Community Lodgings
WISH LIST: $100: 1 month’s books and materials for the center’s youth programs; $500: 1 month of instruction in the Adult Education Program; $1000:1 year of childcare provided during the monthly parent workshops
In the mostly immigrant sections of Alexandria, VA, instability is a fact of life. Though 70% of adults are employed, 40% have one year or less of high school, 91% speak Spanish as their primary language, and 91% of families qualify for the free lunch program – an indicator of poverty. So Community Lodgings approaches its clients from multiple perspectives. Housing is fundamental: 46 units of transitional and affordable housing are operated for the formerly homeless or those at risk of homelessness. But that’s not all. The Family Education Center works with at-risk 2nd to 9th graders, providing homework help, individualized instruction, and enrichment; a mental health counselor conducts workshops on sexuality, drugs, bullying, gangs; and a Youth Summer Program keeps up the good work. Education for adults includes computer literacy, English as a Second Language, and financial literacy (including home buying seminars). Central to it all is the ability to motivate disadvantaged adults to aspire to a better life for their families, something at which Community Lodgings excels. After all, it takes more than a roof over your head.
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