Gresham Second Home Program Receives $5,000

Friday, November 06, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

The City of Gresham’s Second Home program, which works to help students who deal with housing instability find educational success, received a $5,000 grant yesterday from the Nike Employee Grant Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.

Second Home is a ground-breaking program that partners the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the City of Gresham, East Metro Mediation and the Gresham/Barlow School District to provide housing to unaccompanied homeless youth.

The program works with volunteer home-providers to offer room and board to a student while they attend high school. The program began this June and recently placed its first homeless student in the program with a host family.

"At the City, we are continually working to make Gresham a vibrant community for our youth and families,” said Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis. “But a quality education, community amenities and afterschool programs are not helpful for teenagers who are worried about where they will sleep at night. The safety and security that the Second Home Program provides will enable these kids to focus on achieving their educational goals and improving their futures.”

The grant money will be used to fund a part-time program coordinator, who will be responsible for interviewing students and potential home-providers. The goal is to raise $20,000 to establish this position, allowing the program to reach more students in need.

"We're excited and grateful that Nike employees and the Oregon Community Foundation recognize the value in this program and support safe housing to Gresham-Barlow students," said Tera Cleland, who oversees East Metro Mediation. "Our goal is to offer students the stability they need to graduate high school and be successful."