HSGD > January 2008 eSpirit Newsletter > DHA and Head Start Provide Hope for the Children By Ann Lott   In today’s fast-moving society and the battle for the almighty dollar, it is not often that organizations come together for a common cause with no hidden agendas. Not so, with the Dallas Housing Authority and its relationship with Head Start of Greater Dallas. The two agencies have worked closely since the 80’s to give hope to children who may not be expected to compete with mainstream America because of economics or education.   DHA has partnered with Head Start at or near several public housing sites including Rhoads Terrace, Cedar Springs, Lakewest, Frazier and its Cedar Glen development.   The agency has continued to work with HSGD wherever it revitalizes and builds new communities because the agency has consistently been a good influence on the children of public housing, providing much needed early childhood intervention. The Head Start staff has been a fervent supporter of DHA programs and the families we serve.   Whenever young people are involved, I make a greater effort to network and participate in programs because the children are our future and I want to ensure they will have every chance at success. I want to do whatever it takes to promote education, involvement and self-sufficiency.   I am astute enough to know that one cannot wait until a child is an adult before starting to teach respect, discipline and self-control. It is crucial for children to learn as much as they can now, while they still have active brains.   Some of those features will soon disappear and children will have to have a Plan B if they want to be successful in life. It is imperative that children keep learning, keep inquiring, keep their minds clear of negative thoughts.  And more importantly, it is crucial that they start this process early in life.   I remember when I was a public housing manager in West Dallas, there was a young man who was prone to trouble and people advised him he would never amount to anything. At first, he believed what everyone told him. But this young man had one teacher who believed in him and then he started believing in himself. Today, that man has a family of his own and he works with children to help educate and give them hope. His story could have turned out differently. He could have lead a life of crime and ended up dead, but that one teacher who said, “you can make it,” made all of the difference in the world to him. I’m sure there are teachers at Head Start just like that.   While DHA is an agency that provides safe, decent and affordable housing, it has been my desire to go beyond that edict and work with our families in a holistic manner to ensure they also enjoy a good quality of life through educational and vocational activities in neighborhoods where they live, work and play.   Generally, what separates DHA families from mainstream America are education and economics, and HSGD is assisting families by ensuring that truly ‘no child is left behind.’ They have put actions behind those words and they have being giving children a ‘head start’ for 42 years in some of the poorest communities in Dallas.   While national funding continues to shrink for social service organizations, it is vital for low-income families to have decent housing and a good education—keys to their future success.   Because Head Start has similar goals of self sufficiency, the families and the community have come to depend on our two agencies. As the largest developer of affordable housing in North Texas, DHA serves more than 60,000 individuals through its various programs. With that much responsibility, it is critical that we have a partner that believes in putting children first. We have found such a partner in Head Start.   Visit DHA’s Web site @ www.dhadal.com >>>  Return to Cover >>