THE HOMEWORK HOUSE NEIGHBORHOODS

              Both Homework House neighborhoods are characterized by cramped sub-standard housing with many of the one or two bedroom apartments housing up to ten people, sometimes representing several families.  Many of our students, because of their living conditions, are classified as homeless as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.  

 

              Ninety-two percent of our students are Latino and eight percent are African-American. Ninety-one percent are from extremely low or low-income households.  Spanish is the first language of over ninety percent of our clientele.  Most parents speak little English and have minimal education, therefore are unable to effectively help their children with homework or navigate the college exploration process. 

OUR CITY

             The City of Azusa is located at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in the densely populated East San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County.  It was founded during the real estate boon of the 1880’s and is a former shipping center for citrus fruits and avocados.   One tradition says the name derives from an Indian term for "hill to the east," while another has it that a local store sold everything "from A to Z in the USA".

Azusa Demographics:

• The estimated population in 2003: 46,962. 
• Population under age 16: 27%.  Nationally  21% of the population is under 16.
• Median household income: $39,191 compared to the national median of $41,994 (Source 2000 census). 
• Educational Attainment: High School graduates 60%; College graduates 14%
• Race and Ethnicity: 

                                  Hispanic or Latino             64%

                                  White                                   52%

                                  Asian                                      6%

                                  Black                                       4%

                                  Reporting other race           31%

                                  Reporting 2 or more races    6%                                 

• Crime: The number of violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 177. The number of murders and homicides was 3. The violent crime rate was 3.8 per 1,000 people.