GIVING FAMILIES A SAFE PLACE TO GO
We provide each family what they need most. First is always a place to call home. Then groceries, job skills, childcare, academic support for mom and kids — whatever it takes.

HOMEFRONT HOSTS GOVERNOR AS HE ANNOUNCES PLAN TO ESTABLISH INTER-AGENCY COUNCIL TO END HOMELESSNESS
By: David Matthau, New Jersey101.5

During a visit to HomeFront, a homeless shelter in Mercer County – Governor Christie signed an executive order to establish the Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness.

He says, “what we want to try to do is as best as we can, to, over the next 10 years, to end homelessness in New Jersey…it’s a step towards talking about this out loud – homelessness is one of those things that people don’t like to talk about…it is a failure, and we need to do better.”

When you think of the homeless, you might imagine a hobo, but some of the clients at HomeFront aren’t even adults.

Shannon is 16-years-old, she has a nine-month-old baby named Kylie, and she’s homeless.

“It’s a long line of being evicted having nowhere else to stay, jumping from place to place,” she says. “We never really found that home – that forever home where you’re safe.”

For the full story, see http://nj1015.com/homeless-teen-mom-fighting-to-improve-her-life-in-mercer-county-audio/

From: Newsworks New Jersey. Click for story.

SUPPORT OUR SUMMER CAMPS

We need your help.

HomeFront’s summer camp program has a joyful 15-year history. Over the years it has grown and developed. This year it will provide 120 children from 2 to 16 years old with a summer of fun, exercise, recreation, nutrition and education, if we can raise the money to make it happen.

Hard economic times and increased unemployment have increased the number of families coming to us for help and decreased the funding that pays for our services. Several HomeFront programs are at risk because of this and the camp program is one of them.

Summer vacation is a time most of us remember fondly, a time to relax and play with no school work. It is not a pleasant time for the children of homeless and low-income families. They spend their days hungry, isolated and bored. If both parents work, they frequently lack adult supervision. Research shows that they are particularly likely to suffer from “summer learning loss”, a lowering of basic academic skills over the summer.

“Our camps are about sports, fun and games, but that’s not all they are,” Brian Helmuth, director of HomeFront’s camp says.  “They are also about reading, mathematics and science and building positive social relationships, both with other children and with adult role models.  The camps prepare the kids to do well in the next academic year.  And the camp experience has the potential to change their lives. We owe thanks to the contributors and volunteers who make this possible.”

The cost of the camp is $135 per camper per week.  The Camp runs for eight weeks and has a total cost of $1,080 per camper. The camp will serve 120 children for a total cost of $129,600.

Please help us provide this valuable program for this, the sixteenth year, with your contribution.

MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF TEACHING
HOMELESS FAMILIES TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT

Not only does HomeFront provide support services once a family becomes homeless, we also help prevent homelessness whenever possible.

This year HomeFront distributed over $500,000 in back rent, security deposits and utilities to families in crisis and on the brink of facing the horror of homelessness. These funds are carefully administered to families who have no significant issues other than being a tragic victim of the recession or bureaucracy. However, homelessness prevention is about much more than money and keeping the family in a home is only the first step.

For instance, HomeFront helps families navigate the bureaucratic system so they may receive the benefits and supports to which they are entitled. Often families have trouble figuring out where to go or who to call, or for that matter, if they qualify for assistance. Sometimes it’s a coat of fresh paint that will change a landlord’s eviction notice, or other times, it is helping a client tap into the proper social service agency.

Yet another aspect to homelessness prevention is teaching job skills and promoting education so that families can increase their earning power. We make sure families have all essential life-skill components of self-sufficiency – including teaching them how to care for their home ensuring that it’s kept tidy and clean; shopping smart so the family eats healthy and mom prepares nutritious meals; and making sure that children are nurtured academically and socially.

With each client, HomeFront’s goal is the same––to help them through the crisis so they can stay in their home.

Just as vaccines that prevent disease work, so does homelessness prevention. A family’s needs may be challenging, but the end result is a holistic preventive program that keeps families in their home!