Thank you for helping us grow!

Every family deserves the chance to thrive. Because of the generosity of our community, thousands of children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts had access to high-quality early education and play while their parents pursued coaching and career training to support long-term stability.

The impact of your generosity is reflected in everything we accomplished together this fiscal year.

You Gave Children a Strong Start

• – This year marked an exciting milestone for Horizons as we expanded our Early Education Center with two additional classrooms and a new Gross Motor Room, allowing us to welcome 261 children each day into a trauma-informed learning environment.
• – Every child enrolled in our program is regularly assessed to inform individualized care and monitor progress. Our latest assessments found that 53% of children strengthened key social-emotional skills, which are foundational to learning and critical to future success in the classroom.
• – We served 126,644 healthy meals and snacks to children in our Early Education Center, providing 80% of their daily nutrition.
• – Nearly 800 volunteers provided 53,576 hours of play and connection to children living in shelters across Massachusetts. The New England Patriots Foundation honored these dedicated volunteers through the Patriots Difference Maker of the Week award.

You Helped Families Move Forward

• – Families made meaningful strides toward financial stability: 48% of families increased their income, 46% increased their savings, and 25% decreased their debt.
• – Our on-site courses helped 146 parents invest in their families’ futures by learning financial literacy, computer basics, and other vital skills.
• – Our Playspace team hosted 20 parent workshops, equipping caregivers with tools to better understand and support their children’s development.
• – We expanded family support by providing parents with information and resources to recognize early signs of autism and seek services for a lasting impact on children’s development and well-being.

You Drove Change

• – Horizons, in Partnership with Representative Decker, drove the successful passage of An Act Supporting the Development of Children Experiencing Homelessness H215/5990 Outside Sections 70 and 131. This historic achievement ensures that all children under 3 are to be referred to Early Intervention for screening within 30 days of arriving at shelter.  
• – We welcomed Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for a classroom visit and roundtable discussion about strengthening support for families navigating homelessness. Horizons actively engages staff and parents in our program in cross-sector Policy and Advocacy efforts to elevate the voices of families experiencing homelessness.
• – Through coverage in The Boston Globe, The Hechinger Report, The Guardian, and other major media outlets, we elevated the national conversation around early childhood homelessness.
• – Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child spotlighted how Horizons’ work is critical for young children experiencing homelessness.

You Increased Horizons’ Visibility and Celebrated Partnerships

• – We celebrated a decade of partnership with the Catholic Schools Foundation, expanding access to consistent, high-quality education through more than
  $2 million in scholarships for students experiencing housing instability.
• – We welcomed new friends from across the pond – Scotland’s Mossgreen & Crossgates Tartan Army! – who brought joy to our Center along with a generous donation to support our mission.
• – We engaged corporate partners in 81 meaningful opportunities to connect with Horizons’ programs, children, and families, deepening relationships and bringing new energy and support to our mission.