$50,000 Grant Awarded to Hope through Housing

SAN BERNARDINO>> The Hope through Housing Foundation has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support its Youth and Family initiative. Hope through Housing, which provides life-changing human services to individuals and families in partnership with National Community Renaissance (National CORE) and some of the nation’s most respected service providers, has made after-school care one of its top program priorities. Nationwide, more than 14 million students leave school every afternoon with nowhere to go, according to the Afterschool Alliance. Research has shown that this leads to increases in juvenile crime, drug use and teen pregnancy, as well as reduced academic performance. “We’re very grateful for the partnership with Wells Fargo in fighting the war on poverty," said Ciriaco “Cid” Pinedo, President of the Hope through Housing Foundation. "The ability to provide after-school programs at no cost offers thousands of young people opportunities they never would have had otherwise. This kind of philanthropic support is essential to transforming lives and communities, which is what the Hope through Housing Foundation is all about.” Hope through Housing oversees a variety of supportive services at National CORE communities. These include preschool, after-school, senior wellness and upward mobility programs. Providing after-school programs on-site of affordable housing communities fills a growing void in low and middle-income communities. According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, the highest level of juvenile crime occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., when children are most likely to be alone. Research by the Center also shows that children who do not spend any time in after-school activities are 49 percent more likely to have used drugs and 37 percent more likely to become a teen parent. Johns Hopkins University reports that two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower and high-income youth is attributable to unequal access to learning opportunities when school is not in session. “After-school programs provide children of all ages with a safe haven, a support system, and the tools they will need to succeed in life,” Pinedo said. “We’re proud to offer these programs in partnership with National CORE, one of the nation’s largest and most innovative nonprofit community builders, as well as the best service providers in the business.”