At the heart of all we do to end homelessness in central New Jersey is our core belief that families deserve safe, secure housing.
We work to make sure families have places where they can feel this way, immediately and into the future, on several fronts:
A partnership with our sister organization, Homes by TLC, to increase the community’s stock of supportive, affordable housing
HomeFront’s formal Eviction Prevention Program offers emergency financial housing assistance, enabling families to either stay in their homes, or provides them with other financial support through security deposits and first month’s rent to secure a safe and sometimes more affordable place to live.
- To identify and enroll potential clients into the program, HomeFront coordinates with Mercer County homeless providers and organizations.
- Program staff screen referrals from government agencies, other nonprofits, other HomeFront programs and via self-referrals through walk-ins or our hotline.
- The entire process is marked by client autonomy and dignity.
Through our prevention and diversion services, we help those who find themselves in or nearing a crisis, decrease the need for emergency intervention services, and increase family income and stability measures—all with an eye to keep families stable and in their homes.
- HomeFront staff are well-trained and well-positioned to identify multiple touchpoints where an individual or family could avoid crisis, even future, far-off crisis: for example, if only
the family had a stable place to stay for two months, when their new apartment will become available or if only school fees could be paid so the parent could get a CDL, guaranteeing future
employment and stability.
- Our staff is currently responding to these “if only” situations and others with compassion, experience and a wealth of knowledge.
- Every day, HomeFront case managers and other staff are working closely with families, helping them problem-solve and weaving together plans that are appropriate and allow them to chart
their own paths.
- Part of this planning often involves connections, or a series of connections, to other programs, crafting a patchwork of funding from often limited prevention programs, or other resources.
HomeFront relies on some government support and our own Say Yes Fund to help address the immediate, pressing financial needs of clients. Government funds are indispensable but often come with qualifications and documentation requirements that can hinder access.
- HomeFront’s Say Yes Fund can be used with much greater discretion as dictated by the needs and desires of the client.
- Oftentimes, especially to make truly substantive changes in one’s life, a person simply needs additional funds to make an investment toward future benefits.
- This could be those fees for a certification class or other training mentioned above, reliable transportation that is needed to commute to a higher-paying job, or fees for a child’s extra-curricular activities, as an investment in their self-esteem and future.
- The 42,000-square-foot Family Campus building is home to our Family Preservation Center, an emergency shelter that can accommodate 38 families and offers much more than temporary housing.
Homeless families in residence there have access to childcare, case management, job training and other services designed to break the cycle of poverty.
- In addition to services for the parents, there are intensive children's programs, including a preschool, after-school educational support with each child having their own "Children's
Champion" advocate, and year-round enrichment activities.
- Also available are a teaching kitchen, therapeutic art, library, on-site healthcare team and more, all designed to help families get firmly on their path to success.
- Also based on the Family Campus is our Hire Expectations program, which includes WorkFirst services. Through WorkFirst, we provide job skills training and high school equivalency programs to shelter residents and non-residents.
When HomeFront obtained this property, the building, which was a decommissioned Naval communications center, was a concrete, near windowless bunker. We worked tirelessly to create a welcoming building with light-filled interior spaces; the result is a refuge where families can heal, find strength and receive the support they need to move on to a better future.
Affordable Homes
While it was never HomeFront’s intention to create a landlord-tenant relationship, it became evident that we would have to step up and develop affordable permanent housing ourselves for our families. As a result, our partner, Homes by TLC, was formed in 1999, which now has developed, owns and manages over 140 affordable homes in Mercer County.
- Homes by TLC has developed a successful social, operations and development model with a strong track record of leveraging government and private funding to underwrite the housing
developments. Rents are never more than 30% of a family’s income and the units are well maintained by Homes by TLC staff.
- HomeFront’s wraparound services (case management, access to food and other resources, children’s programs, etc.) are offered to families residing in the permanent housing units.
- The need for more permanent affordable work force housing is immense, nationally, within the state and in Mercer County.
- According to current data, a person in Mercer County would need to work 95 hours a week—the equivalent of two and a half full-time jobs—at minimum wage or earn $33 an hour to
afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rate.
- For more information on Homes by TLC, including application procedures, click here.
Other Housing Services
From our earliest days through to today, we have honed our tools and our procedures as a “first responder” to families in crisis, which can sometimes mean families whose housing needs and issues require support outside of the programs listed above. This includes our outreach and services at area motels, organized in coordination with other social service agencies, to ensure local homeless people are safe and fed.
