Mission
The mission of the Northside Youth And Senior Service Center, Inc. is to enhance the quality of life of our clients by serving the basic needs of the elderly, children and families in the St. Louis Metropolitan area by providing; 1) Access to education, counseling and health services; 2) Recreation and social program; 3) Daily nutritional meals.
Vision
1) To create a better tomorrow in the community today by creating programs that promote community values, diversity and individuality through our “uniqueness”; 2) To cherish the gifts of the young, mature and aged that empower the residents with the resources to fulfill their promise within the community; 3) To honor the values and nurture the skills of the young; and to support the leadership, strengths and wisdom of adults and elders
Vision
1) To create a better tomorrow in the community today by creating programs that promote community values, diversity and individuality through our “uniqueness”; 2) To cherish the gifts of the young, mature and aged that empower the residents with the resources to fulfill their promise within the community; 3) To honor the values and nurture the skills of the young; and to support the leadership, strengths and wisdom of adults and elders
History
Greater Ville Neighborhood- St. Louis, MO
In 1973, the agency was founded in the historic Ville neighborhood, as Northside Community Center, by Father Bill Hutchison and several local residents. Their purpose was to establish a neighborhood senior center to address the pressing needs of neighborhood seniors living in poverty. Their immediate focus was to address hunger, malnutrition and isolation which led to the premature institutionalization of the elderly. Father Bill began his mission to serve the elderly by providing daily lunchtime meal delivery to the homes of the disabled and securing the use of building space for neighbor seniors to gather daily for a nutritious lunch, recreation and social activities. These activities were later formalized as the Meals on Wheels and Congregate Meals programs and were funded through a small grant from the Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens.
Northside Community Center was originally housed at 4102 Mafftitt Ave. in the basement of the former St. Matthew's School. In 1974, the Center was incorporated and moved its home offices, just a few meters away, to its current location at 4120 Maffitt Ave. The building was the former convent of St. Matthew School. The building was renovated through a generous donation from the McDonnell Douglas Employees Charity Fund, the Webb Foundation, the Monsanto Fund, the Roblee Foundation, the U.S. Bishops Campaign for Human Development, and the St. Matthew Jesuit Community gift.
In 1974, youth programs were established at the center. During the years that followed, there was an increase in community needs and new issues began to emerge, including child care, affordable housing and out of school time services. Additional resources for the Center were added and programs were established to meet the changing community needs. With funding and provided by the Saint Louis Area Agency on Aging, our senior activities expanded to include medical transportation, shopping trips and assistance in completing Circuit Breaker tax rebate forms. Family programs included family housing, after school and summer activities for youth. In addition, supplemental services such as assistance with completing tax rebate forms (Circuit Breakers), pantry referrals, utility assistance, daycare, free groceries and utility assistance were also provided. The agency programs were now reaching residents throughout the St. Louis area.
In 1977, the Center’s Housing Program began renovating several homes and apartment buildings in the neighborhood. In 1986, a $1 million renovation of the former St. Matthew School into 20 apartment units primarily for the elderly was completed. Over the next 23 years, the Housing Program completed the rehabilitation of 93 affordable rental units in the neighborhood which were leased to low-income community residents. In 2003, the Housing Program separated from the Center to become its own not-for-profit corporation, Northside Community Housing, Inc. (NCHI), and turned its focus to building single-family subdivisions in the Greater Ville neighborhood. The majority of subdivisions were constructed under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, with the intention of providing future home ownership opportunities for its tenants.
Beginning in 1994, Northside began to create additional programs for youth to address the increasing level of community violence. Of particular concern were the number of youth that were either victims or perpetrators of violent crime. Programs such as Leaders NOW! and the Greater Ville Youth Development Corps were established as partnerships with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Division of Family Services and the St. Louis Family Court to address the needs of youth. Program methods included street outreach, drug prevention and family counseling.
Northside Community Center was originally housed at 4102 Mafftitt Ave. in the basement of the former St. Matthew's School. In 1974, the Center was incorporated and moved its home offices, just a few meters away, to its current location at 4120 Maffitt Ave. The building was the former convent of St. Matthew School. The building was renovated through a generous donation from the McDonnell Douglas Employees Charity Fund, the Webb Foundation, the Monsanto Fund, the Roblee Foundation, the U.S. Bishops Campaign for Human Development, and the St. Matthew Jesuit Community gift.
In 1974, youth programs were established at the center. During the years that followed, there was an increase in community needs and new issues began to emerge, including child care, affordable housing and out of school time services. Additional resources for the Center were added and programs were established to meet the changing community needs. With funding and provided by the Saint Louis Area Agency on Aging, our senior activities expanded to include medical transportation, shopping trips and assistance in completing Circuit Breaker tax rebate forms. Family programs included family housing, after school and summer activities for youth. In addition, supplemental services such as assistance with completing tax rebate forms (Circuit Breakers), pantry referrals, utility assistance, daycare, free groceries and utility assistance were also provided. The agency programs were now reaching residents throughout the St. Louis area.
In 1977, the Center’s Housing Program began renovating several homes and apartment buildings in the neighborhood. In 1986, a $1 million renovation of the former St. Matthew School into 20 apartment units primarily for the elderly was completed. Over the next 23 years, the Housing Program completed the rehabilitation of 93 affordable rental units in the neighborhood which were leased to low-income community residents. In 2003, the Housing Program separated from the Center to become its own not-for-profit corporation, Northside Community Housing, Inc. (NCHI), and turned its focus to building single-family subdivisions in the Greater Ville neighborhood. The majority of subdivisions were constructed under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, with the intention of providing future home ownership opportunities for its tenants.
Beginning in 1994, Northside began to create additional programs for youth to address the increasing level of community violence. Of particular concern were the number of youth that were either victims or perpetrators of violent crime. Programs such as Leaders NOW! and the Greater Ville Youth Development Corps were established as partnerships with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Division of Family Services and the St. Louis Family Court to address the needs of youth. Program methods included street outreach, drug prevention and family counseling.
Northside Youth And Senior Service Center, Inc.
Beaumont High School, Opened in 1926
By 2004, the number of youth served by the Center each year climbed to over 120 youths from ages 5-18. However, the focus shifted to school based programming. The Center began to establish partnerships to provide programming in St. Louis Public Schools, including Williams CEC, Turner Middle, Beaumont, Sumner and Northwest Academy. This change was in response to a need for mental health services to support academic achievement among students with behavioral or learning disabilities. Our community partners included the Mental Health Board, ARCHS, United 4 Children and the St. Louis Public Schools.
In 2012, Northside Community Center, Inc., formally changed its name to Northside Youth And Senior Service Center, Inc. With the separation of its housing program and the sharper focus on youth and senior programming, the name change was meant to provide a clearer description of the type of service we provide and the people we serve.
In 2012, Northside Community Center, Inc., formally changed its name to Northside Youth And Senior Service Center, Inc. With the separation of its housing program and the sharper focus on youth and senior programming, the name change was meant to provide a clearer description of the type of service we provide and the people we serve.