SEATTLE—February 15, 2007—The Yesler Terrace Learning Center has provided programs and multi-use facilitated lab time to 300 public housing residents of all ages since January 2003. Thanks to an almost $250,000 Neighborhood Networks grant award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Seattle Housing Authority, with its partners, will be able to expand offerings at the center.
“This grant award will assist us in offering essential programs at the Yesler Terrace Learning Center that focus on fostering self-sufficiency in residents, including economic self-sufficiency,” said John Forsyth, community services administrator.
These programs are designed with Yesler Terrace residents of all ages and at all technology levels in mind. There are programs for youth, seniors, those learning English and even those who have never touched a computer.
Workshops that residents expressed interest in through a survey will be offered at the Yesler Terrace Learning Center and funded with the grant award. Some of these workshops may include tax preparation, citizenship, financial literacy and assistance in obtaining a drivers license. The computers in the Yesler Terrace Learning Center will also be available for residents to access the Internal Revenue Service Web site where they can file their tax returns.
The Yesler Terrace Learning Center offers facilitated lab time two hours a day, five days a week. During this time residents can work on a variety of projects. Some may use the time to develop resumes, research potential employers online, use the Internet to research homework projects for school, get translation assistance, gather news and information from their country of origin and access information about government programs and benefits available to low-income residents.
A basic computer and software course for adults is also offered. It targets those with little or no computer experience and includes an introduction to Windows software, the Internet, word processing and typing. The Yesler Terrace Learning Center also offers a basic computer course designed especially for seniors.
One of the center's main goals is to increase the potential for SHA youth to become self-sufficient and successful adults. Head Start and Kids Place offer programs at the center to support this goal. Three- to five-year-olds in Neighborhood House’s Head Start program use the Yesler Terrace Learning Center once a week during the school year. With the help of volunteers and staff, the kids learn to use a computer and play a variety of educational Web-based games.
Kids Place is a program for six- to 11-year-olds throughout the school year. They learn how to use computers and keyboards, work on computer-related projects and play different educational Web-based programs.
SHA provides employment services at Yesler Terrace through The Job Connection. Staff may refer residents to the Yesler Terrace Learning Center to develop resumes, research possible jobs and apply online for jobs. Residents also utilize the English as a Second Language training that is offered through the Yesler Terrace Learning Center to help prepare for entering the job market.
Neighborhood Networks is a community-based program created by HUD in 1995. The purpose was to establish multi-service community technology centers that bring digital opportunity and lifelong learning to low- and moderate-income residents living in HUD housing. The program started off as a grassroots initiative, but has risen to incorporate more than 700 computer-learning centers in multi-family assisted housing developments throughout the country.