Building For Tomorrow

BUILDING FOR TOMORROW (BFT) SUPPORTS SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF AKRON METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHER LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PROMOTE STABILITY, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AS A MEANS OF STRENGTHENING THE GREATER COMMUNITY - THIS MISSION ALIGNS WITH THE GOALS AND MISSION OF AMHA. BFT PROVIDES RESIDENTS OF AMHA WITH TOOLS TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL AND MOVE BEYOND ASSISTED LIVING. WE FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS, ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. BFT STRIVES TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHERE RESIDENTS, NO MATTER THEIR STAGE IN LIFE, ARE GIVEN THE POWER TO REALIZE AND OBTAIN A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

REACH OPPORTUNITY CENTER: THE REACH OPPORTUNITY CENTER IS AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE SUMMIT LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CENTER HELPS FAMILIES TO RISE ABOVE POVERTY BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT ARE KEYS TO IMPROVING PERSONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE WHOLE FAMILY AND SUPPORT SUMMIT EDUCATION INITIATIVE'S CRADLE TO CAREER ALLIANCE BY: -PREPARING CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN -ENSURING CHILDREN ARE READING AT PROFICIENCY BY 3RD GRADE -DELIVERING ADULT LEARNING AND JOB READINESS SERVICES

COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM: THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN FOCUS IS ON OFFERING YOUTH SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. COVID-19 ACTION FUND: THE ACTION FUND WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC AND ITS AFFECT ON OUR COMMUNITIES' VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COVID-19 ACTION FUND WENT DIRECTLY TOWARDS ADDRESSING HARDSHIPS CAUSED BY COVID-19. ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION IS CHANGING DAILY, OUR GREATEST NEEDS WERE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND CONNECTIVITY ASSISTANCE. CONNECTHOME IS A PROJECT OF AMHA AND ITS NON-PROFIT ARM, BUILDING FOR TOMORROW. THIS INITIATIVE IS COMMITTED TO CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY PROVIDING DIGITAL EQUITY AND ACCESS FOR ALL. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES, INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND DEVICE PROVIDERS, CONNECTHOME CONNECTS AMHA RESIDENTS TO THREE DIFFERENT AREAS OF CONNECTIVITY: 1. AFFORDABLE INTERNET; 2. ACCESS TO DEVICES; AND 3. DIGITAL LITERACY. CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS: GAR FOUNDATION, KNIGHT FOUNDATION, HUNTINGTON FOUNDATION, AND THE AKRON CIVIC COMMONS (ACC) COMMITTED 25,000 EACH TO SUPPORT AMHA'S FY2020 CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS PLANNING GRANT. THE GAR FOUNDATION MONEY WAS VERY FLEXIBLE AND COULD BE USED IN ANY WAY TO SUPPORT THE PLANNING PROCESS. KNIGHT, HUNTINGTON, AND AKRON CIVIC COMMONS FUNDS WERE COMMITTED TO THE "DOING WHILE PLANNING" (DWP) PROJECT, WHICH IS A PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ADDRESS RESIDENT-IDENTIFIED WANTS. OUR DWP PROJECT IS THE GATHERING SPACE. ALL FUNDS GIVEN BY KNIGHT, HUNTINGTON AND ACC HAVE/WILL BE USED ON THE PILOT THEN PERMANENT BUILD OF THE GATHERING SPACE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE: EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE (ECI) OPERATES UNDER THE PREMISE THAT INVESTMENTS IN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION DELIVER ECONOMIC RETURNS AND PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS LATER IN LIFE. ECI'S UNIQUE DESIGN MAXIMIZES SCARCE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS AND SUPPORT FAMILIES. THROUGH HOME VISITATION, FAMILY OUTREACH EVENTS, AND MATERNAL DEPRESSION SERVICES, AMHA HAS FOUND AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CARE AND EDUCATION TO A VERY HARD-TO-REACH POPULATION. ECI STRIVES TO EMPOWER PARENTS/CAREGIVERS TO BE THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER BY BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS. ECI'S TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WORK DIRECTLY WITH VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND ALSO CONNECT CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE.

SPARK (SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIPS TO ASSURE READY KIDS), A COMPONENT OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, IS A FAMILY-FOCUSED KINDERGARTEN-READINESS HOME VISITATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 4 FOR KINDERGARTEN BY HELPING FAMILIES HELP THEIR CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. SPARK ENGAGES PARTICIPATING FAMILIES IN STRUCTURED LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES ALIGNED WITH OHIO'S EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, ADMINISTERS DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENTS AND SCREENINGS, AND INITIATIVES REFERRALS TO NEEDED COMMUNITY RESOURCES.