Last week NY State Senator Daniel Squadron was recognized by United Neighborhood Houses, a non-profit organization that promotes and advocates for settlement housing communities throughout New York City.
As the inaugural recipient of the Settlement House Champion Award, Squadron was honored specifically for his role in securing $9 million in state funding for settlement house programs and for his overall dedication to the issue since he arrived on the scene in Albany two years ago.
The roots of his advocacy on behalf of these communities, 38 of which exist as members of U.N.H., can be traced to their high concentration in the district Squadron represents — primarily Lower Manhattan and a small portion of Brooklyn.
The settlement housing model focuses on vulnerable populations including young children, senior citizens, homeless individuals, or people suffering from mental illness. Each settlement house community has programs specifically designed to nurture individuals from a young age through adulthood and into old age by providing services geared to their specific needs.
“We thought Senator Squadron to be an extraordinary example of commitment tenacity and generosity when it came to these communities,” said UNH executive director Nancy Wackstein.
“We didn’t even need to lobby for this money,” said Wackstein. “Senator Squadron’s efforts were assisted greatly by Assembly Speaker Silver. Their districts overlap and they both share the commitment to he cause.”
Senator Squadron together with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver spearheaded the initiative over the past two years.
— John Bayles
