DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE:
In previous years, the Boston Housing Authority (BRA) has recognized the needs of low-income youth living in public housing developments and provided youth centers and full-time youth workers for each public housing complex. Youth centers have offered after-school tutoring and homework assistance, computer training, sports, career development, recreational and cultural programs, and anti-drug and violence prevention initiatives. On March 31, 2002, the BRA officially discontinued its youth service programming at 19 locations, including four in the Heart of the City.

CONTEXT:
The majority of family-oriented public housing complexes have large youth populations. In the 1990s, the Franklin Hill and Franklin Field developments were hotspots for gang-related crime among youths. Youth centers and community centers, when available, provide positive alternatives to illegal activities.

WHERE/ WHEN APPLICABLE:
Boston Housing Authority Youth Centers exist at Archdale Village (Roslindale), Franklin Field (Dorchester/ Mattapan), Franklin Hill (Dorchester/ Mattapan), and South Street (Jamaica Plain)

HISTORY:
Since the BHA discontinued its youth service programming, as mentioned above, communities have attempted to create replacement services for the children who were using those services, particularly through local Community Centers. The Archdale Community Center in Roslindale was capable of absorbing children from the BHA. However, the Blue Hill Boys and Girls Club was full and therefore unable to absorb any new children from the Franklin Field and Franklin Hill Youth Centers.

RESPONSES:
In 2002, Franklin Hill, Franklin Field, and South Street public housing developments organized collective protests over the closing of the youth centers. The tenants' associations at Franklin Field and Franklin Hill pledged to find alternative sources of funding for the centers and to volunteer their own time to keep them open if necessary. In the spring of 2002, Mayor Menino allocated $400,000 to hire or re-hire 15 youth workers for BHA sites and the BHA designated another $200,000.

After an uproar of protest from the Franklin Field and Franklin Hill public housing communities, a private organization stepped in to continue and expand upon the youth programs. Developing Attitude Respect and Intellect (DARI) Associates, a private contractor, took over running the activities in April 2002. DARI offers cooking, Latin dance, and robotics classes, as well as tutoring, field trips, and other activities. As of June 2002, however, the arrangement was temporary and DARI was in need of funding.

TESTIMONIES:
"Blue Hill Boys and Girls Club can't take all of our kids. They already have a waiting list. The kids have no place to go. So we aren't going to shut down the [youth] center. We're going to keep the center open even if we have to do it ourselves" (Georgia Jones, head of the Franklin Hill tenant association).