What We Do

Our Work

Our Approach

Our wish is that every child and their family has access and opportunities available to them so that they can flourish. Poverty in the early years of a child’s life, more than any other point of time, has especially harmful effects on continuing healthy development and well-being. Children born into poverty are less likely to have regular health care, proper nutrition, and opportunities for mental stimulation and enrichment. Jardin de los Niños is a five-star educational program that supports its children and families from a holistic, strengths-based approach.  Jardin strives to create an inclusive and nurturing environment for every child that we serve.

Who We Serve

Jardin de los Ninos serves children who are homeless and near-homeless from the age of 6 weeks to 10 years old and their families. Through our New Mexico PreK and Early PreK funding we are able to support all children who are 3 and 4 years old. 

What does homeless mean?

A homeless person is someone who is living on the street or in an emergency shelter, or who would be living on the street or in an emergency shelter without assistance from a Shelter Housing Program. A person is considered homeless only when he/she resides in one of the places described below:
  • In places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings (on the street);
  • In an emergency shelter;
  • In transitional or supportive housing for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or emergency shelters;
  • In any of the above places but is spending a short time (up to 30 consecutive days) in a hospital or institution;
  • Is being evicted within a week from a private dwelling unit and no subsequent residence has been identified and the person lacks the resources and support networks needed to obtain housing;
  • Is being discharged within a week from an institution, such as a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility or a jail/prison, in which the person has been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days and no subsequent residence has been identified and the person lacks the resources and support networks to obtain housing;
  • Is fleeing a domestic violence housing situation and no subsequent residence has been identified and the person lacks the resources and support networks needed to obtain housing.

What does “near homeless” mean?

Any person with children currently living in an unstable environment that might lead to homelessness at any given moment, to include but not limited to:
  • Families who are living with relatives and friends who may evict them at any time;
  • Teen parents with no identified stable support system;
  • Families who have established their own residence after being in a shelter or transitional housing facility but do not have stable resources and support systems in place;
  • Families who are in housing that is substandard or overcrowded.