Award of Excellence: A Book for Every Child Initiative

摘要

Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships (HACP, formerly known as the Housing Authority of the City of Pocatello) wins a 2017 Award of Excellence in Client and Resident Services for their Book for Every Child Initiative. Nominated from among the NAHRO Award of Merit winners each year, the Awards of Excellence winners are chosen by national juries and honored at the annual National Conference and Exhibition in October. They represent the very best in innovative programs in assisted housing and community development. Access to education can be a key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships (HACP) (http://housingauthorityofthecityofpoc.godaddysites.com/) wanted to encourage their youngest residents to read by taking every opportunity to get books into their hands. They created the Book for Every Child Initiative to ensure that every child who comes into their offce or is a resident is given an age-appropriate book. HACP also installed Free Little Libraries on their properties that they manage and stock with an assortment of books to make it easier for children to stop and grab a book at any time. HACP used multiple resources to build up their stock of books. An initial Facebook campaign garnered donations not only from the members of their local community but also from housing agencies nationwide. Featuring their new initiative in a newsletter resulted in several small donations from elderly public housing residents. Staff members even staked out yard sales on the weekends, resulting in even more donations.