During the summer months, young children who are homeless benefit from high-quality pre-K programs.

“Universal pre-K has been a gift to many Boston families,” the Boston Herald reports. “But for homeless and poor families, the end of the school year can be a burden that poses a difficult hardship.”

Without summertime pre-K, these children may not have anywhere to go during the day.

Fortunately, the local nonprofit Horizons for Homeless Children offers summertime opportunities.

The Herald tells the story of how one young mother, Itzamarie Torres, and her two sons, have relied on Horizons, saying of Torres:

“The 23-year-old single mom was pregnant and living in a shelter with her toddler son. It was a scary time, but she soon found housing, got a job, moved into an apartment and is now earning her GED at Roxbury Community College.

“She’s grateful for Horizons for Homeless Children, a nonprofit that runs three year-round early education centers in Roxbury, Dorchester and Jamaica Plain, and the stability it gives to her sons, Ayden, 4, and Adrian, 2.

“ ‘It’s wonderful. As a single mom, it’s very helpful,’ said Torres, who is happy the center is open in the summer. ‘I wouldn’t be able to work or go to school or do the things that I am doing now to further myself because I wouldn’t have anybody to watch them.’ ”

The three early education centers provide “access to a stimulating and nurturing early education experience – the kind that every child deserves,” Horizons says on its website. “Our program produces happy, confident children who are poised for success and able to keep pace with their peers.”

According to Jayd Rodrigues, the director of Horizons’ three early education centers:

“A year-round program not only offers stability to the parents, it also helps the children have a consistent learning schedule. By staying consistent throughout the year, the only change that occurs in the summertime is a positive one; [our] volunteers often have more time to give and become a very stable influence.”

The centers run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. And every classroom has “a bilingual teacher and support staff that is specially trained to address the unique circumstances homeless children face.”

In addition, “Horizons’ Family Advocates work closely with parents to help get them back on their feet by providing services ranging from parenting and financial literacy classes to connections with educational opportunities.”

Horizons also runs more than 90, year-round Playspaces in homeless shelters across the state that serve children who are 10 years old or younger.

On the advocacy front, Horizons has supported legislation that would make it easier for families to access necessary services. Horizons is a member of the On Solid Ground coalition, “a cross-sector group of 40+ partners committed to a research-based, family-centered approach to ensuring access to housing stability and economic mobility for families living in Massachusetts.”

Horizons has also “welcomed elected officials into our programs to see our work first-hand, including Governor Charlie Baker, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and more.”

Next year, Horizons will open a new building in Roxbury, “a unique public/private joint venture that will create a single and accessible home for social service agencies dedicated to transforming the education, health and well-being of at-risk children and families in Boston.”

Ultimately, though, its Horizons work with children that shows how powerful pre-K programs are during every month of the year. One example is Janelys.

“After escaping from domestic violence, Janelys and her mom Melissa moved to a Boston shelter where they learned about Horizons.” Janelys had anxiety and developmental delays. Horizons staff helped her grow and connect with her classmates.

“Janelys wants to be a princess and an astronaut when she grows up,” Melissa says. “I just want her to be happy and be her own person; I know that because of Horizons, that is going to be a possibility now.”