Welfare Reform on the Web (October 2004): Homelessness - Overseas

THE HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE: A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN

S. Patt and L. Caruso

Journal of Children and Poverty, vol.10, 2004, p.169-179

In collaboration with the Toy Industry Foundation, Homes for the Homeless launched the Healthy Living Centre project in 2003. The Healthy Living Centre attempts to promote positive youth development in a recreational setting that incorporates informal education. Three primary goals guide the creation and implementation of Healthy Living Centre components:

• to expose children to creative, social play, giving them a framework for positive socialisation that can often be elusive for homeless children due to the instability and frequent transitions in their lives;
• to give the children the chance to develop their own talents, skills and creativity, thus enhancing the child's cognitive skills, self-concept and sense of self-worth
• to provide a positive, youth-centred framework for the child's self-development.