Programs and Services
Working in partnership with homeless mothers and their children, Hearts of Gold helps them create positive, sustainable change in their lives under three umbrella objectives: Stabilize, Support, and Sustain.
We engage with the moms and kids we serve to help them gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to be able to transition out of the shelter system and become fully independent and productive members of society.
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Our programs include our HoG (FSU), Fresh Start University Workforce Development Program, which provides on the job training at our resale store tth Vintage Boutique, and scholarships to support higher educational opportunities for moms.
For the children, we provide private and semi-private tutoring, which includes building skills associated with STEAM disciplines (Science,Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) as well as summer camp experiences through (S.T.E.P.), our Summer Teen Enrichment Program.
Our services include: Fresh Start Bags, Baby Shower in a Bag, an Annual Back To School Backpack Giveaway and an Annual Christmas Coat Giveaway.
Impact
Hearts of Gold accomplishes its mission in partnership with its “adopted” shelters. We have a close collaborative relationship with each shelter—in particular with their respective directors—who identify the mothers and children most in need.
Because the work we do is beyond the shelters’ operational scope, our work is of critical importance not only to the moms and kids we serve, but also to the overburdened shelters themselves.
Stabilize
The impact of homelessness is profound: our moms feel anger, self-blame, sadness, fear, hopelessness—and their children often bear the brunt of these emotions.
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To help navigate this trauma, we provide a variety of basic supplies upon first engagement: MetroCards (for work, school & tutoring travel), food & groceries, clothing, furniture, school supplies and much more.
Support
Our moms need—but often lack—the basic life skills that help deal with the challenges of their personal, educational or professional lives.
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We run a number of programs to support these families' growth, and to help them recognize and break self-defeating habits: financial literacy courses; parenting skills workshops; a summer enrichment camp for our teens; and more.
Sustain
Finally, we offer a suite of programs designed to create sustainable change for our moms and kids.
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For moms, this means completing
the curriculum of our HoG Fresh Start University (FSU) at our retail store tth Vintage Boutique, job interview workshops (coming soon) and consulting on work appropriate wardrobe.
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For kids, we offer free tutoring, meals & educational trips 6 days a week.
