HomeFront
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GIVING FAMILIES A SAFE PLACE TO GO
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES. On any given night of the year, we provide shelter to 450 people, most of them children. We also provide food to hundreds every week, but these services are only the beginning. We have a host of programs to prevent homelessness, provide affordable housing, encourage education, teach job skills and promote good child care and positive family life. We seek to provide low-income families in our community with permanent solutions to the agonies of poverty – solutions that pass from this generation to the next. In these troubled economic times more and more families face unemployment, foreclosure, homelessness and hunger. The demand for our services has seriously increased. Your support is more important than ever.
MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF TEACHING  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.
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! |
Two decades ago a group of volunteers began collecting and delivering food baskets to homeless families in welfare motels in Mercer County. Now, over 20 years later, HomeFront provides shelter and food to families in need in Mercer County.
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.NEWS
Bohrens Moves to Help HomeFront Families
As part of a planned renovation, the Nassau Inn recently donated over 50 rooms of gently used furniture to HomeFront. Read more
2010-2011 Annual Report Available
HomeFront's Annual Report honors our community of supporters and highlights the scope of our mission. Click above to read the annual report and on the attached pdf for a list of additional donors. Read more
Tyco Helps Families Make a House a Home
Moving into a home is a big first step for homeless families. But it takes a couch to sit on, a table to have meals together and lamps to do homework by--all things that make a house a home. With support from Tyco, HomeFront's Resource Network serves over 3,000 families a year making each home a special place.
Skateboarder Jake McNichol Launches Fundraiser. Help A HomeFront Camper Learn to Skateboard!
Jake McNichol, founder of Skate Not Hate, is a senior straight-A student at George School in Newtown, PA. Jake, who lives in Ewing, approached HomeFront about running the camp in 2011 in hopes of providing kids living in urban areas with a fun, challenging activity they can enjoy year-round at home. He hopes skating will help kids to feel proud and to develop a positive focus despite the many challenges they face. Read more
Grounds for Sculpture Hosts HomeFront Client Art Exhibit Aug. 21-Sept. 25
The vital and dynamic human spirit of homeless and working poor families is unleashed into astounding and emotional artistic expression in the upcoming month long educational exhibit, “HomeFront: Putting the Pieces Together.” The artists are HomeFront clients. Read more
Back to School Campaign Kicks Off
HomeFront’s Back-to-School campaign that started 20 years ago, ensures that homeless children in Mercer County start school off on the right foot. Homeless kids have so many stigmas and obstacles to overcome. They need as much support as possible–especially on the all important first day of school. Thanks to a community-wide effort, kids have new tennis shoes, clothes, school supplies and backpacks to begin the school year. Read more
A Summer Hunger Message from Sunny, Our Director of Program Support Services
Summer is a tough time for families who come to our food pantry. Families must adjust their grocery needs to ensure that children who are on summer vacation get breakfast and lunches which ordinarily would be provided by the school.
One Room at a Time—Helping One Family at a Time
Home decorator and Princeton resident Anne Battles does more than ‘re-do’ rooms. She’s doing makeovers for HomeFront residents in one our multi-unit buildings. Her first challenge is the home of a mother with two teenage kids. Read more
Run For Hope Race Results In
The third annual HomeFront Run for Hope was a huge success. The sunny skies enticed over 450 people to come out to support the event and help local families in need. Click here to see the race results. Like us on Facebook and check out the race photos. Read more
Women's Initiative Brings Homeless to Harvard's Liz Murray to Speak May 15
Murray will be the guest speaker at HomeFront’s Women’s Initiative luncheon on Sunday, May 15 at the Nassau Inn in Princeton. Read more
Clients Speak Out Meet Rachel
How can homelessness happen? And who are the homeless in Mercer County? Following is the first of a series of interviews with Home Front clients who explain how they became homeless. These are real stories from real people. Read more
URGENT NEED
HomeFront has an urgent need for dressers, small couches and kitchen tables. These are all important items that make a home home. Please help! Go to Get Involved, and click on 'Go Green.'
Powerful and Sad Numbers
The 2010 Census revealed the grim economic story for Trenton households headed by single females with young children who fall below the federal poverty limit. The number of these households with children under the age of 5 (the majority of families we see) grew from 1,011 households in poverty in 2000 to 6,859 families in 2010, or from 41% to 68.7% . Read more
60 Minutes––Hard Times Generation: Homeless Kids
Last week 60 Minutes aired a segment that spoke eloquently, and heartbreakingly, about the pain homelessness inflicts on children. While these children live in Florida, not too long ago these same stories played out right here in Mercer County. Read more
Something to Smile About
For the last two years, the staff of the Princeton Center for Dental Aesthetics have taken a day to give back to our community by putting a bright healthy smile on the faces of local homeless children living at the HomeFront Family Preservation Center in Ewing. Read more
Looking for A Few Good Camp Counselors
If you need a summer job, and you’d like to have the experience of a lifetime, HomeFront may have the solution for you. Read more
ArtSpace to Exhibit at Twist Yogurt During March
Throughout March 2011, ArtSpace will be exhibiting works by 5 young artists from their program at Twist Yogurt at 84 Nassau St. in Princeton. Read more
Free Eye Clinic for Needy Families
HomeFront 2010 Annual Report Now Available
HomeFront's Annual Report pays tribute to the community that has made HomeFront the organization it is today. Click here to read the annual report. Read more
Three HomeFront Welcome Mats on Doorsteps in Hopewell Township
Community Effort Makes It Happen! HomeFront TCL has opened the doors to three units of high-quality affordable housing and they are going about it in a way that they do best: through community involvement and support. Read more
FPC Celebrates its 7th Birthday!
On Wednesday, Mar. 3, our HomeFront community celebrated the seventh anniversary of the Family Preservation Center in West Trenton. For seven years, the FPC has given food, shelter and support to help over 1000 families break the cycle of poverty. At the same time, they honored the service of Thora Faigle, the director of the FPC and marked her retirement. Click to WBZN story. Read more
Check Out our ArtSpace Web Page
See the art, visit the exhibits and help support our program. (Click here for more information) Read more
We Need Volunteers!
HomeFront's 2009 Annual Report Available
HomeFront's Annual Report honors our community of supporters and highlights the scope of our mission. Click above to read the annual report and on the attached pdf for a list of additional donors. Read more
1880 Princeton Avenue
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609 989-9417
