Horizon Housing Foundation
Technology Program

SETTING STANDARDS IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY
Horizon Housing Foundation is setting housing standards by being one of the only housing providers in the state of Missouri to provide its seniors and families with computers and secure wireless internet as part of their lease agreement.
Horizon Housing Foundation believes that if you give people the tools and the opportunity, they will propel themselves into the economic mainstream.

When Horizon Housing Foundation assessed what families in their developments were missing, we found it was the most basic tools. So Horizon Housing Foundation decided to do something that was unprecedented, we gave our residents computers. But we didn’t just give them computers; we engaged the community and the residents in the program….

We partner with the schools to make sure our residents know how to utilize the system to communicate with teachers and check their children’s grades and homework. We partner with the local banks, teaching our residents to use the Internet to pay their bills, instead of paying $3.00 to $5.00 for a money order. Horizon Housing Foundation created educational CD’s and supplies them to our residents. And we have a home page, which gives our residents educational information and communication from the Management.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Two of the cornerstones of the program are the “Train the Trainer” and the “Mentor” program. The “Train the “Trainer” program provided several women with computer training. These women became the resident experts. To date, they have installed new computers, installed virus protection, and provided residents with tips on how to use tools such as Microsoft Excel and Word. These new computer skills helped one of the trainer’s secure a job. One of Horizon’s residents hosts an online bible study with her computer.
Horizon Housing Foundation partnered with Chillicothe Middle School for the “Mentor” program. This program provides senior residents with one-on-one mentor sessions with tech-savvy students. These mentors have helped the seniors establish email addresses, download pictures of their grandchildren, access medical information, and communicate with loved ones. In turn, the seniors have helped the mentors work on school projects and provide a sense of community responsibility.

PROVEN OUTCOMES:
Horizon Housing Foundation continually measures the effects of these programs. *For our families, after six months three residents increased their annual income by more than $5,000.
*Overall, the total income of all residents (46 initial participants) increased in the amount of $8,649.90 at the end of 6 months.
*Only 2 residents in the program had a decrease in income, and 20% of residents in the program are receiving less rental assistance at the end of 6 months in the tech program, totaling $712 less rental assistance per month. **Horizon Housing Foundation will monitor financial data every six months for adults in the technology program.
At the end of the school year we will measure how the families’ use of the computers has enhanced the educational progress of the students. Horizon’s home page provides children with homework tips, links to educational sites, and other interesting facts.

*No school data available yet for youth.

Testimonials:
My name is Nicki and I'm a mother of 2 little girls, and I'm also a college student. It is wonderful to have a computer in our home at Elmwood Estates, because we all benefit from it for our education. It is allowing my oldest daughter, Topanga, to work on a book for her Young Authors contest at Truman Elementary. Topanga struggles in reading and having the computer at home also allows her to use the same learning sites at home, as she uses at school. As a single parent in college I love having the computer at home, because it's so nice to do research for school, type my papers, and keep in touch with my instructors at school. This gives me more time to spend with my daughters instead of spending extra time at school using the computer labs.

Thank you Horizon housing for your awesome gift of both computer & FREE wireless Internet. I have benefited greatly in numerous ways. I am able to get updates on my 3 wonderful grown children, as well as my precious grandchildren. Whenever my 2 oldest grandsons Ben age 9, & Pete age7, come to visit me, they are able to do all sorts of things with it. It amazes me how much knowledge they already have towards technology. My Internet has also helped me bank on line. Well, I'm getting there, (I actually only track the status of my account) but it truly has been very beneficial. I have also been given an opportunity to install some of them, & set up emails for folks, etc. That feat alone, has given me the opportunity to meet some of my neighbors that I'm sure I would not have met otherwise. I am also considering taking some courses online. I have very limited means, & no vehicle, so it really does mean a lot to me to have use of a computer right here in my home. Thank you all very much.---A.J.