Local Organization Provides Play Spaces for Homeless Children

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Aquitia Harley and her children, displaced by a fire and living in a shelter, have benefited from the Playtime Project, a local organization offering play programs to support children from unhoused families. Last month, the Playtime Project opened its first permanent facility to provide a stable, child-friendly space aimed at improving the emotional wellbeing of homeless children.

After a fire destroyed her home in Philadelphia, Aquitia Harley relocated to Maryland, initially staying with friends before moving through various hotels. Eventually, she secured a place for her family in a shelter operated by Shepherd’s Cove in Prince George’s County. As a divorced mother of four, including two young children with autism, Harley faced significant challenges navigating the uncertainty of shelter life.

Harley found support through the Playtime Project, a local organization that offers structured play activities and programs designed to provide children from unhoused families a brief respite from their difficult circumstances. “Being in a shelter is scary enough for kids,” Harley said, noting that the program allowed her children to experience a sense of normalcy and joy. Participation in the program helped her nine-year-old daughter develop greater confidence in social settings, while her four-year-old son showed increased engagement and focus.

Founded in 2003 by Jamila Larson, the Playtime Project has spent two decades working with families experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. The organization operates within shelters, schools, and community centers, seeking to create environments where children can safely play and express themselves despite their housing challenges.

Larson was inspired to start the project after visiting a shelter in Washington, D.C., where she observed conditions that deeply concerned her. She recalled seeing children half-dressed in overcrowded dormitory-like rooms, with makeshift partitions made of sheets and no child-friendly amenities such as step stools in bathrooms or toys to engage the youngsters. “The inability to play and find a sense of joy even in grim surroundings was something I couldn’t stand for,” Larson said.

Rather than simply donating toys, Larson and her volunteers emphasize the importance of actively playing alongside the children, offering advocacy for child-friendly spaces within shelters. This hands-on approach aims to ensure that the emotional and developmental needs of children in crisis are addressed, recognizing play as an essential component of childhood wellbeing.

Last month, the Playtime Project marked a significant milestone by opening its first dedicated facility: an 800-square-foot site located at Beltway Plaza in Greenbelt. This permanent space is intended to expand the organization’s capacity to serve children from unhoused families, providing a stable environment where they can engage in play and social activities outside of shelters.

By establishing a consistent location, the Playtime Project hopes to strengthen its mission to bring moments of normalcy and joy to children facing the instability of homelessness, reinforcing the belief that every child deserves a safe place to play.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.