We believe children nurtured by love and support will grow on a path to realizing life’s possibilities.
The catalyst for HomeFront’s founding over 30 years ago was the sight of children being housed with their families in area motels, with no permanent home and limited food. Helping children has remained central to our work ever since.
- Our children’s programming is designed to help children who are facing or at risk of housing instability reach their educational, emotional and physical potential.
- From intensive services at our emergency shelter to an award-winning preschool to year-round enrichment programming and more, we partner with the whole family to wrap these children in
the support they need now and open their worlds to a brighter future.
- To make sure participation is accessible and barrier-free, our programing is always provided with food and transportation as needed.
- Not only do we believe that children nurtured in this way will grow and realize life’s possibilities; we believe all children deserve a life anchored by stability, well-being and enrichment.
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FAMILY CAMPUS CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING
This engaging and welcoming childcare center at the Family Campus is fully licensed, available five days a week, and serves up to 30 children ages 0-5. Providing on-site childcare to the clients living at or taking programs at the Family Campus gives parents the peace of mind to focus on their own healing and address the housing, employment and other issues they are facing.
Our Children’s Champions provide critical case management support, access to behavioral health services, and stimulating academic and arts enrichment for the children who stay with their families at our Family Campus. We give these children the care they need to stabilize and to heal, with life-enhancing, trauma-informed case management, access and linkages to therapy and medical care, tutoring, homework help, arts and other positive enrichment opportunities.
Our Educational Success Center staff, working closely with the Children’s Champions, offer an after-school and evening schedule of academic support, tutoring, classes and other horizon-expanding opportunities, with a focus on improving the literacy skills of children in residence at the Family Campus.
Joy, Hopes and Dreams
With one bus, a magical and talented pied-piper staff and a corps of dedicated and committed volunteers, HomeFront’s Joy, Hopes and Dreams programs gives vulnerable children what they need to heal and ultimately to thrive, with dynamic and supportive educational and enrichment programming a minimum of six days a week, all year-round. Joy, Hopes and Dreams provides academic support, through tutoring, mentoring and homework help, at venues throughout the county; college visits designed to inspire and underscore to these youngsters they can go for higher education, which many do; and year-round enrichment and recreational activities that include art and drama classes, science club, computers, basketball, fitness, picnics, regularly scheduled celebrations for the holidays and other noteworthy events, as well as trips to the beach, theater, music and more.
Summer Camp
For families experiencing housing instability and homelessness, summer can be a time of crisis. Without childcare, parents cannot work. Without educational enrichment, their children risk falling even farther behind. Camp Mercer, our eight-week day camp, fills these gaps for families, providing children ages 5-15 with educational and enrichment opportunities that help uncover talents and build self-confidence. Mornings are devoted to academics to help with “summer learning lag” and afternoons to fun and adventure.
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Other Services for Children
In addition to the programs listed above, HomeFront and a very caring community make sure thousands of children are well-equipped for the school year through our Back-to-School Drive and that thousands of holiday dreams come true through HomeFront’s Christmas Wishes Drive.