The NEW Settlement House

WE'RE NOT BRINGING BACK THE PAST.

WE'RE COMING FOR THE FUTURE.

At the turn of the 20th century, settlement houses emerged as progressive community anchors in immigrant and working-class neighborhoods. These spaces—like Chicago’s Hull House or Cleveland’s own Friendly Inn—offered education, job training, arts, child care, and social services. They were hubs of hope in cities overwhelmed by poverty and systemic inequality.

But over time, many settlement houses shuttered or shifted focus. Their legacy faded, even as the need for their mission endured.

The New Settlement House, housed in the historic Rainey Institute building in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, seeks not to replicate the past—but to reimagine it for today’s barriers and today’s brilliance. Good Work Collective is not just restoring a building—we're reigniting a movement. This is a 21st-century settlement house with soul—rooted in racial equity, trauma-informed care, economic mobility, and the unapologetic belief that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

Inside its walls, you’ll find:

Gangsta to Genius: a bold reentry program that treats returning citizens not as problems to fix but as leaders to support.

Foster to Fly: a launchpad for young people aging out of foster care, offering paid training, mentorship, and community.

A shared commissary kitchen for local food entrepreneurs—including returning citizens and legacy restaurateurs—to build businesses and build wealth.

A community café and ghost kitchen offering homemade meals, staffed by program participants.

Co-working and event space, a tech hub, and wraparound support that transforms “services” into systems of belonging.

This is what a modern settlement house looks like—where nonprofit values meet entrepreneurial energy. Where healing meets hustle. Where Cleveland becomes a blueprint for what's possible nationwide.

Want to help bring it to life? Partner with us to sponsor a space, donate materials, or volunteer your skills.