San Diego CA— Home Start, Inc., a San Diego nonprofit organization whose mission is to assure the safety and resiliency of children by strengthening families and their communities, has received a $16,000 grant from St. Germaine Children’s Charity. The grant will provide critical support, stable housing, and case management to homeless young women and their children in Home Start’s Maternity Shelter Program (MSP). MSP provides safe and secure supportive housing for pregnant or parenting young women (ages 18-24) who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Funding from St. Germaine Children’s Charity will provide mothers in the MSP program with evidence-based parenting education, assistance with securing child-care, assistance with enrolling in college-level courses, counseling, personal health and nutrition education, substance abuse prevention, job training resources, independent living and health relationship training. Children in the MSP program will receive specialized support from Home Start’s Child Development Specialist and thrive in the safety/stability of their own home.
Home Start’s case managers and staff work with each resident to develop necessary skills to live independently. Upon program completion, participants will have increased knowledge of parenting, child development, personal and reproductive health/pregnancy prevention, budgeting, financial literacy, and awareness of community resources. Last year, Home Start’s MSP program served 40 young women and their 45 children. If it were not for the MSP program, many of these families would be in abusive living situations or on the streets.
“We’re excited that St. Germaine Children’s Charity has honored us with this grant,” said CEO Laura Tancredi-Baese. “The award will truly advance Home Start’s ability to provide services to children living in poverty who require immediate, comprehensive solutions to ensure their safety and healthy development.”