346: A Number We Can't Mess With

What does the number 346 mean?

Well, before I started at HCEF, it meant as much to me as it does to you. But as I continue to move forward in this new role, I discovered this number is indeed a formidable one. You see if one of our students does not graduate from high school, their chances of experiencing adult homelessness increase by 346 percent. 346 percent!* Not having a high school diploma or GED is the number one risk factor for homelessness. Why? Most livable wage jobs require a minimum of a high school diploma to be considered for employment. This statistic is why my team is laser-focused on eliminating every barrier that would separate our students from attaining this life-changing milestone.

At our recent Champions for Children event, our powerful keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Warren challenged us to answer the call of allyship - doing our part to ensure the cycle of poverty is not repeated in students’ lives by opening?them up to new experiences and being the support they need to dare to imagine a different future. He emphasized that the return on investment is multifaceted when we, as a committed community, do our part. Our students are almost guaranteed to become productive citizens, trusted neighbors, and pour back into young people just like they were poured into.

This year, 100 percent of the students enrolled in our Teen Outreach Program (TOP) will don their cap and gown or receive their diploma soon after.

Sixty-five percent of those graduates will also have a college and career plan, a roadmap, to help them navigate life after school. This year 100 percent of our TOP students will have an HCEF ally walking side-by-side with them, well after high school graduation, supporting them until they are ready to support themselves.

With these statistics, how could you not invest in an organization that is doing the work that transforms a community?

AJ Jefferson