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Boston, MA (March 4, 2004) - U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy and Congressman Michael Capuano announced today that Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC) will receive $150,000 from the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families program.
Horizons for Homeless Children was one of only 5 organizations serving homeless people in the nation that received funding in the Fiscal Year 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The funds will assist the expansion of HHC’s Playspace Programs to family shelters throughout the Commonwealth, as well as provide training and technical assistance to improve mainstream resources that serve homeless children.
“This money will help protect young children from the trauma of homelessness,” said Kennedy. “Children should not bear the brunt of homelessness and we should provide community support to meet whatever challenges they face.”
“We are thrilled to receive this Federal assistance. The funding will be used to support our work to meet the needs of more homeless children,” said Executive Director Sue Heilman. “We are very grateful to Senator Kennedy and Congressman Capuano for their leadership and the rest of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation for their support.”
“Family homelessness has been increasing across the nation,” said Congressman Capuano. “Horizons for Homeless Children can serve as a model for other states.”
Since 1990, HHC’s Playspace Programs have installed playrooms in more than 50 family shelters in Massachusetts and recruited, trained and supervised more than 4,000 volunteers to provide nurturing, stimulating play opportunities on a weekly basis for children in homeless shelters throughout Greater
Boston and Central Massachusetts. 580 active volunteers now work in 58 shelters each week. The volunteers are recruited, trained, and coordinated by HHC staff based in Boston and Worcester.
The Federal funding will help HHC establish 3 additional regional offices, serve an additional 50 shelters throughout the state, helping an additional 600 homeless children grow and learn each week. HHC opened a regional Playspace office in Worcester in October. The next regional Playspace office will open in Lawrence this month as HHC begins to install Playspaces and recruit volunteers on the North Shore and in the Merrimack Valley.
HHC’s mission is to:
- Meet the developmental needs of young homeless children by providing nurturing, stimulating opportunities for the educational play that all children need to learn and grow in healthy ways;
- Improve these children's lives over the long term by providing their families with the tools they need to end the cycle of homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency; and
- Provide leadership in advocating for homeless children and their families through leveraging and sharing expertise with others and advocating with policy makers and the public.
By providing developmentally enriching care for children and giving parents the support they need to move forward, Horizons for Homeless Children works to reduce developmental delays and improve school-readiness among children, and provides parents with the tools for self-sufficiency.
To learn more about Horizons for Homeless Children including how you can volunteer, visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org or call at 617-287-1900.
Family homelessness continues to increase statewide. In Massachusetts each year, 10,500 families with children are homeless, including those temporarily residing in shelters, motels, cars, campgrounds and those who are doubled up with relatives. As the shortage of affordable housing has grown more acute, families are remaining homeless for longer periods. Because the early years are so important to children’s development, this situation puts young homeless children significantly at risk.
Founded in 1988 as an independent, non-profit organization, Horizons for Homeless Children is dedicated to serving homeless children and their families. Headquartered in Dorchester, the organization has created over 58 Playspaces in family shelters throughout Massachusetts and recruited and trained more than 4,000 community members to become Playspace Activity Leaders working with the children living in the shelters each week. Horizons for Homeless Children’s two Community Children's Centers provide childcare for 126 homeless children and parent support services for almost 100 families each weekday. Plans are in place to open a third Community Children’s Center in 2004.
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