GAAR Develops REALTOR® POP Program to Assist Homeless Students
In Fall 2009, several GAAR members heard a startling statistic that they could not ignore. They learned that Albuquerque Public Schools had more than 5,000 students listed as homeless at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.Despite facing unimaginable hurdles and daily survival issues, these young people continue to attend school in an effort to secure for themselves a more viable future. But they need lots of help -- warm clothing, food, basic school supplies, and other support such as tutoring.
Nearly two decades ago, Helen Fox, liaison for the Albuquerque Public Schools Title 1 Homeless Projects, focused attention on how to keep homeless students in school. “I was asked by the district to look into ways to use a small amount of money from this federal grant to serve homeless children,” Fox said. “They asked me to look into what might be needed, and that was 17 years ago. We thought there might be 400 or 500 children, but there were far more than we ever expected.” Prior to 1991, programs that helped the homeless student population did not exist.
When Janie Gilmore-Daniels, Chair of the GAAR’s Media and Community Relations Committee, learned of the Title I Homeless Project, she immediately arranged for Helen Fox to meet with the GAAR and SWMLS Boards of Directors to further explain the purpose and needs of the program. The response from the Board Officers and Directors was swift, and a donation was approved to help buy the supplies these children needed to survive the colder weather. Our REALTORS® also asked members and friends to donate warm clothing, hats, and scarves for distribution to the children. In true REALTOR® style, our members responded by quickly collecting 850 pieces of cold weather gear for distribution.
GAAR leaders recognized that the match between our Association and this program was especially meaningful. Through this charity, professionals engaged in helping people buy and sell homes would also be able to directly support the fundamental needs of children who literally do not have homes or other basic necessities of life.
Our members have a strong tradition of generously supporting a number of very worthy charitable programs such as Run for the Zoo and Make-A-Wish Foundation, and this tradition will surely continue. However, for the past few years, some members have suggested that the Association might also select and sponsor a signature charity – one that would resonate with our members and benefit significantly from our focused efforts. This Title 1 Homeless Project really seemed to hit the mark.
Through the newly established REALTOR® POP Program (Promoting Opportunities and Possibility for Kids in Need), the Association is now actively searching for ways to assist this Title 1 Homeless Project in 2010. “We can’t ignore the fact that homelessness exists, and it is even more troubling that it is affecting so many students in and around the Albuquerque area,” said Mark Pando, President of the Greater Albuquerque Association of REALTORS®. “I’m confident our members will support the new POP Program, as well as our traditional community outreach initiatives such as Run for the Zoo that impact so many of our neighbors and improve the quality of our lives. Through our profession, we help populate communities; but through our dedication and volunteer efforts, we help build community spirit,” Pando said.