The Henry Street Settlement is a historic nonprofit social service agency located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1893 by Lillian Wald, a nurse and social reformer, it was originally established to provide nursing and health care to immigrant populations and quickly expanded to offer a broad range of social services, arts programs, and health care to New Yorkers of all ages.
 
The Settlement was a “neutral ground” where people from all walks of life, from politicians and reformers to neighborhood residents, mingled as equals—a rarity for the era. Even a future British Prime Minister visited during his wedding trip, beginning a long association with the Settlement
 
Interesting facts...
Daily life there was known to be boisterous, crowded, and unpredictable. The residents—mainly middle-class women—shared cramped quarters and sacrificed privacy for the excitement and fulfillment of community life. Residents often joked that the only time they enjoyed private meals together was at breakfast, unless guests dropped in, which happened frequently