Combating the effects of homelessness becomes an even more pressing and critical mission when children are involved. Horizons for Homeless Children is leading the fight in Massachusetts to help alleviate the trauma and stress of homelessness on both children and their families by providing high-quality early education, vital opportunities for play, support for parents, and crucial advocacy on behalf of some of our most marginalized citizens.
Our state of the art high-quality early education program is the only one of its kind in Massachusetts. We provide full-time, year-round early education to 232 infants, toddlers and preschoolers who live in shelter in Greater Boston. The program, rich in STEM and literacy curriculum, is free of charge to families who qualify and prepares vulnerable children so they enter kindergarten ready to learn.
Every parent of a child in our early education program is enrolled in our Family Partnerships Program and has the opportunity to work with a Family Coaching Specialist who serves as a coach and accountability partner. Parents work with the support of their Family Coaching Specialist to set and achieve goals in the areas of family stability, health and wellbeing, financial management, education and training, and employment and career.
Horizons installs and maintains child-friendly rooms called Playspaces in family homeless shelters across Massachusetts. These rooms are designed to reflect the needs of children ages 0-6 experiencing trauma and are a dedicated place for children to play, grow, and build connections with caring adults who are committed to their success. These caring adults are members of Horizons’ dedicated volunteer corps, each member trained and committed to being a positive influence in the lives of children experiencing homelessness.
Horizons’ advocacy efforts help ensure the organization’s efforts extend beyond those children and families served directly. Horizons works to change public policy in ways that lift families out of poverty and break the cycle of homelessness.
Horizons is proud to be recognized and supported by the following organizations dedicated to exceptional performance, transparency and accountability in a nonprofit.
