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NYC Council Funds Boulevard's After-School Zone

children playground

Afterschool programs make a powerful difference for children living in family shelters. Yet, pandemic-related closures, limited funding, and staffing shortages have taken their toll on NYC’s homeless children. 

Last January in New York City:

  • Homeless students’ attendance levels fell to 75%
  • Students in stable housing had a higher attendance level of 89%

(Source: NYC Department of Education, 2021)

Academic Goals Supported by Boulevard

Our Boulevard Family Transitional Residence in Queens houses nearly 200 families, including 227 school-aged children. During the height of the pandemic, staff, in partnership with NYC’s Department of Education, developed gap programming as students transitioned to remote learning. The add-ons made a difference. Boulevard attendance records showed that:

  • Nearly half of Boulevard’s student residents attended 80-100% of their classes
  • Fully one-third of those children achieved an attendance rate of 93-100%

(Source: NYC Department of Homeless Services, 2021)

New Student Space in Development

To further boost students’ academic progress, Samaritan Daytop Village built an After-School Zone at Boulevard. Thanks to the New York City Council, the student-focused space was funded by a $50,000 grant.

Proposed as a citywide model, Boulevard’s After-School Zone is giving students a quiet common area at the shelter to complete homework, relax, and access a variety of digital tools and supplies for school.

  

With the funds, Samaritan Daytop Village has remodeled an existing space featuring:

  • A computer station equipped with laptops and free access to Wi-Fi
  • A comprehensive student library stocked with books, magazines, and educational prep materials
  • A homework and reading space with tables, chairs, and couches
  • A closet with a wide range of school supplies for students to use at no cost to their families

The After-School Zone can accommodate up to 15 students at a time. High schoolers have the opportunity to schedule time during the evening hours.

Samaritan Daytop Village has nine family transitional residences in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. If you would like to help fund an After-School Zone at any or all of these locations, contact our Development Department at development@samaritanvillage.org.