Dear Friends and Supporters,

As children across the country embark on the beginning of a new school year, we want to reflect on the importance of investing in our youth for a brighter tomorrow.

Last school year, 537 students enrolled in Harford County Public Schools qualified for homelessness services. This astounding statistic is much more than just a number. It represents children facing the uncertainty of where they will sleep at night, the stress of navigating school while lacking basic necessities, and the resilience of young individuals who continue to strive for success despite overwhelming challenges.

Harford Family House believes that every child should have a fair opportunity to lead a successful academic career. We are dedicated to offering an environment for our youth to thrive in. One way we provide this is by implementing a variety of programs; this includes our very own 4-H club, educational summer excursions, weekly homework help, and life skills workshops.

Preventative measures such as these bring us one step closer to fulfilling our mission of eradicating homelessness in Harford County. By investing in our youth, we help to break the cycle of homelessness and financial insecurity.

However, we cannot offer any of these critical initiatives without the help of our supporters. Together, we can build a better future for our community and those within it experiencing homelessness.

Best Regards,

Robin Tomechko, CEO

Frank Kellner, Board Chair

Gearing Up For The New School Year 

The new school year has officially begun! Across the country, many students have already gone on their back-to-school shopping trips, selecting shiny new supplies and the coolest new clothes. On their first day, they’ll proudly display their crisp backpacks and fresh gel pens. However, for a child experiencing homelessness, this highly anticipated first day back to school can become a day filled with anxiety and stress. 

According to the CDC, a child experiencing homelessness is 134% more likely to receive poor grades in school, and 128% more likely to experience bullying, compared to a child with stable housing. With this in mind, HFH does everything in its power to best prepare the youth in our programs with everything they need to achieve academic success.  

With the generous contributions of Empower4Life, an organization of teachers coming together to support the community, HFH hosted a Back to School Bash for the youth in our programs. The kids enjoyed themed refreshments, received new backpacks stuffed with school supplies, and discussed opportunities for after-school programming they would like implemented for the upcoming school year. Giving children the chance to have a say in what types of programs they would like to see keeps them engaged in their own academic journeys while building community with their peers. 

Efforts like this help build the foundation of support they need to prioritize education and academic success. During a period in a child’s life where time revolves around the start and end of the school year, it is critical that we support those who are vulnerable to adversity. Education is a catalyst for future success and is an opportunity for children experiencing homelessness to break the cycle of financial insecurity.  

Source for data used was https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED616088 based on the YRBSS report done by the CDC here: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2019/su6901-H.pdf  

Watch video here: Off the Streets-Sleepout kicks off homeless awareness month in Harford Co. (wmar2news.com)

Effective July 1, Harford Family House and Welcome One Emergency Shelter are merging to join their superpowers and battle homelessness in our area. Find out more and be a part of the fight to end homelessness in Harford County.

See the big announcement live at last night’s Ahoy!

Will we see you on the field on July 28th for Home Runs for the Homeless presented by Harford Mutual Insurance Group?

Register your foursome for the charity home run derby that raises funds and critical awareness for Harford County’s families and individuals experiencing homelessness. For more information about the event visit: https://fb.me/e/1viIMXAYq

Sending heartfelt thanks to our friends at KickHouse for hosting a household supply drive for Harford Family House! We appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity!