|
Please find below the description and statistics for our
programs:
(I.) Food &
Shelter Program;
(II.) Change &
Independence Program;
(III.) Homelessness
Prevention Program; and
(IV.) Permanent
Supportive Housing Program.
I. FOOD & SHELTER PROGRAM:
Dinner is prepared and served to 100 guests nightly
thanks to our generous family of 4,000 volunteers
throughout the year. We always welcome new faces! We know you have lots of other obligations, so
we give you the flexibility of coming any night that is convenient for
you. For details on volunteering, click Volunteers'
Page.
300 meals are served daily
with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Dinner is served at 7:30pm
every evening to 100 adults. Breakfast and lunch is served
daily to our 50 Shelter Guests. An additional breakfast is
provided during the morning drop-in hours on weekdays. Lunch is
provided during afternoon workshops every day.
Overnight shelter is
provided to 50 men and women nightly. The guests receive the
following case management services: Drug & Alcohol Counseling,
Budget Counseling, Medication Counseling, Emergency Clothes, and
Daily Showers.
The demand for our
services is dramatically increasing daily since we served 54,593
meals in 2005, which increased to 100,264 in 2010.
Unfortunately, hunger has doubled in our community over the last
5-years. Fortunately, thanks to your generous donations of
food & paper goods, we have been able to meet this growing need
100%.
123 Shelter Guess moved from the street to our shelter to their
own homes in 2010!
*
Volunteers are welcome
to:
-
Sponsor a dinner!
-
Prepare & serve
dinner from 6pm-8pm nightly.
-
Sort clothing
donations & serve lunch from 11am-3pm on Fridays.
-
Make, wrap, and
deliver sandwiches for our guests to take to work & school
daily.
Soup Kitchen Guests
II. CHANGE & INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM:
The
Integrated Living Program (ILP) has been in operation since
1998 and was re-developed in October 2008 to become the
Change & Independence Program (CIP). The program provides
job readiness and life skills training in conjunction with
creative workshops to help participants heal from the isolating,
demoralizing experience of homelessness while learning how to
articulate personal goals and build self-esteem.
117
guests became employed by working with our vocational specialist
on resume writing, interviewing skills, & job searching.
23,684
guests participated in our vocational, educational, &
recreational workshops.
The
program is centered on the following elements:
·
Job &
Life Skills Program:
The
program places an emphasis on identifying the unique skills
possessed by each homeless client and applying them to the
challenges of finding employment and mastering key job and life
skills. This component of the CIP consists of group
counseling in the following areas: interviewing, salary
negotiation, timelines, money management, conflict resolution,
and a myriad of job issues. A vocational specialist meets with
guests individually to build their resumes and apply for jobs.
Additionally, weekday workshops focus on important issues that
are prevalent in our guests’ lives, such as Financial
Management, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Relationships.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Computer Literacy Program:
Two
weekly computer training sessions provide guests with the chance
to develop basic computer skills and to master advanced
programs. Experienced instructors provide small-group computer
training using our dedicated computer lab. The lab is equipped
with seven PCs, which were generously donated and set-up through
the in-kind donation from Wiley & Sons Publishing, and a cable
modem, which allows for fast Internet connections to facilitate
on-line job searching and researching educational
opportunities. These workshops are adjusted each week based on
the experience level of the participating students. As the
program progresses, students learn about Microsoft applications
and the vast resources of the Internet for job-searching and
finding information.
·
Mentoring & Tutoring:
Guests
develop one-on-one relationships with volunteers from the
community. Such relationships are critically important in
avoiding depression and keeping guests focused on achieving
their goals. Many of our guests realize the importance of a
high school diploma; thus, tutoring in preparation for the
General Education Diploma (GED) is offered. We also provide
English as a Second Language (ESL) tutoring and link with
off-site programs to serve our Spanish speaking population.
Individual employment counseling and resume writing sessions
provided develops interpersonal skills and builds self-esteem in
preparation for job interviews. Additionally, guests appreciate
time spent with volunteers who share the simple gift of
conversation.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Alumni
Support Group:
Support
and education does not end when an individual completes the
CIP or moves out of the Shelter. The Alumni Support Group
is promoted throughout the course and guests are encouraged to
participate in the weekly sessions to discuss a range of issues
related to life, addiction, and work. The group is led by a
Licensed Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor who provides
support, resources, and a caring ear. All are welcome to join
the group and to meet individually with the Counselor.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Visual
Arts Workshop:
An
instructor encourages the participants in the weekly workshop to
sketch using a variety of mediums. The instructor invites the
clients to find patterns and symmetry in their environment.
Spatial elements and proportion are also developed. The basics
of painting are explored through color, design, texture, and
lighting. The participants are introduced to works from
different artists and study various art genres. The workshop is
informal and designed to invite participation and provide a time
of creativity, relaxation, and enjoyment. This workshop
emphasizes creative expression and the discovery of hidden
talents.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
Shelter Guests in our
Art Workshop
·
Creative Writing Workshop:
The Creative Writing workshop began in 1999 by playwrights who
were interested in working with the homeless. This workshop is
currently led by an independent filmmaker who writes, directs,
and produces short and full length films. The instructor
provides a creative atmosphere for our clients to express
themselves and produce their own writings. This workshop
emphasizes how writing can be helpful in improving
communication, reducing anxiety, and gaining insight.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Movie
& Discussion Group:
Sunday
movies are curated by the Assistant Director, who facilitates
conversations and creative discourse following each viewing.
Weekday movies are selected by the guests. This activity
provides a fun outlet for the stressful lives our guests lead
and fosters socialization to help the process of re-integration
into society.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Bingo,
Chess, & Games Workshop:
The
strategy and techniques of chess is discussed and tournaments
are held. The instruction of the game carries over into
considering life choices while our clients are learning specific
decision-making skills. The Chess Workshop began in 2005 and
has sparked the interests of many of our guests who now play
chess nightly before dinner. Additional games are played like
Dominoes, Checkers, Trivial Pursuit, Othello, and several card
games. This creative program encourages dialogue and increased
the social interactions between our guests and volunteers.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
-
Play games with
guests from 6pm-7pm every night
& from 4pm-5pm on Saturdays.
-
Donate games,
especially decks of cards.
·
Music
& Movement Sessions:
Music is played for guests prior to and during Saturday dinner,
which includes Rhythm & Blues, Rock, Ragtime, Rap, Opera,
Classical, Gospel, and more. Professional musicians and choirs
also perform. Guests are encouraged to share their musical
talents and perform, too. The music and song inspire dance and
movement. Additionally, Tai-Chi and Yoga sessions are led by
certified instructors who conduct weekly instruction that is suitable
for beginning students.
Participants are introduced to various cultural expressions,
rhythms, motions, and different modes of music.
The focus of movement is to increase
body awareness, learn basic postures, and practice therapeutic
breathing. These sessions help our guests with relaxation and
enjoyment.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Spiritual Discussion:
This forum is a journey in discovering one’s spiritual center
and developing personal connections
with others.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Women’s Workshop:
Safe space
for women to help the female guests gain empowerment by
discussing and exploring intimate issues from manicures to
menopause, from movies to mental health, from money to
motherhood. Additionally, this group focuses on financial
management and vocational opportunities.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
·
Outreach Team:
Shelter
guest distribute information about the shelter’s programs,
resources, & sandwiches to street-dwelling homeless at the train
station on weekends.
v *
Volunteers are welcome to:
Outreach Team of
Shelter Guests, Staff, & Volunteers
III. HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM:
The
Homelessness Prevention Program provides security deposits
to Shelter Guests; rental or utility assistance to people facing
imminent eviction; counseling for tenant rights; and referrals
to appropriate agencies.
v
This
program prioritizes Security Deposits for Shelter Guests.
v
Referrals
are needed for rental or utility assistance to people-in-need in
Hudson County.
IV. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING PROGRAM:
The goal
is to help our homeless neighbors move from the street to our
shelter to their own homes. This program consists of two
components.
First, through intensive case management services, guests are
assisted with finding and applying for apartments.
Additional support services are provided to former Shelter
Residents to help them become housed and stay housed, which
include:
-
counseling for tenant rights,
-
referrals to appropriate agencies,
-
budget
counseling,
-
food
provisions, and
-
furniture and house ware supplies.
Second, through partnerships with affordable housing programs
and government project-based vouchers (PBV) for rental
subsidies, Shelter Residents are provided with their own
apartment along with clinical supervision provided by the
Shelter’s Assistant Director, which include:
-
Independent Living Skills Training –
Assist in the development of a self-directed plan for work,
education, medical, recreation, or social needs.
-
Information and Referral – Provide
contact information for transportation, health care, mental
health, and day care resources available to disabled
individuals as they seek to implement their independent living
plan.
-
Peer Support – Offer support network to
individuals with a disability where they can share their
concerns and learn about solutions. This gives members an
opportunity to share their knowledge and benefit from the
experience of others.
-
Family & Community Education – Will help
to educate the other family members who provide support for
the individual with a disability so that the support network
is informed and involved.
-
Advocacy – Will advocate on behalf of
the individual with a disability if that person has been
mistreated or discriminated against by other entities or
individuals.
4 Former Shelter
Guests are Tenants in our PSHP Apartments since March 2009.
18
additional vouchers have been awarded to house shelter guests in
the next 2-years.
123 Shelter Guess moved from the street to our shelter to
their own homes in 2010!
Shelter Guests signing
their Leaseto their own Apartment in our Permanent Supportive
Housing Program
Top
|
