New Hope hosts Summer Camp for children in Family Shelter
This summer, from mid-May through the end of July, New Hope for Families provided free full-day summer camp for 22 children staying in our family shelter. The summer camp was staffed by Devan Bennet, Truman Schlegel, and Jamela Jafari, under the supervision of Shelter Director Chase Techentin.
Summer Camp staff Truman Schlegel, Devan Bennet, and Jamela Jafari (back row, left to right) with some of the children who participated in this year’s summer camp program.
One of the advantages offered by New Hope’s summer camp is its flexibility. Most camp programs enroll children months in advance, making them inaccessible for families staying in our shelter. But, by design, New Hope’s summer camp was able to admit children on a rolling basis as needed.
By freeing families from the burden of arranging child care for school-age children, New Hope’s summer camp allowed eight families to keep working. In addition, three families were able to move into new leases while taking part in the summer camp.
This unique opportunity was made possible through generous funding from Trinity Episcopal Church, Monroe County Community School Corporation, and other local supporters.
Highlights of this year’s New Hope summer camp included:
Campers received free admission every week provided by Wonderlab.
Campers received free lunches and snacks each day delivered by Community Kitchen.
Campers walked to Switchyard Park several times each week, making good use of New Hope’s proximity to the park.
Summer camp has benefits for children of all backgrounds, but especially for children in families impacted by homelessness.
Summer camp protects families and children from remaining homeless through the summer break until they can get child care again.
Summer camp helps New Hope move families out of the crisis of homelessness faster.
Summer camp bridges a wide child care gap for the parents of school-aged kids so they can move on to stable housing quickly.
Summer camp enables hardworking families to accept opportunities like employment and housing.
Shelter Director Chase Techentin shared the following example of a family who benefited from this year’s summer camp:
Mom, Dad, and two daughters lived with members of their extended family, but that became unsustainable and they were asked to leave. They initially went to another shelter, but that shelter had strong, counterintuitive requirements like only allowing them out for two hours per day, and not letting them use the internet on site. Desperate, the family came to New Hope, where they knew they could have the freedom to work and find housing. The family used the summer camp program which enabled the parents to work day and night shifts, as needed. They moved into a lease after just two months in shelter. Today, they're stably housed and have moved on from shift work back into their careers and specialties.