W I N T E R
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The
Homefront Fostering a Connection with Our Communities and Neighbors
Welcome from the President As this year comes to a close, it truly warrants a different kind of reflection. 2020 has been a year of many challenges and many challenges and changes inchanges our dailyin our daily lives. However, I amlives. pleased to say that as a team of frontline workers to those behind the scenes, and with you at the center, we have made it through and finished strong with some accomplishments along the way. This pandemic has forced us to confront unexpected situations and reach new levels in order to be successful in trying to meet the needs of each of our residents. We did that in many ways this year like canceling rent for all residents in July and offering monthly virtual financial service meetings to provide families with important information and resources to help them stay informed and navigate through difficult times. The meetings included topics on the economic stimulus package, savings accounts, safe banking, unemployment, food, student loans, and more. We also distributed over 8,000 masks along with diapers, boxes of food, and farmers market vouchers. While those efforts mostly focused on our adult and parent population, we didn’t forget to offer assistance to our youth as well. We created learning hubs in our developments and supplied 300 tablets and computers to our students to provide them with access and technology to try and close the digital gap and ease this new age of virtual learning. Though these acts have helped many of our residents, we know the work does not end there. We will continue to do our part because we are committed to putting our best efforts forward for the benefit of you and your family each and every day. And although it may not be easy, I still encourage you to find joy and appreciation this holiday season as you safely celebrate and enter into the new year knowing that you are not alone, and we will get through this together! In community,
Karen DuBois-Walton, Ph.D.
ECC/HANH Partners with Bridges Collaborative for School & Neighborhood Integration Efforts ECC/HANH was selected along with New Haven Public Schools and 53 other school and housing groups as inaugural members of The Bridges Collaborative. This initiative is a first-of-its-kind, nationwide effort created to advance racial and socioeconomic integration and equity in America’s schools. This grassroots movement is coordinated by The Century Foundation (TCF), a national think tank that has helped steer the conversation on school integration for decades. The collaborative is unique in the world of K-12 education for its size, diversity, and mission and for its inclusion of housing partners. ECC/HANH and NHPS joined a cohort that includes 27 school districts, 17 charter schools, and 11 housing organizations and together represent more than 3.5 million children nationwide. “Often, people see housing and public education as separate and unrelated entities—but this is not the case. Our agency has always recognized the intersection and fought to desegregate both to create equitable opportunities and outcomes,” said ECC/HANH President Karen DuBois-Walton. “Joining this innovative collaborative with NHPS and other districts/agencies in Connecticut (cont’d pg. 3)
Save the Date! Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
Monday, Jan. 18th
All offices are closed in observance of the holiday.
Board Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 16th For HANH. Virtual and open to the public. Every third Tuesday. Streams live on our Facebook page.
Read Across America Day
Tuesday, Mar. 2nd
Our nation’s largest celebration of reading for children & teens. What’s your favorite book?