Selfhelp
Selfhelp Community Services is a New York-based nonprofit founded in 1936 that delivers home care, senior centers, Holocaust survivor services, and affordable housing with integrated social services to over 2,000 older adults across NYC and Long Island under its proprietary SHASAM model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Selfhelp does
Selfhelp Community Services Inc. is a New York-based nonprofit organization founded in 1936 that provides aging, housing, and trauma-informed social services to older adults, Holocaust survivors, formerly homeless individuals, and low-income New Yorkers across New York City and Nassau County on Long Island. The organization's core service portfolio comprises Home Care (including a free training program for new aides), Community-Based Programs, the Holocaust Survivor Program, and a Real Estate & Housing division that owns and operates 19+ affordable housing buildings serving over 2,000 residents. These services are unified under SHASAM (Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model), a proprietary service-delivery architecture that embeds culturally competent social workers, benefits and entitlements assistance, health programming, and wellness activities directly inside housing residences, with a peer-reviewed three-year evaluation demonstrating 68% lower odds of hospitalization, 53% lower odds of ER visits, and $3,937 in Medicaid savings per resident.
The operating technology stack combines a Person-Centered Trauma-Informed (PCTI) care methodology with population health management systems, HIPAA-compliant generative AI tools used internally for content generation, summarization, and template creation, and a Virtual Senior Center platform designed to reduce isolation among homebound seniors. Distribution is delivered through in-home care, physical senior centers (e.g., Austin Street Older Adult Center in Forest Hills and Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Flushing), integrated services within affordable housing buildings, and the Virtual Senior Center channel.
Selfhelp's revenue model is a hybrid of managed-services and grant-based funding rather than consumer pricing. Income is generated from Medicaid and government aging-agency contracts (NYC Department for the Aging, NYS Office for the Aging), foundation and federation grants (UJA Federation of New York, Claims Conference, JFNA, Sephardic Foundation on Aging), affordable housing operations, and individual donations through a "Ways to Give" program. The organization maintains CHAP accreditation for home health quality, holds standing partnerships with over a dozen strategic and financial partners, and operates with a headcount of 1,001–5,000 employees.
Selfhelp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Selfhelp
- Legal name
- Selfhelp Community Services Inc.
- Website
- http://selfhelp.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Selfhelp Community Services is a New York-based nonprofit founded in 1936 that delivers home care, senior centers, Holocaust survivor services, and affordable housing with integrated social services to over 2,000 older adults across NYC and Long Island under its proprietary SHASAM model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Selfhelp industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aging and Social Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Community Housing Services (62422)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Social Adult Day Care (Non-Medical Supervision & Activities) (HSABANAA)
Keywords
Where Selfhelp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Selfhelp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Contracts and Medicaid: Significant revenue from Medicaid programs and government contracts to provide home care and social services. SHASAM model generates Medicaid savings of $3,937 per resident.
- Foundation and Federation Grants: Funding from UJA Federation, Claims Conference, and other Jewish organizational foundations to support Holocaust survivor programs and community services.
- Affordable Housing Operations: Revenue from operating 19+ affordable housing buildings providing integrated social services, with support from government housing programs.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations and planned giving through the 'Ways to Give' program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Selfhelp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Selfhelp Community Services is a New York-based nonprofit that delivers integrated aging and social services — including home care, community-based programs, Holocaust survivor services, and affordable housing — to older adults across New York City and Long Island. Its flagship SHASAM (Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model) co-locates culturally competent social workers, benefits navigation, and wellness programming inside affordable housing residences to reduce hospitalizations and emergency visits. The organization also operates senior centers, a Virtual Senior Center for homebound seniors, and a social work scholarship program.
Product overview
Selfhelp Community Services offers a comprehensive portfolio of aging and social services for New Yorkers. The core offerings include Home Care (with free aide training), Community-Based Programs, Holocaust Survivor Program, and Real Estate & Housing services. These are unified by the Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM), an innovative service-delivery platform providing integrated health and social services within affordable housing. Additional offerings include the Austin Street Older Adult Center facility, the Virtual Senior Center technology for reducing social isolation, Population Health team services, and the Social Work and Scholarship Program for professional development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Home Care Compassionate, trauma-informed in-home care delivered by trained aides to older adults in their homes across New York City and Long Island, providing affordable support with daily living needs.
- Home Care Training Program Free training program that prepares individuals to become home care aides, addressing workforce development for the caregiving profession.
- Community-Based Programs Culturally competent social services delivered within local communities, respecting each person's life experiences, including case management, benefits counseling, and wellness activities.
- Holocaust Survivor Program Comprehensive, trauma-informed services — including home care, benefits navigation, social work, and cultural programming — that allow the last generation of Holocaust survivors to age with dignity.
- Real Estate & Housing Development and operation of affordable housing buildings for aging New Yorkers with integrated on-site social services, including dedicated units for formerly homeless individuals.
- Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM) Proprietary integrated service model that places culturally competent social workers, benefits and entitlements assistance, health and wellness programming, and social activities directly within affordable housing residences.
- Austin Street Older Adult Center Senior center offering nutritious kosher/Glatt meals, arts and crafts, exercise classes, cultural programs, lifelong learning workshops, case assistance, and benefits counseling.
- Virtual Senior Center Technology-enabled programming that brings community engagement and reduces social isolation for homebound older adults.
Quantifiable outcome
- 68% lower odds of hospitalization for SHASAM residents
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Selfhelp
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Selfhelp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
Selfhelp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UJA Federation - New YorkcoreMajor federation providing funding and support for Jewish community services, including Selfhelp's Holocaust survivor programs and aging services.
- Claims ConferencecoreConference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany provides funding and support for Holocaust survivor services at Selfhelp.
- Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)coreNational organization representing Jewish federations supporting Selfhelp's mission and programs.
- Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP)coreAccreditation organization recognizing Selfhelp's home health care quality standards.
- The Sephardic Foundation on AgingminorFoundation supporting aging services within the Sephardic Jewish community, partnering with Selfhelp on cultural programming.
- NYC Department for the AgingcoreCity government agency providing funding and oversight for aging services, supporting Austin Street Older Adult Center and other programs.
- NYS Office for the AgingcoreState government agency supporting aging services and senior center operations.
- Charles B Wang Community Health CenterminorIn February 2021, partnered to open a vaccination site from Selfhelp's Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Flushing, Queens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- United Way of Long IslandminorCommunity partner providing support for Long Island-based programs and services.
- SAGE CareminorNational organization focused on LGBTQ+ elder services, credentialing Selfhelp's culturally competent care programs.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Selfhelp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging): Major NYC-based nonprofit providing a comprehensive suite of aging services — home care, senior centers, housing, and case management — to older adults in the Jewish community. Directly comparable to Selfhelp in mission, target population, geography, and integrated service model.
- Lenox Hill Neighborhood House: NYC settlement house and nonprofit providing senior services, early childhood education, and community programs on the Upper East Side. Comparable to Selfhelp in senior center programming and integrated human services delivery in NYC.
- The New Jewish Home: NYC nonprofit operating skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and senior living facilities with roots in serving Jewish elders. Comparable to Selfhelp in Jewish-community focus, residential care offerings, and post-acute/aging continuum.
- Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council): NYC anti-poverty nonprofit serving Jewish and low-income New Yorkers with social services, housing, and nutrition programs. Comparable to Selfhelp in Jewish-community funding relationships and in serving low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers.
- CenterLight Health System: NYC nonprofit providing PACE, managed long-term care, and adult day health services to elderly and disabled individuals. Comparable to Selfhelp in serving Medicaid-eligible older adults with integrated medical and social supports.
- Catholic Charities of New York: Large NYC faith-based social services nonprofit operating senior services, housing, case management, and immigration/refugee programs. Comparable to Selfhelp in mission-driven, government-funded, multi-service nonprofit delivery model in NYC.
- RiverSpring Living (Hebrew Home at Riverdale): Large NYC elder-care nonprofit offering independent living, assisted living, nursing care, and home care, with a strong Jewish-community heritage. Comparable to Selfhelp's full continuum of aging services and affordable-housing-plus-care model.
- DOROT: NYC nonprofit delivering services to older Jewish adults including friendly visiting, intergenerational programs, and isolation-reduction technology. Highly comparable to Selfhelp's community-based programs and Virtual Senior Center.
Regional players
- CAMBA: Brooklyn-based nonprofit providing housing, social services, and workforce programs across NYC. Comparable to Selfhelp in operating affordable housing with integrated services and in serving formerly homeless and low-income New Yorkers.
Broad incumbents
- Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY): One of the largest not-for-profit home- and community-based health care organizations in the U.S., headquartered in NYC. Comparable to Selfhelp's home care and population-health offerings, though VNSNY operates at substantially greater scale and breadth.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Selfhelp social profiles
Digital presenceSelfhelp compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Selfhelp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Selfhelp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Selfhelp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Selfhelp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Selfhelp
What does Selfhelp do?
Selfhelp Community Services is a New York-based nonprofit that delivers integrated aging and social services — including home care, community-based programs, Holocaust survivor services, and affordable housing — to older adults across New York City and Long Island. Its flagship SHASAM (Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model) co-locates culturally competent social workers, benefits navigation, and wellness programming inside affordable housing residences to reduce hospitalizations and emergency visits. The organization also operates senior centers, a Virtual Senior Center for homebound seniors, and a social work scholarship program.
Is Selfhelp a public or private company?
Selfhelp is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Selfhelp founded?
Selfhelp was founded in 1936. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Selfhelp based?
Selfhelp is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Selfhelp make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts and Medicaid is the primary driver. The others are foundation and Federation Grants, affordable Housing Operations and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Selfhelp's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging), Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, The New Jewish Home, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), CenterLight Health System, Catholic Charities of New York, RiverSpring Living (Hebrew Home at Riverdale) and DOROT. CAMBA is listed as a regional player. Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Selfhelp have an API?
No public API is recorded for Selfhelp.
What industry is Selfhelp in?
Selfhelp's product category is Aging and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAF, Elder Services & Aging Support, with a secondary code of HLADAIAJ, Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8300.