Social Service Update 2015-2016 Our Mission: The Horizon Housing Foundation provides safe, affordable housing for families and seniors and supports them through programs that promote economic self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.
Social Service Update February 16, 2016 We are very excited about the third quarter grants that we are now implementing. A few highlights include an ACT/SAT preparation course for high school students, a series of career development workshops, and hosting the American Diabetes Association s Senior Series. In all Horizon approved 29 grants for the third quarter, totaling $50,694. The next deadline for applications is March 1 st, which will represent the final grant cycle for our 2015-2016 fiscal year. The third quarter was our first grant cycle to use our new Grant Application Form, and we found the form to be very successful. It helped to streamline the process, both for the properties as they completed the application and for Horizon staff as we reviewed applications. It resulted in grant proposals that were more focused and strategic, and also provided a platform for Horizon staff to continue to educate about designing grants and aiming for specific outcomes. We will now be updating our other forms that relate to the granting and reporting process as well, to continue improving our efficiency and effectiveness. 3 rd Quarter Donations At-a-Glance: Community Gardens 3 Healthy Cooking Classes 1 Exercise Classes 131 Health and Wellness Classes 43 Walking Club 1 Nurse & Social Worker Visits 18 3 On-site Libraries 24 Reading Classes 30 Computer Classes 3 New Computers 56 Craft Events 13 Community-Building Events
Third Quarter Donation Summaries: Allen Wilson III (Decatur, GA) Allen Wilson III is hosting an ACT/SAT preparation program for its high school-aged residents. Students in the program are developing test taking skills and strategies to improve their test scores thus become more competitive for college admissions and scholarships. Alpha Terrace Apartments (St. Louis, MO) With the encouragement and support of Horizon, Alpha Terrace is beginning a series of twice-weekly exercise sessions for its senior residents. Focusing on light cardio and weight training, the program is helping residents to maintain their mobility and independence. Brentwood Place Apartments (Forsyth, GA) Brentwood Place Apartments has hosted an event on-site to build community and trust between the residents at the property and the first responders in the community who serve those residents. There was a special focus on building rapport between children and law enforcement. Cold Storage Lofts (Kansas City, MO) Cold Storage Lofts has brought in A+ Career and Resume LLC to provide career development services for residents. These services include workshops, coaching, and mentoring to help participants to improve their resumes and build their interview skills. Columbia Mill Apartments (Atlanta, GA) Through a series of workshops the new career and professional development program at Columbia Mill is assisting residents with resume writing, interviewing, networking, leadership development, and personal branding. In addition, the property is hosting a youth-oriented program (presented by the American Diabetes Association) to increase awareness of diabetes and the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. Horizon s grant also allows for the continuation of Columbia Mill s youth reading program. The Cottages at Arbor Pointe (Columbus, GA) Horizon is supporting the senior residents of the Cottages at Arbor Point with a community walking club program, a book club, computer classes, and a series of health and wellness classes. These activities are helping residents to improve their health, mobility, and independence, and help them to build community and social connections as well. Columbia Senior Residences at Forrest Hills (Decatur, GA) The Residences at Forrest Hills are partnering with the America Diabetes Association to provide a Senior Series outreach program to increase the level of awareness about the high prevalence of diabetes among seniors and to address the health needs of the senior residents at Forrest Hills.
Frisco Lofts (Springfield, MO) Horizon has funded a healthy cooking class for residents at the property. The class was led by a professional dietician, and residents were able to enjoy the meal that they created together. Grand South Senior (St. Louis, MO) Horizon is continuing its support of Grand South s health and wellness program, which includes services such as chair yoga classes, art therapy, massage therapy, and community gardening. Green Gables Senior Living (Wentzville, MO) Horizon is continuing its funding of the Comprehensive Wellness Program at Green Gables, facilitated by Premier Home Health. This program brings exercise classes, weekly nurse visits, social work visits, and monthly educational speakers to the property to work with residents to improve their health and wellness. Greystone Apartments (Rome, GA) Greystone Apartments is providing the Art Alive program to serve the needs of its residents with mental and/or physical disabilities as well as its elderly residents. The Art Alive program incorporates art therapy, art education, and social entrepreneurship to foster self-expression, develop social skills, decrease depression symptoms, and improve self-esteem. Hampshire Landing (Joplin, MO) Horizon is funding the creation of an on-site library for the residents of Hampshire Landing, in order to make reading material more accessible and to promote positive reading habits in children. House Springs Apartments (House Springs, MO) Horizon is funding the creation of a community garden for the residents at House Springs Apartments. The garden will help residents to remain active and mobile, and will increase their access to fresh and healthy food. Mallory Place Apartments (Marshall, MO) Horizon is funding a major expansion of Mallory Place s on-site library for its residents. The property has several residents who care for their grandchildren during the day, and the expanded library is making reading materials more readily available both for these and other children and for adult residents at the property. Martin Luther King Village Apartments (Kansas City, MO) With Horizon s support, MLK Village is building a large community garden at its property. The garden will give the property s senior residents opportunities to build social connection, and will help them to remain active and mobile as well as increasing their access to fresh and healthy food.
Panola Gardens (Lithonia, GA) Horizon is helping Panola Gardens to create a multi-faceted health and wellness initiative for its senior residents. The initiative includes services such as fitness classes, art therapy and music therapy sessions, and computer education classes, and will help residents to improve their health and age successfully as independent seniors. Parkland Manor (Austell, GA) Horizon is helping Parkland Manor to establish a health and wellness program for its senior residents, in order to combat the health issues with which the community struggles. The property is hosting services such as fitness classes, yoga sessions, and Lunch & Learn events to educate about nutrition. Parkwood Senior (Joplin, MO) Horizon has started a weekly chair yoga program for the residents of Parkwood Senior. Classes are designed for the needs of older adults, and exercises are done either seated or standing with the support of a chair. Regular participation in yoga can help residents to improve quality of life and physical measures such as balance and strength. Richardson Ridge Villas (Arnold, MO) Horizon is continuing the weekly chair yoga program for the senior residents at Richardson Ridge. The program has achieved consistently high participation rates and is helping residents to improve their health and quality of life. In addition we have supplied some yoga equipment to property to help the yoga sessions continue to grow. Rosie Shields Manor (Pagedale, MO) Horizon is supporting a share of the maintenance costs for Rosie Shields Manor s community van, so that it may continue to serve the property s residents. Rosie Shields uses the van to transport residents to health fairs, farmers markets, and cultural events. Salvation Army Veterans Residence (St. Louis, MO) Based on the success of previous grants, Horizon is continuing its support of the monthly Safe & Sober and Lunch & Learn events at the Veterans Residence. These programs provide positive, structured alternatives for residents who are coping with addiction and provide learning opportunities to help them work toward becoming self-sufficient and independent. Sustainable Fellwood II & III (Savannah, GA) Horizon is sponsoring monthly health and wellness education events for residents at these two properties. These events are based on the World Health Organization s calendar, and feature presentations from health professionals. Sycamore Hills Apartments (DeSoto, MO) With Horizon s support, Sycamore Hills is engaging its residents around reading and healthy choices. Horizon is sponsoring the creation of an on-site library to include children s books and materials, a reading area, healthy cookbooks, and exercise DVDs.
Willow Creek Senior Apartments (Eldon, MO) Horizon is continuing to support and expand the health and wellness initiatives at Willow Creek Senior. The chair yoga classes have been expanded from bi-weekly to weekly, and the monthly health-focused Lunch & Learn events will continue along with the monthly craft events to help build social connection among residents. General Partners: Catalpa Tree Apartments- Senior: Savannah, MO: Every resident at Catalpa Tree has the option to receive a laptop on loan from Horizon. These laptops help to increase residents quality of life by making it possible for them to pay bills online and connect to family and friends. This winter Catalpa Tree also hosted a holiday dinner at the property, to help build a sense of community and to show appreciation for the property s residents. Cedar Tree Apartments- Family: Savannah, MO: Cedar Tree Apartments continued its tradition of supporting its residents by providing a holiday ham or turkey to each household. In addition to showing appreciation for Cedar Tree s residents, these gifts help to alleviate hunger and financial strain for families at the holidays. Center Apartments- Senior: Chillicothe, MO: Every resident at Center has the option to receive a laptop on loan from Horizon. These laptops help to increase residents quality of life by making it possible for them to pay bills online and connect to family and friends. Horizon also provides monthly community meals and attendance prizes, and community donuts are available every Saturday. This winter, Horizon supported the property s holiday potluck with equipment and gifts for the residents. Elmwood Estates- Family: Nevada, MO: Elmwood Estates has been continuing its Story Time program every Wednesday after school. Kids from the property take turns reading, and then all participants have the opportunity to check out books from the on-site library. Horizon also sponsors gift cards as rewards for good grades. Ongoing Partnerships: LinkSTL: LinkSTL is a new nonprofit organization within the Hyde Park neighborhood, and Horizon is partnering with this group to help connect our tenants to local services. LinkSTL has now launched, and is currently engaging residents and planning events.
PCCI: Project Community Connections, Inc. (PCCI) is a nonprofit located in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in housing and social services. Horizon is currently piloting a partnership with PCCI, where PCCI will provide on-site assessment, planning, and delivery of services to residents at the Commons at Imperial Apartments in Atlanta. Scholarships: College Scholarships: Horizon continues to partner with the Scholarship Foundation to provide college scholarships for our residents in the St. Louis area. For the current school year, Horizon is providing scholarships for one returning applicant and one new applicant. Additionally, Horizon extends the scholarship to rural Missouri and to Georgia. This has allowed us to award eight additional scholarships, with one returning applicant and seven new applicants. High School Scholarships: Horizon has partnered with Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School to assist one Horizon resident with partial tuition toward Cardinal Ritter annually. Horizon also is currently in discussion with St. Mary s High School regarding the possibility of a Horizon resident scholarship at this school as well. Elementary and Middle School Scholarships: Horizon is now partnering with Most Holy Trinity Catholic School and Academy to offer three to four scholarships to cover tuition for elementary and middle school students to attend this school. This is a new initiative for Horizon, and we are currently working with LinkSTL to find applicants in the Hyde Park neighborhood, where Most Holy Trinity is located. Additional Donations: Carondelet Community Betterment: Horizon donated funds for this 501c3 to assist in housing restoration in the Carondelet neighborhood. Most Holy Trinity Catholic School & Academy: Horizon has donated funds toward Most Holy Trinity s computer-based technology accelerated math program. Caritas Connection: Horizon assisted this 501c3 that provides food and household goods to those in need within the St. Louis area. Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Better Living Communities: Horizon has made a donation to support the National Night Out celebration in Hyde Park this year, organized by these two organizations. Little Sisters of the Poor: Horizon has donated funds to this faith-based organization to support its St. Louis Residence, which provides a home and care for low-income elderly adults in St. Louis.
Northside Community Housing, Inc.: With the assistance of Horizon, Northside Community Housing is connecting residents in its lease-purchase homes to credit counselling in order to help them prepare for the transition from renting to home ownership. Father Bob s Outreach: Horizon contributed funds to support the Utility Assistance Program at Father Bob s Outreach in St. Louis. Horizon s donation supported ten lowincome residents in making their utility payments so that they can keep the lights on this winter. Jennings School District: To support the creation of Hope House (a residence for homeless students in the Jennings School District), Horizon has purchased laptop computers for the house. Students will be able to use these computers to complete homework, search for resources, and stay connected to family and friends.