Contact: Di Saunders, OUS – Office: 503-725-5714; Cell: 971-219-6869
Source: Stephanie Carnahan, CACGP Program Director – Office: 541-346-5761; Cell: 541-359-6755
Portland, OR, October 21, 2010 – The State of Oregon announced last week that it has awarded a $56,083 grant to Outside In’s College Quarters project to help homeless youth transition from a street culture to a campus and academic culture. Funded through a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education received by Oregon in August, Outside In’s award is part of the College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACGP) which awarded grants to 12 pre-college preparation programs across the state for a total of $607,000 in support.
Outside In’s College Quarters project will be implemented in the Portland area, with the goal of increasing the number homeless students who graduate high school and go on to college, and ultimately prepare for a life forever off the streets. To achieve this goal, the project will increase the literacy and math skills of participating students and assist with completion of their high school education; will teach students the basic steps of job searches and applications; will facilitate college campus visits and exploration of career goals; and will help students develop the ability to test and examine themselves and their lives to identify skills, interests and passions.
Zarod Rominski, Outside In associate executive director said, “Our College Quarters program offers homeless youth one of their greatest hopes of building a positive future. These young people have much to offer society and this grant will help insure they are prepared to do so.”
Outside In will partner with Portland Community College and Lewis and Clark College to deliver the programming to students. Besides the $56,083 provided by the grant, Outside In will be providing an additional $88,918 in matching funds to run the program.
Stephanie Carnahan, director of college access programs for the Oregon University System, said, “There is a great need in Oregon for pre-college programs that help students and families understand how to access college in a comprehensive way, from academic preparation to understanding how financial aid works. College Quarters is a great example of the type of support that all Oregon students need in order to ensure that they can access college and be academically and otherwise prepared to succeed in their education and career goals.”