THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 Page 11 Almeida-Barros brings $35K for homeless students’ housing Marcony Almeida-Barros School Committee Member W ard 5 School Committee Member Marcony Almeida-Barros announced $35,000 in new funding to assist the Everett Public Schools (EPS) homeless students this school year. The money will help reduce truancy, assist with food and case management and improve graduation rates, as part of the EPS Student Homeless Assistance Program initiated by Almeida-Barros. To date, this oneof-a-kind program in a public high school has brought nearly $100,000 in funding to EPS since its inception. Part of this year’s subsidy was possible thanks to the continued assistance of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA), which has heard Marcony’s call since he joined the School Committee. State Senator Sal DiDomenico also assisted to secure additional funding for this program through the state budget this year. “Being able to address housing stability for our most vulnerable students has been a top priority of mine,” said Almeida-Barros. The EPS Student Homeless Assistance Program was initiated in 2018 as a pilot program. When Almeida-Barros heard about the homeless student population, he invited the MHSA to visit Everett High School, and initially won a $30,000 grant to help homeless students and their families in crisis to cover emergency expenses for food and housing. In the program’s fi rst year, 11 students received assistance with rent, food and case management through Youth Harbors, a local organization working with students in housing crisis to improve absenteeism, school grades and graduation rates. The program is administered by the Everett High School Guidance Department and Youth Harbors. “One of the proudest moments I’ve experienced was when I attended the special graduation ceremony at Youth Harbors, whose assistance to several EHS students helped them overcome diffi cult barriers to graduate,” said Almeida-Barros. “It proved that investing in our kids by providing housing stability will give them a chance to succeed.” LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER FACEBOOK.COM/ADVOCATE.NEWS.MA
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