Taking Action to Support youth experiencing housing instability

In the United States, approximately 2.5-4.2 million children and young adults experience housing displacement annually. Many families who lack secure long-term housing are forced to reside in a shelter, car, tent, or motel while their family attempts to find more stable housing. Although the beginning of summer and the end of the school year are exciting for some students, those experiencing housing displacement find summer to be monotonous, long, and extremely challenging.

The We Build Foundation is working on a Federal Grant, to provide camp scholarships to support displaced children who will benefit from the camp experience and whose families may not otherwise be able to afford camp for their children. The grant will be submitted soon, and we will know if we we are approved for funding shortly thereafter. Upon approval, in April, we will conduct a summer camp search to find camps for students to attend. These camps will include chess, financial literacy, debate, public speaking, entrepreneurship, sports, art, STEM-based programs. and much more.

We will send children to their chosen summer camps and work with representatives from local transitional housing shelters, who will contact the families directly to gauge their interest. Subsequently, we will meet with the families at their transitional housing to understand the type of camps that interest their child and to share information about the various summer camps offered across Baltimore and Howard Counties.

Summer is a critical time for child development, and we strive to make it a season of growth, fun, and learning for every child receiving a scholarship. These camps offer much more than just a break from the daily routine; they provide a unique opportunity for children to explore new interests, develop critical social skills, build self-confidence, and have fun!