Growing Children

Lydia's House addresses the educational, recreational and social development needs of children ages 6-21. At Lydia's House, children and youth have access to a diverse array of programs where learning is encouraged, achievement is recognized and success is rewarded.

After-School Advantage
Lydia's House provides after-school academic enrichment activities designed to improve reading, math and language skills for children ages 6-12. At Lydia's House, After-School Advantage staff oversees homework completion and offers assistance through group and one-on-one tutoring.

Tech Zone
Lydia's House is engaging older youth ages 13-21 with the latest technologies such as wireless computers and video conferencing and equipping them with the communication skills necessary to compete and thrive in the 21st century. In addition to Technology Training, Lydia's House is also promoting healthy lifestyle choices through Life Skills Training curriculum.

Technology Training courses include: Using the Internet, Mastering Word Processing, Preparing Multimedia Presentations, Getting Started with Spreadsheets and Installing Software and Maintaining your PC. Life Skills Training courses include: Leadership Development, Healthy Living, Career Development and Entrepreneurial Training.

Don't Do D.A.T.
Lydia's House offers a creative curriculum to educate at-risk youth on the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. As part of Lydia's House's substance abuse prevention and early education programming for youth ages 10-18, a multicultural youth team is asked to implement a social-marketing campaign designed to keep their peers from using drugs.

Strengthening Families

Lydia's House offers lessons in self-sufficiency by providing low-income and working-poor adults with the tools they need to succeed. Programs include job readiness training, technology skills training, adult literacy and job coaching. Together in partnership with Living Word Church, Lydia's House also offers spiritual and emotional support as well as food and clothing provisions.

Changing Neighborhoods

As the only Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved faith-based counseling agency in DC, and one of two housing counseling agencies in Ward 8, Lydia's House makes it possible for first-time home buyers to purchase property in the Washington metropolitan area. Lydia's House holds monthly homebuyer education and financial literacy workshops to prepare low-income families for homeownership. Full-time programs include Pre and Post-Home Counseling, Rental Counseling, Ownership Counseling, Foreclosure Prevention, Credit and Budgeting and Debt Management.

Together in partnership with the Far Southwest-Southeast Community Development Corporation (CDC), Lydia's House is acquiring abandoned properties and transforming them into safe and affordable housing. On June 12, 2003, Lydia's House and the Far SW-SE CDC officially opened a technology and video conferencing facility at 3939 South Capitol Street. Nicknamed "The Zone," the building marks the completion of a joint public-private effort to provide the residents of Ward 8 with video conferencing capabilities and three state-of-the-art computer labs. The space is also home to Lydia's House's after-school youth programs and financial and housing counseling services for adults.

Success Stories

Growing Children
David, a fifteen-year-old 10th grader at Ballou High School in southeast Washington, D.C., was failing every class. David had the capacity to learn, but he was failing because the system did not recognize or engage him in the learning process. Lydia's House staff developed a one-on-one relationship with David. During this time David learned that he like to cook, and he realized his short and long term goals. By engaging his parents in the process, Lydia's House identified an appropriate learning environment that would challenge and direct David. After graduation, David was enrolled in the Marriott Culinary Arts Charter School and maintained a B average while working part-time at an upscale downtown restaurant.

Strengthening Families
Theresa, a 25 year old mother of 5 on welfare without a high school diploma, participated in Lydia's House Welfare to Work program. It wasn't that she didn't want to work; she didn't know how, where to get started or what she wanted to do. Lydia's House a certified TANF work site provided her a safe, supportive work experience. Lydia's House helped Theresa create a 2-Year Personal Development Work Plan that incorporated her love for children. Today, Theresa has taken her GED, completed training to become a licensed Child Development Associate, and works at a community based childcare facility. For the first time, she not only gets a paycheck to support her family, but she provides volunteer hours as a parent-leader to reduce teenage pregnancy.

Changing Neighborhoods
Lydia's House purchased and refurbished two apartment buildings and two single-family houses in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River for low-income rental and first time homebuyers.

Janice, a 50-year-old recovering

addict received $300 a month in disability. Not being able to afford independent housing, she moved from place to place. However, after having hip surgery she had no home to return to after leaving the hospital.

The probability of Janice being able to find full-time employment that would lead to self-sufficiency was very unlikely. After participating in Lydia's House housing program, Janice was able to rent a newly refurbished one-bedroom apartment for $150 per month. Her long-range goal is to get a job as a telemarketer.

Karen raised three children in southeast Washington, living in the same apartment complex and the same two-bedroom apartment for 24 years. When her daughter went through a terrible divorce and moved back home with her two children, Karen knew she had to make a change. She attended Lydia's House "First Time Homebuyers" Workshop and participated in the lease/purchase program. By December 2000, Karen and her daughter assumed the mortgage on a three-bedroom house in the community they loved.