The goal of the Learning Centers and Resource Libraries initiative is to provide children who are experiencing homelessness with access to the same educational tools at their current, if temporary, residence that their classmates enjoy in their homes.

A Learning Center is stocked with computers, the latest in educational software, printers, a scanner, art supplies, a globe and a laminated world map, and appropriate furniture.

One child happily proclaimed to a Learning Center staff member: "Now I feel like my house is like other kids’ houses. I can talk about using a computer at home too. I can even do my reports."

A 4th grade girl asked to tell what she had done during that just-completed school year that made her proud wrote: "I got a B in spelling, I got an A in reading, in math I think I got a B, and I wrote poems." Her favorite memory was "reading a book with someone and reading by herself."

HCEF has provided Resource Libraries of some 900 books (replenished as necessary with the help of Scholastic Inc. and Barnes and Noble Books) in each of the Learning Centers and in 7 other agencies in partnership with HCEF but without space for a Learning Center. And, in cooperation with the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA), the bookmobile serves Sisters Place in Clairton and Bridge to Independence, serving the Mon Valley.

There are books for children and youth at all age- and reading-levels, books for children not yet reading, books supporting school curricula and reference needs, books purely for pleasure reading, books on finding a job or exploring possible careers. In addition, an HCEF subscription to the Internet-accessible Grolier On-Line After School Fun and Learning Center and Scholastic's BookFlix means that children living in each of our partner agencies have ready access to these content-rich educational tools. As important, when families move to other supportive housing or to their own homes, the HCEF subscription allows them to continue accessing these websites.

A children's programing staff member reports:

"We call our learning center the Happening Place. The books are widely used by our moms and children. They are borrowed daily from the library and upon returning them both moms and children are enthusiastic. The children, some with the help of their moms, are reading the books, learning colors, numbers, and even body parts. The children tell us of different places they read about and imagine what it would be like to visit there in person. The moms of the smaller children borrow the interactive books where the little ones can push buttons and open flaps. The moms are so excited when they see what their babies can accomplish."

A self-reporting survey of agency staff informs us that we can anticipate a yearly average of 20,000 individual uses of the Learning and Resource centers for study, research, and play by all age groups (including the children's mothers).

The Learning Centers and Resource Libraries are, indeed, places where important things are happening!
 

HCEF has created and supports Learning Centers and Resource Libraries at 11 residential facilities serving families: 

Resource Libraries have been provided to agencies serving children that do not have the space to accommodate a Learning Center: 

How does HCEF help create a Learning Center and Resource Library?

See our photo story of "a work in progress."

(9/7/10)

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