Queens Community House

In 1972, residents protested against Forest Hills Houses, a proposed public housing development with three 24-story buildings at 62nd Drive and 108th Street. It was part of Mayor John Lindsay's "scatter-site" plan to construct public housing in neighborhoods that had none (as opposed to concentrating public housing in poor neighborhoods). White middle-class residents believed that the public housing would depreciate the community's quality of life because poor residents would move into the housing. Advocates for the project accused residents of racism, since the proposed development's residents would be mostly people of minority races. Mario Cuomo, a Queens lawyer and the future Governor of New York, was assigned to mediate the dispute and succeeded in halving the size of the project. His compromise proposal also included the creation of a community center on the campus. The Forest Hills Community House was incorporated, with initial board members from both sides of the controversy, to operate the center.{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Queens Community House |url=https://www.qchnyc.org/about-us/history |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.qchnyc.org}}

In 2007, the organization changed its name to Queens Community House (QCH), to reflect its growth into numerous sites outside of Forest Hills. As of 2024, QCH operates 40 sites in 15 neighborhoods of Queens, including Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Briarwood, Jamaica, Springfield Gardens, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Flushing, Bayside, and Queens Village.

QCH's programs serve children, young adults, adults and families, and older adults.

QCH has programs in 19 NYC public schools, including after-school and summer programs for elementary school and middle school students.{{Cite web |first=Anthony |last=Medina |date=2023-12-20 |title=Community Board 9 gifts over 400 toys in Ozone Park |url=https://queenspost.com/community-board-9-gifts-over-400-toys-in-ozone-park |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Queens Post |language=en-US}}

For young adults transitioning to adulthood, QCH's programs include teen/young adult centers, youth workforce initiatives, programs for struggling high school students, college counseling, summer employment programs, and tech training.{{Cite press release |last=CompTIA |title=Free tech skills training available to young adults in Queens through new program from Queens Community House and CompTIA |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/free-tech-skills-training-available-to-young-adults-in-queens-through-new-program-from-queens-community-house-and-comptia-301883943.html |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=Bill |date=2022-08-02 |title=Queens Community House programs connects youth with valuable skills this summer |url=https://qns.com/2022/08/program-youth-valuable-skills/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}}

For adults and families, QCH operates food pantries, a childcare network, housing assistance, family support services, and community organizing.

For older adults, QCH has 6 older adult centers, a social adult day program,{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=Bill |date=2023-09-08 |title=Queens Community House reopens Social Adult Day Services program in Forest Hills after pandemic hiatus |url=https://qns.com/2023/09/queens-community-house-social-adult-services-forest-hills/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}} home-delivered meals,{{Cite web |title=NY Connects: Home Delivered Meals |url=https://www.nyconnects.ny.gov/services/home-delivered-meals-sofanypp1665| access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.nyconnects.ny.gov}} a friendly visiting program, transportation services, and sponsors the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community in Forest Hills.{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Michelle |date=2017-04-01 |title=The Aging City: In a Migrant Metropolis, When New Arrivals Grow Old, Where Do They Go? |url=https://truthout.org/articles/the-aging-city-in-a-migrant-metropolis-when-new-arrivals-grow-old-where-do-they-go/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Truthout |language=en-US}}

For immigrants, QCH provides immigration services and free English and citizenship classes. For women, QCH has young women's leadership programming.{{Cite web |last=Queens Gazette on |date=2015-11-25 |title=Queens Community House Announces New Associate Executive Director |url=https://www.qgazette.com/articles/queens-community-house-announces-new-associate-executive-director/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Queens Gazette}}

For the LGBT community, QCH has an LGBT teen center and an LGBT senior center.{{Cite web |last=Tracy |first=Matt |date=2023-12-28 |title=Queens Center for Gay Seniors fosters inclusive atmosphere for LGBTQ older adults |url=https://gaycitynews.com/queens-center-for-gay-seniors-lgbtq-older-adults/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=gaycitynews.com |language=en-US}}

In addition to providing direct services, QCH is engaged in advocacy and organizing efforts to address social issues affecting their participants, including affordable housing,{{Cite web |last=Brand |first=David |last2=Jun 13 |first2=Neil MehtaPublished |last3=Jun 13 |first3=2023Modified |last4=2023Share |date=2023-06-13 |title=Queens residents demand affordable housing on site of old psych hospital |url=https://gothamist.com/news/queens-residents-demand-affordable-housing-on-site-of-old-psych-hospital |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Gothamist |language=en}} public green space,{{Cite web |title=Queens Has Quietly Become a Hub of Left-Wing Organizing and Socialist Electoral Wins |url=https://jacobin.com/2022/09/queens-new-york-progressive-left-wing-organizing-socialism-electoral-politics |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=jacobin.com |language=en-US}} and noncitizen voting rights.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-01 |title=Forest Hills Nonprofit to Take Part in Mock Election on Nov. 5 |url=https://patch.com/new-york/foresthills/forest-hills-nonprofit-to-take-part-in-mock-election-on-nov-5 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Forest Hills, NY Patch |language=en}}

QCH's Fiscal Year 2025 budget is $39.2 million. Its funding comes from city, state and federal governments, foundations such as the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and The Clark Foundation, and private donors. It has had 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status since its 1975 founding; its EIN is 11-2375583.

In late 2020, QCH purchased the Forest Hills Community Center,{{Cite web |last=Brand |first=David |date=2021-02-08 |title=Queens Community House purchases long-time Forest Hills headquarters |url=https://queenseagle.com/all/queens-community-house-purchases-long-time-forest-hills-headquarters |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Queens Daily Eagle |language=en-US}} its original and largest program site, and from 2023-2024 undertook a $12-million renovation of the space.{{Cite web |title=Community Development Champions |url=https://www.goldmansachs.com/our-commitments/community-engagement/community-development/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Goldman Sachs |language=en-US}} The administrative headquarters is located nearby at 108-69 62nd Drive.{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=Bill |date=2023-10-30 |title=Speaker Adams supports Queens Community House after-school program at P.S.106Q in Jamaica |url=https://qns.com/2023/10/queens-community-house-after-school-program-jamaica/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}}

QCH's annual gala raises about half a million dollars each year.{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=Bill |date=2019-11-07 |title=Queens Community House raises nearly half a million dollars at annual gala in Astoria |url=https://qns.com/2019/11/queens-community-house-raises-nearly-half-a-million-dollars-at-annual-gala-in-astoria/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}} Gala honorees have included Jack Lew, the 76th Secretary of the Treasury and later US Ambassador to Israel.{{Cite web |title=Queens Gazette: QCH honors Jacob Lew, Forest Hills Native and 76th Secretary of the Treasury |url=https://www.qchnyc.org/news/9251170/queens-gazette-qch-honors-jacob-lew-forest-hills-native-and-76th-secretary-treasury |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.qchnyc.org}}{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Emily |date=2018-09-14 |title=Jacob Lew to be honored at upcoming gala in Astoria hosted by Queens Community House |url=https://qns.com/2018/09/jacob-lew-honored-upcoming-gala-astoria-hosted-queens-community-house/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=qns.com |language=en-US}}

Queens Community House employs 500 staff. The executive director of QCH is Ben Thomases and the president of the board is Michael Stellman.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Naeisha |date=2023-07-06 |title=New senior center opens in Jamaica |url=https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/new-senior-center-opens-in-jamaica/article_bf7ea953-c1e6-5904-9868-0354cfdf6bcf.html |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=Queens Chronicle |language=en}}

• Union Settlement, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, similar organizations in Manhattan

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.qchnyc.org/ Queens Community House homepage]
• [https://www.youtube.com/@qchnyc Queens Community House YouTube page]

Category:Community-building organizations

Category:Organizations based in Queens, New York

Category:Settlement houses in New York City

Category:Organizations established in 1976