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Cincinnati experiences childhood poverty at levels more than twice as high as the national average. Nearly half of children in Greater Cincinnati live in poverty, with more than 8,000 children experiencing homelessness each year.
Serving the educational and enrichment needs of children and youth experiencing
homelessness in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is the driving passion of UpSpring. Founded in 1998 and supported solely through private donations and public charities, UpSpring is the region’s only non-profit organization that exclusively meets these needs. Services include after-school enrichment sessions at 17 Tristate sites in local elementary schools and homeless shelters, bolstered by three six-week summer camps. The UpSpring Resource Collaborative also supports school readiness by providing children with new clothing, shoes, school supplies, coats, backpacks, laundry/hygiene kits and other personal items.
Seven-year-old Kayla (not her real name), was referred in 2024-25 to UpSpring’s after-school program at the homeless shelter where she lived with her parents and six siblings. Kayla initially appeared as a sweet but angry child who was often impulsive and disrespectful, struggled to make friends, acted out, destroyed craft projects and purposefully disobeyed staff instructions. Through the course of the school year, staff members worked patiently and diligently on social, emotional and academic skills to help Kayla learn to manage her emotions, make good behavioral choices, respect others, apologize and learn the concept of consequences. Based on her quick progress, the UpSpring staff knew Kayla would be a good fit for their six-week summer camp.
“She just thrived and flourished at camp,” says Katie C. Jensen, UpSpring’s Development & Marketing Director. “She made friends throughout camp, really came out of her shell and had the best experience. On the last day of camp, she ran up to her counselor (the same staff member who led her after-school program), and asked ‘When are you coming back to the shelter? Can we still do crafts?’ That experience really illustrates a lot of concepts we touch on…social-emotional regulation, stability and an assurance that UpSpring is going to be there every week for these children. For kids to know that they can count on us really builds trust, and once we establish trust, they’re really able to start growing and thriving.”
A three-year, $100,000 Impact 100 grant in 2024 allowed UpSpring to hire a sixth full-time staff member and open its third summer camp in Fairfield to meet the needs of Butler County children experiencing homelessness. “While we focus on children, UpSpring’s services really do affect the whole family positively, too, including helping parents to get stable so they can take care of their families, find jobs and, ideally, find stable housing” Jensen says.
The Impact 100 grant has enabled Upspring to:
See how Impact 100’s investment in bold, transformative projects promotes thriving communities throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.
