Angel's Story

Angel began attending Expresiones after-school program as a fourth grader when his family moved to one of Hacienda’s affordable rental housing communities. Before attending Vamos, Angel was at least one year behind in reading level and did not have many friends outside his immediate family. Typical of low-income city neighborhoods, Angel’s previous housing did notoffer afterschool activities for youth, was far from a park or open-space to play, and forced Angel inside after school where he struggled to do his homework alone. As ESL learners, Angel's parents were unable to provide extra homeowork help.

Since moving to Hacienda’s community-centered affordable housing, Angel receives one-on-one homeworkhelp every day after schoolfrom Hacienda’shousing-based afterschoolprogram andplays with other kids in theplayground areas attached to the apartment. Angel says that in his old neighborhood he “just had a little bit of friends, like one or two, but now I have lots.” Hacienda’s staff is also working with Angel’s parents to encourage reading in the home, involvement in school activities and overcoming Spanish-English language barriers. Dulce, Angel’s afterschool programcoordinator, says Angel comes almost every day toExpresiones to work on his homework, he alsoencourages younger kids to do their work, and helps clean up at the end of the day. Angel has been a vibrant addition to Hacienda’s Comunidad Viva!