our support is diverse. We are diverse.

Intergenerational

We foster connections with people of all ages, helping our community to see what is possible from one another. We are here at every stage, embracing the wisdom of our elders and the energy of our youth.

Stability

HMH is a safe haven for the entire community. A place of refuge, hope and connection.

Personalization

We treat each member of our community as an individual, providing the unique support they need to thrive.

Hamilton-Madison House

THROUGH THE AGES

The Hamilton-Madison House Through Time

1898

Madison House of the Downtown Ethical Society is founded at 300 Madison Street.

1902

Hamilton House is founded on Hamilton Street.

1930-40’s

Madison House provides facilities for WPA workers who serve the neighborhood’s cultural, health and social needs.

1951

The first Chinese-serving program, the Golden Age Club of Chinatown, is established privately by a group of Chinese senior citizens at Hamilton House.

1952

Hamilton House begins offering counseling and family care work as an experimental project through the Family Services Division of the Community Service Society.

1953

The public housing development Smith Houses is completed and Hamilton House is awarded the contract to provide social services. Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the principal speaker at the dedication ceremony in March.

1954

Hamilton and Madison House merge into the space allocated by the Alfred E. Smith Houses. Mrs. Shirley Chisholm is Director of the Child Care Center

1967-9

Hamilton-Madison House establishes an Adolescent Service Center and Big Brother and Sister Corps and Services.

1974

The first Chinese-language-based children’s behavioral health facility, Chinatown Children’s Consultation Center (CCCC), in New York City at 103 Canal Street.

1984

A carpentry training program for immigrants and a remedial tutoring program for neighborhood youth launch.

1997

HMH programs are created to offer computer literacy classes for children and adults, a Citizenship Clinic and Two Bridges Tower Community Center.

2001

In response to September 11, 10 social workers are hired to provide free grief and disaster counseling in 10 languages.

2002

The HMH City Hall Senior Center celebrates its 50th Anniversary and moves to a new location at 100 Gold Street.

2013

Hamilton-Madison House becomes a vital hub for relief services after Superstorm Sandy devastates Lower Manhattan, establishing a Warming/Recovery Center at 50 Madison Street. In response, HMH serves 20,000 hot meals, distributes 2,000 City Meals on Wheels, hand-delivers 1,000 meals to homebound seniors and distributes 950 heaters, 40,000 bottles of water and 2,000 hot plates.

1898

Madison House of the Downtown Ethical Society is founded at 300 Madison Street.

1902

Hamilton House is founded on Hamilton Street.

1930-40’s

Madison House provides facilities for WPA workers who serve the neighborhood’s cultural, health and social needs.

1951

The first Chinese-serving program, the Golden Age Club of Chinatown, is established privately by a group of Chinese senior citizens at Hamilton House.

1952

Hamilton House begins offering counseling and family care work as an experimental project through the Family Services Division of the Community Service Society.

1953

The public housing development Smith Houses is completed and Hamilton House is awarded the contract to provide social services. Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the principal speaker at the dedication ceremony in March.

1954

Hamilton and Madison House merge into the space allocated by the Alfred E. Smith Houses. Mrs. Shirley Chisholm is Director of the Child Care Center

1967-9

Hamilton-Madison House establishes an Adolescent Service Center and Big Brother and Sister Corps and Services.

1974

The first Chinese-language-based children’s behavioral health facility, Chinatown Children’s Consultation Center (CCCC), in New York City at 103 Canal Street.

1984

A carpentry training program for immigrants and a remedial tutoring program for neighborhood youth launch.

1997

HMH programs are created to offer computer literacy classes for children and adults, a Citizenship Clinic and Two Bridges Tower Community Center.

2001

In response to September 11, 10 social workers are hired to provide free grief and disaster counseling in 10 languages.

2002

The HMH City Hall Senior Center celebrates its 50th Anniversary and moves to a new location at 100 Gold Street.

2013

Hamilton-Madison House becomes a vital hub for relief services after Superstorm Sandy devastates Lower Manhattan, establishing a Warming/Recovery Center at 50 Madison Street. In response, HMH serves 20,000 hot meals, distributes 2,000 City Meals on Wheels, hand-delivers 1,000 meals to homebound seniors and distributes 950 heaters, 40,000 bottles of water and 2,000 hot plates.

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Meet Our Esteemed

Board Members

Leaders steering Hamilton-Madison House towards a brighter future.

Wynne Leung Kim

President

Anthony Giorgio

Chairperson

Paul A. Kurzman

Vice President

Jan Lee

Vice President

Kenneth Eisner

Treasurer

Felicia V. Black, PhD

Director

Nicholas R. Caiazzo

Director

Myrna Chao EA, FS

Director

​Mia Finsness

Director

Brendan Gibbons

Director

James C. Halpin

Director

Regina Hardatt

Director

Thomas L. Hill

Director

David Hiromura

Director

Yoshio Kano

Director

​Cao K. O

Director

May Liang

Director

Thomas Osborne, PE

Director

Dominic Rovano​

Director

Nadina J. Scott, PharmD

Director

Debra Thompson

Director

Geoffrey Wiener, Jr.

Director

Chi K. Chu

Director Emeritus

Joseph P. Ritorto

Director Emeritus

Isabel Ching, LMSW

Executive Director

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Exploring Our

Financials

Since 1898, Hamilton-Madison House has relied upon the generous support of the community, local partners and government organizations, valuing transparency and open lines of communication. Please find our recent Annual Reports below.