Homeless to Teach Others How to Read

A community college has received a $105,000 federal grant for a two-year program in which some homeless people will be taught to teach other homeless people to read.

“The idea behind it is they need tutoring, but they also need assistance from people who understand their particular needs,” said Paul Trautmann, resource development officer for Florida Community College. “It’s like peer counseling in high schools and colleges.”

Under the program, literate homeless people will be paid $4 an hour to tutor illiterate homeless people. The college hopes that teaching more homeless people to read will take them off the street and put them in the work force.