Horizon Housing Foundation
Power Up
Can you imagine going back to school without
Internet access? How about looking for a job? What would you do
if your son or daughter was in school and you couldn’t afford
Internet access? Imagine the library has 2 computers and is the
only place you can take your children to complete their projects?
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:
The results of the first full year of data showed:
· *At the end of one full year of participation, there
was an increase of $32,000 (21%) in working income amongst families
and individuals participating in the program.
· *20% of residents completed higher education coursework,
90% of them being single moms.
*75% of children increased their grades or maintained them and
50% of them participated in outside educational activities with
the technology program.
*Additionally 75% of senior residents reported better quality
of life: increased communication with family, more knowledge of
prescription medications and medical issues, more connection with
the community and the world, and more convenient ways to monitor
finances and social security.
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.
