PAVING THE WAY
PROJECT ACCESS Making a positive impact on our communities
daunting. Research cited in the report indicates that lower-income households and people of color consistently have less access to health care and receive poor quality of care. Youth access to enrichment activities is also highly dependent on family income, with lower-income students trailing substantially behind their more affluent peers academically. The research also reported that older individuals, people of color, and those with low income are disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity. In addition, low levels of social connection are associated with declines in physical and psychological health and a higher likelihood of antisocial behavior that leads to further isolation. But the visionaries behind Project Access refused to let those statistics deter them. “John [Webb]’s vision— similar to the likes of mine—is that regardless of social and economic status, everyone should be on the same playing field and have access to services,” says Kristin Byrnes, Project Access’s CEO and president. Meeting the community’s needs Byrnes has worn several hats in her current role and previous jobs. She has been with Project Access for
These include the Orange County Health Care Agency, the California Conservation
Corps, and the San Diego Financial Literacy Center, to name a few. In addition, more than 1,000 volunteers and interns donated their time in 2022. “It takes many partners to be successful at a resource center,” Byrnes says. Focus on youth and family Currently, Project Access’s focus is aimed
BY JULIA DE SIMONE
E ACH OF THE FACES at Project Access has a before-and-after story. The befores speak of struggle, loneliness and even desperation. But the afters are brighter and more promising, faithful to one word: hope. Since its inception more than a quarter of a century ago, Project Access has been paving the way for everyday people to have a piece of the American dream. Founded in 1999 by Jonathan Webb, president of Affordable Housing Access Inc. in California, the organization’s mission was to provide on-site services for low-income housing communities. Fast forward nearly 25 years and today, Project Access serves more than 22,000 residents across 16 states each year. Services are free to children, families and seniors, with costs covered by sources ranging from developer fees to traditional fundraising efforts. Investing in people “In our original vision as real estate owners and investors for 20 years, we knew we needed to invest in the real estate in bricks and mortar,” Webb shared in a YouTube video highlighting the organization. “But we certainly realized we also needed to invest in the human capital, so we formed Project Access to try and address some of those problems.” According to the nonprofit’s 2022 annual report, those disparities are
at youth, primarily age 9 to 15 years old. In 2022, more than 165,000 hours of outside classroom support were provided to residents as part of their after-school program. The organization also offers social and emotional learning, STEAM classes (using science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking), and college and career readiness programs. Webb says the team at Project Access realized that investing in the residents was just as important as the brick-and-mortar investments. Over time, the organization has committed itself to providing programming that is not only relevant, but as good as they can make it. Additional programs include mental-health workshops, financial-literacy workshops, job-search assistance, technology support, community gatherings and safety- awareness programs, and family events. “Our best work is done when we have people on-site establishing relationships with the residents and learning about their actual direct needs and then providing services that meet those needs. The work that we do as an organization is extremely important today as it was then—maybe even more so,” Webb shared in the video. Byrnes adds that it comes full circle when the residents who have successfully graduated from Project Access return and now are working for the nonprofit. “I love seeing their success,” she says. “I want all of them to have that American dream of what it was proposed back in the day.”
nearly 19 years, and has implemented programs and services based on the needs of residents and prospects. They typically come from a broad range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and live in affordable and workforce housing communities. “I wanted to continue
“I get to help people better their lives. It sounds cliché, but it’s so true.” Kristin Byrnes CEO and President, Project Access
to help people because I’ve seen it all, especially in mental health,” she says. “I get to help people better their lives. It sounds cliché, but it’s so true.” Those services include better economic stability, education for youth and families, health and wellness programs, and community building via Project Access resource centers in affordable housing communities. Project Access also partners with organizations to meet the needs of the community.
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IN YOUR CORNER ISSUE 15 | 2023
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