Family Scholar House has partnered with Elizabethtown Community and Technical College to bring a residential campus to the college to house 48 student parents and their families.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College has broken ground on its new Family Scholar House campus that will provide 48 student parents and their families with residences near the college’s campus to provide a pathway for students with families to complete their education with as few barriers as possible.
According to an article on Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Juston Pate, who serves as the president and CEO of ECTC, was quoted as saying, “The Family Scholar House at ECTC is a tremendous step forward in helping student parents secure stable housing and overcome one of the greatest barriers to education and family-sustaining careers. While ECTC is the No. 1 provider of postsecondary education and training in our region, we need powerful partners like Family Scholar House, the City of Elizabethtown and so many others throughout our community to provide the holistic support our students need.”
Family Scholar House is an organization that already has an office and staff at the ECTC campus. It provides outreach activities for “all students and vulnerable populations” in the Kentucky Community & Technical College System as well as anyone in need of assistance thanks to virtual capabilities. According to the organization’s website, its mission is “to end the cycle of poverty and transform our community by empowering families and youth to succeed in education and achieve life-long self-sufficiency.” The types of services it currently provides on the ECTC campus include advocacy services, assistance applying for benefits, academic coaching, and emergency financial assistance for basic needs.
In addition to its office and staff on the ECTC campus, Family Scholar House has partnered with the college to bring a residential campus that will house 48 students and their families nearby to help eliminate barriers to receiving an education. The facility will provide both two- and three-bedroom units for students and their families.
President and CEO of Family Scholar House Cathe Dykstra explained the benefits of housing near the college campus, saying, “Family Scholar House enthusiastically partnered with ECTC on this new affordable housing campus because of our shared commitment to fostering educational opportunities for student parents and their children. Stable housing and comprehensive services to address life’s challenges promote retention, persistence, and graduation, and ultimately deliver a prepared workforce and a bright future for families.”
The effort shows the college’s dedication to helping students overcome the barriers that may stand in the way of bettering the lives of their families.
Jennifer Swope, the Home for Hope campaign chair and ECTC Foundation board member, said, "Today's groundbreaking demonstrates that our community is committed to working together to clear paths and create opportunities that will make a difference for generations. We're thankful to every organization and individual who helped make this vision a reality. I've always been proud to be a member of this community, and the success of the Family Scholar House at ECTC campaign shows our community really is a special place."
For more information about Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.