United South End Settlements

TO HARNESS THE POWER OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF POVERTY FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

USES'S YOUTH PROGRAMMING PROVIDES A "WHOLE CHILD" CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMMING FROM BIRTH TO AGE 17 THAT SERVES OVER 300 CHILDREN AND TEENS PER YEAR. WE OFFER FULL-DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS WELL AS AFTER SCHOOL AND FULL-DAY SUMMERTIME PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ARTS ENRICHMENT. USES'S BOSTON-BASED YOUTH PROGRAMS EMPLOY A STEAM-BASED CURRICULUM THAT PROMOTES SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE IMPARTING CRITICAL SKILLS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL. CAMP HALE IS A SLEEPAWAY SUMMER CAMP DESIGNED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR ENRICHMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH THAT TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH SPACES. BY ENSURING THE FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY OF THESE PROGRAMS, USES HELPS TO PREVENT LEARNING LOSS AMONG HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, CLOSING RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

COACHING HELPS PARTICIPANTS SET THEIR OWN GOALS, IDENTIFY CONCRETE STEPS TOWARD MEETING THOSE GOALS, AND CHECKS IN AT REGULAR INTERVALS TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY. 50+ PARTICIPANTS FOCUS ON BUILDING SUCCESS IN FIVE AREAS: CAREER, FINANCES, FAMILY, EDUCATION/TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. IN FY22, THE FAMILY MOBILITY TEAM WORKED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEY RECOVERED FROM THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND EXPANDED PARTICIPANTS' ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. IN FY22, USES LAUNCHED A PILOT GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM, CALLED STRIVING TOWARD ECONOMIC PROSPERITY (STEP). THIS PILOT COHORT INCLUDED 16 FAMILIES RECEIVING $800 MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL STABILITY AND SECURITY, AND ALLOWS FAMILIES TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS REGARDING THEIR FINANCES. EARLY RESULTS HAVE SHOWN INCREASES IN SAVINGS, DECREASES IN DEBT, IMPROVEMENTS TO CREDIT, AND LOWER LEVELS OF FINANCIAL-RELATED STRESS AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS.

IN FY21, USES LAUNCHED A COVID-19 RELIEF INITIATIVE, FUNDED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF INDIVIDUAL, FOUNDATION, AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS INITIATIVE, CALLED THE NEIGHBOR2NEIGHBOR FUND, INCLUDED WEEKLY DELIVERIES OF BOXES OF FRESH FOOD AND HIGH-QUALITY DRY GOODS, AS WELL AS A MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM, THROUGH WHICH FAMILIES COULD ACCESS SUPPORT MEETING BASIC FINANCIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING RENT, UTILITIES, CHILDCARE, AND MORE. USES CONTINUED THIS PROGRAM IN FY22, DELIVERING BI-WEEKLY BOXES TO FOOD TO 145 FAMILIES, WHILE WORKING TO TRANSITION RECIPIENTS TO LONG-TERM FOOD SUPPORT PROGRAMS.