Settlement Housing Fund developed the St. John’s Place Family Center in 1990 as an alternative to welfare hotels.  Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the Center provides excellent temporary housing, day care, infant care, and other services to 97 families, assisting them in their search for affordable housing.  In 1994 we added permanent housing for 33 low-income families in an adjacent building including ten families who relocated from the Center, and in 2004 we opened a new building across the street for 35 families.  Under the leadership of Louis Rodriguez, Executive Director and Fran Levenson, Board Chair, St. John’s Place is a well regarded 19 year-old neighborhood organization that receives funding for youth and adult programming from both New York City and New York State government agencies, as well as from foundations and corporations.  The agency has a strong track record of working with other community groups in Crown Heights and, for the past ten years, has co-sponsored an annual street festival with community leaders and has provided meeting space for local groups. 

Through the St. John’s Place Family Center, HDFC (Housing Development Fund Corporation), we now plan to gut rehabilitate a vacant, city-owned building located immediately adjacent to its facility. The three-story abandoned building has been an eyesore for more than twenty years.  Once renovated, the structure will serve as a multi-purpose after-school and community center providing program space to school-aged children and adults from the neighborhood, as well as office space for the Center staff.  New York City has awarded funds for rehabilitation, but additional funds are needed for furnishings and equipment. 

Louis Rodriguez, Executive Director

St. John’s Place Family Center

1604 St. John’s Place

Brooklyn, NY 11233

718.771.0836