Public Housing Services

HomeFront’s Public Housing residents are eligible for several programs to help create a path to self-sufficiency.

Youth Activity Fund

The Youth Activity Fund can provide children in Public Housing $100 each (as long as funding is available) to pay for activities that have a positive outcome. Some examples of activities are: basketball fees, baseball registration fees, karate lessons, YMCA membership dues, pool passes, instrument rentals or dance classes. Please call Teddi Shorten at (406) 237-1911 if you have any questions.

Each payment request can take up to 2 or 3 weeks to process and get a check cut for the activity provider. Please plan ahead.

Apply for the Youth Activity Fund

Wild Words Literacy

Our free literacy program is located at the Family Investment Center at 473 Bunting Street. Any and all Public Housing children can enroll and receive help with reading and comprehension. Please call Teddi Shorten at (406) 237-1911 to sign up!

AWARE Early Head Start

AWARE Early Head Start provides year-round child development and family support services to eligible low-income infants and toddlers ages 0-3 and their families at our Billings center located at 3242 Hesper Road. We promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of young children through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving. This school readiness preparation allows children continued growth and development and eventual success in school and life.

AWARE Early Head Start also supports parents, both mothers and fathers, in their role as primary caregivers and teachers of their children. Our Family Advocates help families meet their own personal goals and achieve self-sufficiency across a wide variety of domains, such as housing stability, continued education and financial security. Early Head Start Health Specialists work with families to ensure support is in place for children to receive timely health care services, including immunizations, well child checks, dental screenings and nutrition needs.

We work closely with our local Part C provider to ensure children with disabilities receive identified services to support their individual service plans. Mental health support services are available for children and their families. Our therapist is currently providing Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), classroom observations, and/or consultation with teachers and parents so children have the opportunity for the highest growth and development.

AWARE Early Head Start is currently accepting applications for our center-based classrooms (6.5 hours per day) and our full-day childcare classrooms (10 hours per day). Applications can be completed at the AWARE Early Head Start website. Staff are also available to meet with parents unable to access the website. Please share this information with co-workers who may be providing support services for eligible children and their families.

AWARE Early Head Start staff are also available to share more about our services at a staff meeting and/or provide tours of our early childhood services center. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions, concerns or requests.