Services for the UnderServed

Services for the UnderServed (S:US) is a New York-based social services organization founded in 1978. It works with people facing homelessness, poverty or disabilities, delivering community-based programmes and advocacy aimed at systemic change. The organisation employs some 1,800 staff across the New York communities it serves.

The organisation describes an empowerment-oriented model: rather than prescribing predefined paths, it equips people with tools to define and pursue their own goals, respecting each individual's own conception of a life of purpose. Programme work is complemented by efforts to translate on-the-ground learning into wider policy and practice change, with an emphasis on countering stigma, strengthening communities and expanding opportunity for New Yorkers.

For staff, S:US reports a culture in which ideas and information move freely across teams, and where collaboration, creativity and open communication are deliberately fostered. Many employees live in the communities the organisation serves, which it says grounds the work in local understanding and authentic relationships. Stated values include integrity, consistency and fairness, continuous quality improvement and respect for human dignity, alongside a focus on maximising individual potential in both programme design and daily interactions.