We are growing!
National CORE’s Lexington Square in Angleton, Texas recently broke ground on a new community room – and now residents and Hope through Housing Foundation staff are eagerly awaiting a grand opening celebration.
Lead Service Coordinator Lakeshia Johnson has worked for four years to secure the new community space. As her goal comes to fruition, Lakeshia is thrilled with the new development.
“Now, my residents are going to be able to consistently get something,” she said. “To see something that you have been wanting for a really long time finally come to life is exciting for me and the residents.”
Following the grand opening, Hope through Housing will establish an after-school program at the property.
National CORE, Hope through Housing’s nonprofit partner, operates five communities in Texas: Colony of Humble, Countryside Village, La Posada del Rey, Sunflower Terrace and Lexington Square. As of now, only Sunflower Terrace and Colony of Humble operate after-school programs.
The after-school program at Sunflower Terrace began about a year ago. The Colony of Humble program was launched this summer. Thanks to Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who generously donated money to expand the programs, 250 elementary, middle and high school students are receiving onsite services.
This is the second year Hope through Housing has received a grant from the group to fund staffing, nutritious daily snacks, and supplies for after-school programs and curriculum/activities for Teen Club.
In 2021-22, the first year Hope through Housing received the funds, the foundation was able to remodel Sunflower Terrace’s community room – with a fresh coat of paint, new furniture and reading materials, and the community was ready to hold its own after-school program.
Lakeshia works to include all youth residents across the community. Every year she holds a reading fair with donated supplies and goodies for the participants. She also puts on events like movie nights and science days and plans activities, such as making vision boards, to ensure she serves youths of all ages and interests.
Hope through Housing’s youth programs offer school-age children a safe, inclusive environment and daily support. Each day, students receive homework help, a nutritious snack and exercise, positive role modeling, and other enrichment activities including STEM, the arts, character development, and college/career readiness.
“The Sisters of Charity are helping us to create new vistas of opportunity for the children of our residents,” Hope through Housing President Gregory Bradbard said. “Our after-school and summer programs help children to look beyond their circumstances to imagine bright, new futures full of possibility.”
Lexington Square will extend after-school programs to a third location, with Hope through Housing leaders continuing to seek funding and partners to support its expansion of resident services across National CORE’s Texas portfolio.