 Community Services & Religious InstitutionsIn service to the residents of University Hill and beyond, the area is home to a number of community services and organizations. The Hill community remains committed to providing assistance to those in need, and has developed a variety of programs to fulfill this goal. Housing Visions is a community-based not-for-profit organization working to revitalize and sustain neighborhoods through a comprehensive approach that improves quality of life. Starting as a taskforce of the University United Methodist Church in 1989, a group of dedicated citizens set out to revitalize a neighborhood and by doing so, proved to be a catalyst for positive and lasting changes. Housing Visions was formed as a not-for-profit in 1990 to improve both the quality of housing and the quality of life in the Greater East Genesee Street neighborhood of Syracuse, and to create a model for the revitalization of other neighborhoods. Its charter later expanded to include additional census tracks in Syracuse’s east side.
As of June, 2009, HVU has completed 525 housing units and has 223 units under construction, for a total 748 units in seven different cities with a total investment of $153 million.
A majority of the members of its Board of Directors live in the service area and have the knowledge of the community and a commitment to its long term health. A staff of 85 work in the areas of the Development, Operations, Maintenance, and Accounting and Administrative teams.
Planned Parenthood is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive reproductive and related health care and counseling services, educational and training programs which enhance understanding of sexuality, reproduction and parenting, and advocacy for public policies which guarantee reproductive rights and assure access to health care.
The Center is located at 1120 E. Genesee Street in a renovated and expanded Victorian building. Clinic services include gynecological care, contraceptive counseling, and complete reproductive services for women and men. All services are fully confidential, offered by a sensitive, courteous, professional staff.
The Education Department maintains a resource center and library on-site in addition to offering a variety of workshops and programs in educational, religious, and community-based settings throughout the region. The Ronald McDonald House is a non-profit organization that provides a home away from home for families of children with serious illnesses being treated at local hospitals. Located at 1027 East Genesee Street, the house contains 16 bedrooms, a kitchen that is fully available to guests, indoor and outdoor play areas, and laundry facilities, all in a welcoming and calm atmosphere intended to bring comfort to guest families. The Central New York Ronald McDonald House has hosted over 17,000 families from 48 counties in New York State, 45 other states, and even other countries since opening its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1982.
The Ronald McDonald House organization began in 1974 in Philadelphia. The organization has grown to include more than 245 Ronald McDonald Houses in 28 countries, with plans for more to open in many new countries. Ronald McDonald House Charities also includes Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, sitting areas close to neonatal and pediatric intensive care units that provide an escape from the tense environment of hospitals, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, vehicles outfitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment to provide pediatric healthcare services to underserved children. SUNY Upstate's "Sarah Loguen Child Care Center," recently relocated to its new facility less than one mile from campus at 650 South Salina Street, is a nationally accredited day care center. It serves children of students, employees, and faculty of SUNY Upstate Medical University. The center is licensed for 46 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. The music program is one of the highlights of the center, as well as indoor and outdoor facilities for learning and play. Syacuse University's Child Care Center provides day care services to the children of students, staff, and faculty of Syracuse University. It is located on the South Campus in buildings M-O and M-I Lambreth Lane, with the two buildings connected by a walkway. The center offers a responsive, developmental full-day program during the academic year and summer sessions. The facilities feature spacious classrooms with separate areas for eating, napping, and outdoor activities. Programs are offered for three groups; infant (2-8 month olds), toddler (18 month olds to 3 year olds) and multi-age (3 year olds to 5 year olds). Relgious Institutions & Places of WorshipA wide variety of religious institutions serves the diverse needs of Hill residents. These houses of worship play an important role in the spiritual and social life of the Hill community.
 Temply Society of Concord is the oldest Jewish congregation in Syracuse, established in 1839. The Temple's first religious services were held in a store at the present site of the State Tower Building. The current Temple, located at the corner of University Avenue and Madison Street, was dedicated in 1911. In addition to a beautiful sanctuary for worship, the Temple offers a variety of facilities. The Benjamin M. Berinstein Memorial Chapel provides a place of intimacy and inspiration for congregations, the Ives and Lillian Jacobs Social Hall provides a spacious and modern meeting room, and the Temple Library is a well-stocked research and lending facility containing the largest collection of Judaica in Central New York.
Worship services are enriched by the Temple's Rabbi, a Cantor, a Music Director and Organist as well as a professional and volunteer choir. Augmenting the religious services are a variety of special groups for youth, seniors, men, women, and single members of the congregation. In addition, the Temple houses the largest Religious School in the community, beginning with a kindergarten class and continuing through the 10th grade. Throughout its history, Temple Society of Concord has followed the essentials of Judaism that are exemplified by the liberal reform point of view. Today, over 750 families are members of the congregation.  Grace Episcopal Church is located on the corner of University Avenue and Madison Street. It was founded in 1867 and designed by Horatio Nelson White. Grace Episcopal is dedicated to providing spiritual and community services, such as their active involvement in organizing a food pantry and clothing outlet. In addition to Sunday services, Sunday School, youth groups, Bible study, and a book club provide additional education and enrichment opportunities. Grace Episcopal and the congregation are an integral part of the University Hill community.
University United Methodist Church has served the Hill community for more than a century. Located at 1085 East Genesee Street, the corner stones of the building were laid in 1871. The stained glass windows depicting the life of Christ, which surround the church's sanctuary, are among the most beautiful in the Central New York region.
 The congregation of University United Methodist Church is actively involved in a vast array of community outreach ventures. The church hosts a variety of organizations for its members, as well as support and service networks for persons with special needs. The church building is home to community programs, including Near Eastside Adventures, Onondaga Pastoral Counseling Center, Neighborhood Linking, The Urban League of Onondaga County, Kids Unlimited Day Care, Project Connection (of Peace, Inc.), Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Signature Syracuse. Monetary and food donations by church members support a food closet, which works with local agencies to distribute food to persons in need. As part of a community-wide effort, the church's "sandwich brigade" prepares and distributes food to Hopps Memorial C.M.E. Church. A Habitat for Humanity Task Group actively supports the work of Syracuse Habitat for Humanity. The church's Creation Stewardship Team works for an environmentally just world in promoting a series of specialized initiatives. Adult Special Education Classes address the needs of disabled members of the community.
University United Methodist Church extends outreach efforts throughout the world. Global activities include participation in the annual CROP Hunger Walk, sponsorship of refugees, support of a medical missionary in Nepal, a school for Arab teenagers on the West Bank, and a member serving as a full-time Habitat for Humanity volunteer in Haiti. Through these and other efforts, the University United Methodist Church seeks to meet the needs of its members, the Hill neighborhood, and persons throughout the world. Hendrick's Chapel, constructed in 1929 through a gift from Senator Francis Hendricks, is located on the central quad of the Syracuse University Campus. The Chapel seats 1,450 under its 90-foot rotunda. The rededication of the Chapel in 1985 marked the end of a five-year, $1.2 million restoration effort to upgrade the facility that included new lighting, sound and heating systems, and general refurbishing of the interior and exterior of the building.
 Hendricks is an interfaith chapel that accommodates virtually all of the world's religions. The major chaplaincies include Assemblies of God, Episcopal (Anglican), Evangelical Christian, American Baptist, United Presbyterian, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Islamic, Jewish, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Southern Baptist denominations. The Hillel campus ministry is the largest in the United States and serves the Syracuse University Jewish community, which is approximately 25% of the student body. The Muslim Student Association is the largest of the international ministries. Other affiliated groups and ministries operating through Hendricks Chapel include Alcoholics Anonymous, Alpha Phi Omega, Athletes in Action, Baha'i Student Organization, B.A.S.I.C. College Ministries, S.U. Buddhist Association, Campus Bible Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Chabad House, Chi Alpha Christian Ministries, Chinese Christian Fellowship, Christian Science organization, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Jewish Student Union, Korean Student Fellowship, Pan Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Society of Friends, and Zen Center of Syracuse Alibrandi Catholic Center & the St. Thomas More Campus Ministry is located at 110 Walnut Place. Provided by the St. Thomas More Foundation, the Center serves the Roman Catholic students at Syracuse University and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry - approximately 42% of the student body. Catholic Campus Ministry was founded in 1906 by Syracuse University. St. Thomas More Chapel and Center was opened on the site in 1938. The John G. Alibrandi, Jr. Catholic Center addition to St. Thomas More opened in 1982, made possible by a donation from the John G. Alibrandi Family. Also known as the Newman Center and St. Thomas More Chapel, Alibrandi Catholic Center provides spiritual, service, cultural, educational, and social activities for the Roman Catholic Community and others at the University.
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