HOMELESS CHILDRENS EDUCATION FUND
ONE HOPE SQ 1901 CENTRE AVE NO 301, PITTSBURGH, PA 15219 www.homelessfund.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES; SERVING AS A TRUSTED ADVOCATE; SHARING EXPERTISE; FACILITATING COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAXIMIZE THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT AMONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS [HOMELESS EDUCATION NETWORK (HEN)].

TO EDUCATE CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

HCEF WORKS WITH PARTNERS INCLUDING 27 HOUSING AGENCIES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY TO CREATE HOPE THROUGH LEARNING FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH. OUR PROGRAMS REACH CHILDREN FROM PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD, AND INCLUDE: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. THIS SUMMER, WE ARE WORKING WITH A BUILDING COMPANY (CONTINENTAL BUILDING) TO CONSTRUCT LOCKED CABINETS AND REFURBISHING EXISTING BOOKSHELVES, PAINT THE WALLS A BRIGHT COLOR AND GIVE THE SPACE A MUCH-NEEDED SPARK. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS THE NEW AND IMPROVED CENTER.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 IMPORTANT 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. IN 2019-2020, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 175 CHILDREN WILL BE SERVED, GRADES 1-7 BY BUILDING BLOCKS AT FIVE SEPARATE SITES. THE LEARNING CENTERS IN EACH OF FIVE SITES ARE EQUIPPED FOR DIVERSE ACTIVITIES, CHIEF AMONG THEM READING AND ART. IT IS HERE THAT INFORMAL GUIDANCE, HOMEWORK HELP, AND A HEALTHY SNACK IS ALSO PROVIDED TO EACH STUDENT. WE FOCUS ON OUTCOMES IN THREE AREAS: LEARNING STRATEGIES AND ENGAGEMENT, DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING. ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT BRING CREATIVE, HANDS-ON 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." THE PROGRAMS ALSO SERVE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL SKILLS AND SELF-ESTEEM. LAST YEAR, OVER 600 CHILDREN AND TEENS PARTICIPATED IN OUR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING IN SUBJECTS THAT INCLUDED SCIENCE, VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING. A CHILD WILL LEARN ABOUT ELECTRICITY WHEN LABRATZ VISITS AND MAKES THEIR HAIR STAND UP ON END, ABOUT SELF-REFLECTION AND CREATIVITY WHEN ART EXPRESSIONS FACILITATES HANDS-ON ARTS PROJECTS, AND ABOUT THE WONDERS OF NATURE WHEN OUT IN THE FIELD WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST.

THE ANNUAL BACKPACK DISTRIBUTION PROVIDES 2,200 FULLY EQUIPPED BACKPACKS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THESE ARE BASED ON COMMUNITY REQUESTS AND ARE DISTRIBUTED TO 25 OF OUR PARTNERS.MINI-GRANT AND FIELD TRIP DOLLARS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO SHELTERS FOR COMMUNITY EXCURSIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS BENEFITING HOMELESS YOUTH. THESE GRANTS ALLOW OUR PARTNERS TO TAKE KIDS ON SPECIAL TRIPS THAT BROADEN THEIR WORLD, SUCH AS NATURE PRESERVES AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS MUSEUMS AND NATURE PRESERVES. OVER 500 CHILDREN AND 191 PARENTS BENEFITED FROM HCEF-FUNDED PROJECTS AND FIELD TRIPS THROUGH OUR MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM IN THE PAST YEAR. HOPE THROUGH LEARNING AWARD - THIS EDUCATIONAL AWARD PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND ARE HEADING ON TO POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, TRADE SCHOOL OR CAREER INSTITUTES. IN 2018, 8 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES BENEFITTED FROM THIS AWARD COVER HIGHER EDUCATION, TRADE SCHOOL, OR POST-SECONDARY CAREER PROGRAM EXPENSES.OUR TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM HAS TWO STAFF AND SEVERAL VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAM. THEY WORK TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY HOMELESS TEENS WHO ARE DOUBLED UP, OR MOVING FROM RELATIVE TO RELATIVE FOR A HOST OF REASONS. WE RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND THEN PROVIDE CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS PREPARATION TO THESE TEENS DURING SCHOOL HOURS. HCEF STAFF WAS IN THREE PITTSBURGH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, AND WORKED WITH 125 YOUTH. OF THE SENIORS WE COACHED AND MENTORED 70% PERCENT HAD PLANS TO ATTEND COLLEGE OR VO-TECH SCHOOLS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

HEN: THE HOMELESS EDUCATION NETWORK ADVANCES COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AWARENESS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS. THE HEN HAS OVER 600 MEMBERS REPRESENTING 250 REGIONAL ORGANIZATION. MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED HOMELESS LIAISONS, TEACHERS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SERVICE AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

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