About Us
Whether it's the tiniest child, the teenager at risk, the single parent, or a family just struggling to remain a family in the best sense of the word, United Neighborhood Centers is about helping real people - in the real world.
United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a voluntary, non-profit organization dedicated to assessing and meeting the needs of low-income families, youth and senior citizens in Lackawanna County, providing people with the tools needed to integrate into the community and attain self-sufficiency.
For over 85 years, UNC has continued to work together with neighbors to provide services and create opportunities, which empower individuals and build strong interdependent communities.
History
United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a private, not-for-profit, grass-roots United Way agency that offers direct and general advocacy services for youth, singles, families and senior citizens in combination with programs that foster independence and self-sufficiency. UNC has served the needs of low-income populations since 1923, beginning with the founding of the Progressive Center in central city Scranton and the Bellevue Center in lower West Side Scranton. In 1970, these two independent centers joined to form United Neighborhood Services, later renamed United Neighborhood Centers of Lackawanna County. UNC’s Childcare Programs began in the early 1970’s to provide childcare services for working parents. In1977, the senior center programs were added. In the 1980’s the Childcare Program was expanded to include a new center location in Green Ridge. Today we operate three childcare centers from three different sites throughout the city of Scranton. In 2007, United Neighborhood Centers of Lackawanna County officially changed its name to United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania to better represent the six counties it serves.
Now through several locations, UNC offers a broad range of social, recreational, nutritional and educational programs for children, teens, families and senior citizens. Crisis intervention, direct aid and general advocacy services are available to those most in need. UNC continues to embrace the settlement-house vision to aid in the solution of problems at the neighborhood level.