One of the hardest parts about life is going through grief. What’s even harder is finding someplace to process grief. This was the case for Tami Schneider, who lost her husband 16 years ago.
As a mother of two, the Upper East Side resident who summers in the Hamptons found it difficult to find support groups where she could express herself and feel connected to others who may be going through the same situation.
“When I left where my husband had died, they literally would be like, ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,’” Schneider said. “They just provide no help for anybody and that continues to be the case now.”
This struggle led Schneider to discover Our House L.A. The work that organization did to help those struggling inspired her to start Our House NYC based on the L.A. model. The organization has been in operation since October 2025, which was over a decade after she lost her husband. It is billed as the first and only dedicated free-standing grief support center for children, adults, and families.
“I just decided that the time was now and there are just so many people who are looking for grief support,” Schneider said.
The organization sets up free support groups with people who are put into groups with those in the same age range, depending on who they have lost, and with those who are in similar spots in life as each other.
Meeting room at Our House NYC
The organization is completely volunteer-based, and volunteers who sign up to help a support group must commit to their group. Support groups range from adult, family, to school based support.
One issue the organization deals with is funding. Whether it is finding space or having the funds to train volunteers, the Our House lacks funding that would help it grow and expand.
Schneider hopes to continue growing the organization and helping those in need of a space to feel seen and safe.
“I was very blessed with the ability and my own personal resources to support my family in the way they needed, and it breaks my heart that there are so many people out there who aren’t as fortunate as I was, and that’s been my goal for launching Our House NYC,” Schneider explained. “There are a lot of people out there who are hurting and struggling, and aren’t able to find the resources they need. And our goal is really to either have them into our center or to be able to reach them.”
For more information, including details about an upcoming open house this September, visit ourhousenyc.org