HOMELESS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION FUND

Homeless shelter learning centers are built just for kids and equipped with technology and resources for educational support. These centers are equipped with books, games and educational toys in addition to posters and prompts that foster emotional and social development. We equip and refresh these spaces, as needed, to keep them at peak quality for our youth. Building blocks for success afterschool and summer programming is delivered to children living in homeless shelters and temporary residences. With our instructors, literacy specialist and intern teams, we forge relationships with youth and their parents that enable trust and learning. A quality instructor at each site is assisted by a literacy specialist (who shares time between all sites) and 2-3 college interns and volunteers. Hcef conducted group zoom sessions and got to know each family individually (the youth and their parents) during the pandemic. We focus on outcomes in three areas: learning strategies and engagement, developmental relationships and social and emotional learning. Enrichment programs bring creative, hands-on steam (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) experiences to enhance learning. The objectives of these programs are to expand a child's world, integrate them into large community activities and provide a basis for "prior knowledge."