Brookview House (“Brookview”), which provides supportive housing and programs to Boston families experiencing homelessness, today announced that it has received a $100K grant from the Cradles to Careers Initiative. The one-year grant, which comes through an anonymous donor, will help Brookview reimagine its approach to post-secondary educational success (both college and career training programs) for the teens in its youth programs and their families, many of whom are first-generation students. The goal is to remove the cultural and practical barriers that can prevent high school graduates from obtaining the necessary education to secure meaningful, financially stable careers.

“Just as we approach housing stability through a continuum of services for the whole family, we will create a more holistic approach to education and career readiness and create an environment to nurture success,” said Deborah Collins, CEO of Brookview. “We are so proud that 100 percent of our teens graduate from high school. This grant will help us create a stronger infrastructure around post-secondary readiness as we work to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.”

With this grant, Brookview will significantly expand its support for teens preparing to graduate, as well as launch curricula for parents and guardians of Brookview high schoolers. For the first time, parents will be able to access culturally-attuned workshops, financial aid counseling, and expanded mental health services, to help them help their teens continue learning after graduation. 

“Recognizing that success looks different for each young person, we will prioritize both college readiness and career training opportunities equally,” said Collins. “There are so many great career options for those who choose to pursue certificate programs and trade schools, instead of four-year degrees.”

For teens, the grant will enable Brookview to expand career and education exploration opportunities for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to help them better consider post-graduation options. Students applying to college will receive expanded tutoring and test preparation for the SATs and other entrance exams, in-depth application mentoring, and help navigating financial aid and campus visits. To explore trade and technical options, Brookview will partner with local businesses to offer internships or apprenticeships in the skilled trade and technical fields. The budget also includes modest scholarship funds to help with the cost of tuition or supplies, whether for college or a training program.

To put these new programs and services in place, Brookview will hire a part-time Student Pathways Coach. The grant comes with the option for renewal, which may allow Brookview to expand these programs in an age-appropriate manner to younger cohorts of middle and elementary school children in the future.