New York, NY – Henry Street Settlement today announced a collaboration with Ring on a pilot program to support older adults living on the Lower East Side and were joined by Assembly Member Grace Lee, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Chief Secreto, Vice President of Public Safety and Security from the New York City Housing Authority. Through this pilot program, 300 Video Doorbells and Ring Protect Basic lifetime subscriptions will be made available for free to older adults living in public housing on the Lower East Side. Additionally, Ring has made a

$10,000 donation to enable Henry Street Settlement’s Community Response Team to install the devices, teach residents to use them, and staff a helpline to resolve any issues that may arise. These donations follow advocacy led by Assemblymember Lee to obtain policy changes in NYCHA developments that permit residents to install these cameras in their homes.

These cameras are intended to facilitate a secure and interconnected living environment for older adults living in public housing developments on the Lower East Side, helping to reduce isolation and encourage the strengthening of community ties. They will complement Henry Street Settlement’s ongoing work to improve the lives of older adults living in Lower Manhattan, including through the

services hosted through its Older Adult Center, Meals on Wheels program, and Senior Companion program. Cameras will be provided to vulnerable seniors in public housing on the Lower East Side, starting within the Henry Street Older Adult Center network. Additional eligibility criteria will be made available in the new year.

“Henry Street Settlement is deeply grateful to Amazon and Ring for their generous donation and for support of community wellness and safety and to the office of Assemblymember Grace Lee, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and the New York City Housing Authority for supporting this initiative,” said David Garza, President and CEO of Henry Street Settlement. “Henry Street’s mission is to open doors for our community, and this project will literally allow older adults to open doors more securely and confidently, increasing their ability to engage safely with the world around them.”

“Seniors aging in place in NYCHA developments have expressed feeling extremely vulnerable, lonely, and isolated,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “I am proud to help facilitate this pilot program to provide cameras to NYCHA seniors, a technology that will give them peace of mind and allow them to stay connected to family members. This project has been made possible through a collaborative effort between community partners – I thank Henry Street Settlement, Ring, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and NYCHA for their ongoing support and advocacy. Together, I look forward to continuing our work to identify solutions to support vulnerable community members in Lower Manhattan.”

“Our elderly and vulnerable neighbors are cornerstones of their communities, and we must go the extra mile to ensure they are comfortable and able to live independently in New York City,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I’m enormously grateful for Henry Street Settlement and the work they do each and every day in their community to help older New Yorkers, applaud Ring for this contribution to the community, and am thankful for Assemblymember Lee’s leadership.”

Program Overview:

• Ring will provide 300 Ring Video Doorbells and a $10,000 donation to Henry Street Settlement.
• Ring will provide a free lifetime Ring Basic Protect subscription for the camera devices.
• Henry Street Settlement’s youth Community Response Team will install the devices, teach older adults how to use them, and staff a helpline to resolve any issues that arise.
• Information about eligibility for a doorbell, as well as details about requesting and distribution of doorbells, will be determined in the near future.

“We are excited to team up with Henry Street Settlement and help advance their mission to provide much needed programs and services throughout the Lower East Side and beyond. Through this collaboration, we hope to provide local seniors with an additional tool to help them live safely and

independently at home. We continue to lean on experts like Henry Street Settlement to understand how Ring can best support seniors and their well-being,” said Raquel Medrano, Community Engagement Manager at Ring.

"The security of residents is a top priority," said NYCHA Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble. "We thank Henry Street Settlement, Assemblymember Grace Lee, and Amazon for this generous donation. Their partnership is invaluable in our shared effort to give residents the peace of mind they deserve to feel in their own homes."