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Lead: Homeless teen mothers and their children develop the skills to live on their own.
Brief Synopsis
Residents of this transitional housing program take care of their children, contribute their labor to the running of the shelter, and even attend college as they work to attain independent lives. Aswalos House's aim is to empower young homeless mothers to become self-supporting members of the community, and also to provide educational opportunities, life training skills, sex education, and parenting education. Always skating on the edge of financial instability, such programs struggle to deliver the full array of services that enable their residents to move on with their lives. Find out how these young women develop into individuals who can take care of themselves and their children.
Program
YWCA of Boston Aswalos House Transitional Housing Program
246 Seaver Street, Dorchester, MA 02121
617-541-2050
Story Contact
Linda Keels, Director, Aswalos House
246 Seaver Street, Dorchester, MA 02121
617-541-2050
Shereen Tyrell
The Children's Trust Fund
294 Washington Street, Suite 640, Boston, MA 02108
617-727-8957
The Children's Trust Fund is a funder of Aswalos House Transitional Housing
Expert Contact
Victoria L. Banyard, PhD
Professor of Psychology, the University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH
603-862-1234
Email: vlb@christa.unh.edu
Background
- 73% of surveyed cities identified homeless families with children as a group for which shelter and other services were particularly lacking. (US Conference of Mayors.(1994) A status report on Hunger and Homelessness in American Cities. http://www.usmayors.org)
- In Boston in 1983 the homeless count was 1,000. By 1992 the count was over 4,000. (Hunger and Homelessness '97 Report, US Conference of Mayors)
- In New York city, 97% of homeless families are headed by females, over half of whom are under the age of 25. (Homes for the Homeless)
- 43% of the homeless population consists of families with children. (The Children's Defense Fund (1994) The State of America's Children)
- 78% of homeless children are under the age of 6 (Homes for the Homeless)
Hernandez, E. (October 21, 1990). Dorchester Home to open doors, hearts to 9 young mothers The Boston Globe, Metro p30.
McNamara, E. (June 5, 1996). Keep an Eye on Jenetta Brown (resident of Aswalos House) The Boston Globe, Metro p25.
Ribandeneira, T. W. (February 8, 1998). Q & A with Tom Boyle, director of Brookview House (a transitional housing program). The Boston Globe, City Weekly, p2.
Compiled by:
Mary Kohler and Nancy Martland
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