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Date: 8/29/2022
HOLYOKE – In working to support the Holyoke Homework House’s mission of promoting educational success, state Sen. John Velis announced $50,000 in funding for the organization on Aug. 23 at their North Summer Street location.
The funding was included in the recently passed Massachusetts fiscal year 2023 budget through a budget amendment filed by Velis. The state Legislature approved the $50,000 back-to-school gift to benefit the Homework House, a nonprofit tutoring and mentoring agency that helps to improve the grades for children living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
“It is impossible to not fall in love with this place,” Velis said. “What you do is absolutely incredible.”
The Homework House is designed to strengthen the quality of education for all children 6 to 13 years of age in Holyoke by providing them individualized academic and social supports in a safe and nurturing environment. According to the organization, 86 percent of Homework House’s K-Grade 3 students met or exceeded reading growth expectations.
Velis was joined by Homework House Executive Director Virginia Dillon, Homework House Board President Alyssa McBride, state Rep. Patricia Duffy, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, City Councilors Tessa Murphy-Romboletti and Juan Anderson-Burgos, as well as members of the Homework House community.
Velis said he was happy to be able to secure this funding due to the work done by the Homework House and their role as a foundational support for students in Holyoke, especially through the coronavirus pandemic.
He noted that from discussions with those involved with the schools, much of the talk has been focused on the improvement of social and emotional learning for children coming out of COVID-19. Velis added he hopes some of the funding can address this need for students throughout the school year.
Velis said that after visiting the Homework House in the past and through discussions with his staff, the organization was identified as a worthy group for this much needed funding.
“I’ve had conversations with every single person here about Homework House and how this type of funding for this type of program is absolutely critical,” Velis said. “The staff, the board – everybody. This stuff does not happen without you folks. I mean, quite literally God’s work is being done in this building and I think it’s just a remarkable thing to witness.”
According to Dillon, the house served almost 90 children a day between their two Holyoke locations pre-COVID-19 and like most places were heavily impacted in the way they operate due to the coronavirus pandemic. She said that this funding and the support of Velis, Duffy and local officials would provide much needed support to the program as the new school year approaches.
Dillon added the funding will support the organization’s core funding of the after-school program through after-school tutoring and mentoring. She also noted that social-emotional support needs would be addressed with the funding as well.
Garcia expressed pleasure with the work that went into securing this funding, from the state representatives to local leaders.
“I think what we’re seeing here is a result of when they say, ‘it takes a village,’” Garcia said. “It’s a free program, which means there’s no dedicated revenue source for this important institution that’s doing the important work in our community, which requires the village to step up and contribute.”
Garcia added the funding would be key as many children have faced challenges in their education after the last two years having to work through school and COVID-19.
“We’re talking about a very vulnerable population here in the city of Holyoke that’s going through all sorts of challenges, even pre-COVID[-19], and COVID[-19] just made it much harder for all of us, which is going to require us to put in more time and work in solving these issues,” Garcia said. “What’s happening here in the Homework House, it truly is special.”