|
Some people believe that homelessness is a
chronic issue, that the street's mentally ill and
addicted residents can't get back on their feet no
matter who reaches out to them.
They're wrong.
In 2007, Hoboken's homeless shelter was able to
move 84 of its residents into homes, according to
Jacklyn Cherubini, the executive director of the
facility on Third and Bloomfield streets.
How was the
shelter able to do something that some believe is
impossible?
With the shelter's strict rules of living,
programs to reintegrate its residents into the
workplace, and a focus on getting proper
socialization and medical care, the "holistic"
approach is what helped, officials say.
"We're not just serving them," said Cherubini of
the homeless residents last week. "We're working
together. This is their home, so they really
participate in the programs. I like to say that we
use compassionate boundaries. We are nice, but we
have rules, and the guests help us monitor that,
because it helps maintain the safety and sobriety,
and their home."
Though the shelter has offered home placement for
23 years, it only began tracking its rate of
placements two years ago.
In 2006, 71 people moved from the shelter to their
own homes. That number increased to 84 in 2007.
Former guests often rely on the Hoboken Housing
Authority projects to get low-income apartments,
or they move to local senior citizen facilities or
back home with their families after they have
received training and possibly a job.
Filling out forms for subsidized housing, or
reuniting with family, all can be difficult tasks
that require help.
Cherubini said many guests arrive at the shelter
hoping to get a job, save money, find an
apartment, and get back together with their
family.
The shelter assists guests in achieving these
goals.
"There is no one quantifying checkmark for how
people are housed," she said last week. Instead,
there are programs and support groups throughout
the community that have helped people find homes.
Providing tools for
success
When meeting a
former resident of the shelter, "You wouldn't even
be able to tell that they lived here," Cherubini
said last week. "Reintegration into the community
is one of our biggest focuses."
The official mission of the Hoboken Shelter, which
is owned and operated by Communities of Faith for
Housing, Inc. and founded in 1982, is to assist
homeless adults in developing skills needed to
gain employment and re-integrate into the
community.
The shelter feeds approximately 100 people per
night who come for a warm meal, even if they don't
all stay at the shelter. They also provide
breakfast and lunch daily to their 50 overnight
guests.
Guests take part in the Integrated Living Program,
which offers addiction counseling, emergency
clothes, health care advice, job-readiness
training, and life skills. Guests learn computer
skills, conflict resolution, interviewing
techniques, money management, relaxation and
anchoring techniques, resume writing, and salary
negotiation.
Through the Intensive Day Treatment Program, any
mentally ill and/or chemical-abusing residents are
provided psychiatric services and evaluation.
Guests also take part in workshops that include
computer literacy, creative writing, mentoring and
tutoring, spiritual discussion, visual arts, chess
and the movie group.
Cherubini said she is most proud of the laundry
program, which supplies daily laundry service for
the guests.
Though the shelter is a compassionate environment,
there are rules each guest must follow. For
instance, residents are required to shower daily
and are given chores.
30-day commitment
To be admitted to
the shelter, applicants must meet with Sister
Norberta, the shelter's founder, and sign a
contract committing to follow the shelter's rules.
The shelter, in turn, gives them a 30-day
commitment.
"If they are working towards their goals, we renew
their commitment," Cherubini said.
According to Cherubini, the average stay for
people who become successfully housed is six
months to a year, because it takes that long to
get public and housing assistance and adequate
mental health care.
Support from the Hoboken Shelter does not end when
a former guest is successfully housed. Many former
guests come back to volunteer, or return for a
free meal, the alumni support group, or the movie
group.
Cherubini attributes much of the former residents'
success to the shelter's 2,200 volunteers, and
support from local businesses, schools, and
organizations.
"We're a community," she said, "from our
neighbors, to our volunteers, to our staff."
You can help
In 2006, the
Hoboken Shelter served 64,412 meals. That total
increased in 2007 to 66,844. "Every single person
gets fed," Cherubini said. "There is not one
person who is turned away for food."
The shelter constantly needs donations, including
paper goods and toiletries. To find out more or
volunteer, call 201.656.5069. More information on
the shelter and volunteering can be found at
www.hobokenshelter.org.
The story of Millie
According to
Jacklyn Cherubini, who runs the Hoboken Homeless
Shelter, the rate of homelessness among women in
Hoboken is increasing.
For instance, "Millie," who is a single mother,
became homeless when she lost her husband eight
years ago and could no longer rely on support from
relatives.
She has been a guest at the shelter for eight
months, and is using the shelter's programs to get
back on track. Last week, she described the
shelter as a close-knit community.
"The people are nice," she said. "As long as you
do your chores and help each other, you make it
comfortable."
She credits the shelter with helping her develop
life skills. "I'm learning how I have to be if I
were to get my own place," she said.
Cherubini estimates that 80 percent of the guests
are mentally ill, and some have become chemically
addicted through self-medication.
"One of the things that I think people believe is
that if you are homeless, or you're poor, you're
not educated or you're not smart," Cherubini said.
"We have people that went to Oxford and MIT that
are here. We have people who know how to live on
$20 to $200 a month, and live well."
She noted, "I would like more credit to be given
to the people that survive every day for being
smart enough to be able to do well."
Currently there are 32 men and 18 women staying at
the shelter.
"The need is increasing, and we can only do it
with the support of the community," Cherubini
said.
|
