HomeFront Week of Hope: Support Resources

Resources for Teachers

HomeFront: http://www.homefrontnj.org/ - HomeFront’s main webpage. On the website can be found descriptions of the various services HomeFront provides. From housing to educational needs of clients, HomeFront does its best to meet the whole needs of the person. Also on the website can be found curricula for a classroom setting, opportunities to donate time, talent, and treasure, and personal testimonies of those who have helped or been helped through the generosity of those who make up HomeFront.

National Alliance to End Homelessness: http://www.endhomelessness.org/ - The NAEH provides help both locally and nationally to communities battling to end homelessness through analysis and up-to-date information on public policy and also through a rich database of resources. On their website can be found basic fact sheets to lengthy reports on causes and solutions to the problem of homelessness. The NAEH website also provides helpful ways that you and your community can help to alleviate the plague of homelessness.

National Low Income Housing Coalition: www.nlihc.org The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes. This site is routinely updated with current information on political aspects of affordable housing. Newsletters, calls- to- action and press releases can be printed.

Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness: http://www.merceralliance.org/ - The mission of the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness is to ensure that every resident of Mercer County has access to permanent, affordable and safe housing. The Alliance is a public-private partnership of leaders from government, business and the non-profit sectors that banded together in 2004 to create a ten year plan to prevent and end homelessness in Mercer County, NJ. On the website can be found plentiful facts regarding homelessness in Mercer County, ways you can help out, and other opportunities for networking with others to end the plight of homelessness.

National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness: www.studentsagainsthunger.org - The Campaign is committed to ending hunger and homelessness in America by educating, engaging, and training students to directly meet individuals' immediate needs while advocating for long-term systemic solutions. Site explains how students may get involved through various projects such as conferences and campaigns. It also has news items covering a range of poverty and homelessness topics.

National Coalition for the Homeless: www.nationalhomeless.org - This is a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission. That mission is to end homelessness. They are committed to creating the systemic and attitudinal changes necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the same time, they work to meet the immediate needs of people who are currently experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of doing so. This site has sections that deal with economic, health care and civil rights issues as they pertain to the homeless.

The Institute for Children and Poverty: http://www.icpny.org/ - The Institute for Children and Poverty (ICP) is an independent nonprofit research and development organization. Founded in New York City in 1990, ICP focuses on action-oriented research designed not just to study the complex issue of family homelessness, but also to provide data and ideas that will inform and enhance public policy on serving homeless families. In addition to bringing information to policy makers at all levels of government and to colleagues in the research and advocacy community, ICP also works to raise public awareness of homelessness through publications and other materials for schools and communities. A great resource for data and other publications on homelessness.

Bringing America Home: http://www.bringingamericahome.org/index.html - This national, broad-based initiative is dedicated to the goal of ending homelessness. The Campaign is founded on the principles and action of public education, grassroots organizing and support for progressive policies and legislation. It is founded on the principles that people need affordable housing, livable incomes, health care, education, and protection of their civil rights. Look at the website and see what you can do to help!

Pursuit of Happyness (2006) - Starring Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness is the story of Chris Gardner and his five year old son, Christopher, and their struggles with homelessness. After a failed attempt at selling expensive bone density scanners to doctors, Gardner finds himself in a dire situation. Chris and his wife argue over unpaid rent and other bills, to the point where his wife leaves Chris and his son for a new job and life in New York City. Down on his luck, Chris takes an internship with brokerage firm Dean Witter Reynolds and has to compete with others for a permanent position. This is the story of how Chris and his son have to survive homelessness and hold on to a dream of a better life, and the pursuit of happiness. Based on a true story.

Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003) – Based on a true story, Liz Murray at 15 finds herself homeless after her mother dies of AIDS, and her father permanently moves into a homeless shelter. Things begin to turn around when Liz begins to attend preparatory school in Manhattan. Simultaneously, Liz has to balance homelessness, high school, and taking care of her sister. After being awarded a scholarship from The New York Times, Liz is accepted to Harvard University. This is the story of one girl’s struggle with homelessness, and the amazing account of how she followed her dreams from homelessness to Harvard University.

With Honors (1994) – Starring Joe Pesci and Brendan Fraser, With Honors is the story of a Harvard Undergraduate named Monty and his friends, and their encounters with a homeless man named Simon. When Monty loses the only copy of his thesis, Simon happens to stumble upon it and sees an opportunity to obtain meals, shelter, and other forms of charity from Monty. In exchange for one good deed, Simon gives a page of the thesis back to Monty. Though irritated at first, Monty and his friends learn many things from Simon about the meaning of love, life, and what is most important.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich – The story of undercover journalist Barbara Ehrenreich, and her journey to the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, in hopes of determining if it truly is possible to work one’s way up from poverty. This personal testament to the difficulties of poverty highlights the enormous amounts of stress that are placed on workers who are relied upon for the jobs that no one wishes to do, yet are direly needed by our society.

Framework for Understanding Poverty, by Ruby K. Payne - A Framework for Understanding Poverty is about Ruby Payne’s journey to understanding poverty through the classroom. Through this account, Payne teaches that despite the obstacles that poverty creates, there are solutions. Through case studies, personal stories and observations that produce some aha! moments, Payne clearly strikes a chord in her readers., and provides a hopeful message.

In Plain Sight –The Story of TASK, by Lee Seglem – This is the story of the founding of Trenton Area Soup Kitchen on Escher Street. Through this account, Seglem offers a testament to the daily life of a soup kitchen filled with hope and joy, in the midst of hunger and homelessness.

Our Wish, by Ralph da Costa Nunez with Jenna Mandel – After their home is destroyed, Mrs. Bun E. Rabbit and her family find themselves in need of a helping hand. Come along with Ronny, Rachel, Ricky, Roberta, Rocky, Rupert, Rosie and Mrs. Bun E. as they make the often difficult journey to their new home.

Saily’s Journey, by Ralph da Costa Nunez with Karina Kwok – When Saily the Snail loses his shell in a storm, he sets off on a journey to find a new home. Join Saily and his friends as they embark on an adventure they will never forget.

A Castle on Viola Street, by DyAnne DiSalvo – Andy is so used to his family’s small, run-down apartment that he has never imagined living anywhere else—especially not in a new house with a garden and a porch. Such houses seem like castles to him. But when he hears about an organization that turns abandoned houses into homes, he discovers that his castle isn’t in the clouds—it’s on Viola Street. And with some hard work and community caring, it could be his very own.