Apostles House

THE APOSTLES' HOUSE (TAH) IS A NON-PROFIT, NONSECTARIAN ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES TO HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. TAH SEEKS TO HELP HOMELESS AND AT-RISK FAMILIES TRANSITION TO MORE STABLE HOUSING ENVIRONMENTS AND BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT THROUGH AN EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENT.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY SHELTEROUR FAMILY SHELTER OFFERS A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING THE STABILIZATION NECESSARY TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THEY EXPERIENCE. EACH YEAR, OVER 115 WOMEN AND CHILDREN CALL THE SHELTER HOME IN OUR 125 BED FACILITY. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SHELTER, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THREE DAILY MEALS, CASE MANAGEMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND IS STAFFED 24/7 IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY TO OUR CLIENTS.OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY SHELTER OPERATES IN A 4 PHASE SYSTEM WHICH WE LABEL "PHASES TO SUCCESS". EACH PHASE IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO RESIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS PRESENT AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR RESIDENCY. IN TURN, THIS WILL PROMOTE CONTINUAL INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, LEADING TO OUR GOAL OF A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION AND STABILIZED HOME. IN 2021, WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 213 INDIVIDUALS

TRANSITIONAL HOUSINGLOCATED AT 513-515 AVON AVENUE, NEWARK NJ, THE APOSTLES' HOUSE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY BOASTS 15 APARTMENTS, WHICH CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 22 FAMILIES, INCLUDING, MOTHER, FATHER AND CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAM AFFORDS CLIENTS THEIR OWN APARTMENT, FREEDOM REGARDING MEAL TIMES, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PRIVACY. AN INCENTIVE TO PROGRESS, WE PROVIDE EXTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND CONNECT OUR CLIENTS TO OUTSIDE RESOURCES THAT WILL HELP TO ENSURE STABILITY DURING THEIR STAY WITH US AS WELL AS SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION THEREAFTER. IN ADDITION, WE OFFER MONTHLY WORKSHOPS AND MOTIVATIONAL SESSIONS TO BOOST THEIR MORAL AND PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT. IN 2021 OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVED 108 INDIVIDUALS SERVED

FOOD PANTRYTHE APOSTLES' HOUSE FOOD PANTRY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD PANTRIES IN ESSEX COUNTY, PROVIDING FOOD TO OVER 1500 HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS PER MONTH. OUR FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM HELPS TO DISTRIBUTE BAGS OF GROCERIES TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. TO MEET THE EVER-GROWING DEMAND, THE APOSTLES' HOUSE HAS DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY, MEND, ST. ELIZABETH'S CHURCHES, AS WELL A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR RYAN WHITE PROGRAM FURTHER ENABLES TAH TO PROVIDE FOOD VOUCHERS TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS.

THE "BE THE KEY" PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EMPOWER OUR CLIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL JOB TRAINING SKILLS TO HELP ENSURE PERSONAL GROWTH AND STABILITY. CLIENTS WHO APPLY AND ARE ACCEPTED ATTEND A 6-8 WEEK COURSE AT THE APOSTLES' HOUSE. UPON COMPLETION, THE CLIENT HAS THE OPTION OF ENROLLING IN A SORA (SECURITY OFFICER REGISTRATION ACT) CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, AN HHA (HOME HEALTH AIDE) COURSE, OR A CDA (CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE) COURSE, FREE OF CHARGE.THIS TWO-PART PROGRAM COMMENCES WITH AN EIGHT-WEEK WOMEN EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP, PROVIDED BY BETA ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. TO COVER TOPICS SUCH AS TIME MANAGEMENT, PERSONALITY ASSESSMENTS, SKILLS ASSESSMENTS, RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEWING, BUDGETING, AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. UPON COMPLETION, THE WOMEN THEN ENROLL IN ONE OF SEVEN CERTIFICATE COURSES CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED WITH ALL FEES BEING COVERED BY THE APOSTLES' HOUSE AND PARTNERS. WITH THE HELP OF OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR, EVERY WOMAN IS ABLE TO LEAVE OUR SHELTER WITH JOB SECURITY AND THE ABILITY TO EARN A COMPETITIVE WAGE."BE THE KEY" GRADUATES GAIN INSIGHT, CONFIDENCE, AND KNOWLEDGE. BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY GAIN SKILLS NEEDED FOR GAINFUL AND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT THAT IS VITAL TO THEIR SUCCESS ONCE THEY MOVE BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE APOSTLES' HOUSE. WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING THE FAMILY UNIT INTACT, THE PARENT AIDE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED TO WORK WITH FAMILIES AT RISK FOR ABUSE OR NEGLECT. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM AT-RISK STATUS TO MORE STABLE LIVING CONDITIONS.OUR PARENT AIDE PROGRAM WORKS WITH FAMILIES IDENTIFIED BY THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF CHILD PROTECTION AND PERMANENCY (DCP&P) TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO NEEDED FAMILY SERVICES, ACT AS A LINK TO THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS, AND TEACH PARENTING AND OTHER NECESSITATED SKILLS TO ENHANCE FAMILY STABILITY.TAH'S RAPID RE-HOUSING PROVIDES SHORT-TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO ARE MOVING OUT OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. ASSISTANCE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR NEWARK RESIDENTS WHO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE INTO A MORE STABLE HOUSING SITUATION. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN HOUSING QUICKLY, INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND REMAIN PERMANENTLY HOUSED. THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES PROVIDED ARE TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS AND SITUATION. THE RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED.SINCE THE REVIVAL OF THE RYAN WHITE PROGRAM AT TAH IN 2019, WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING NON-MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, MONTHLY FOOD VOUCHERS, AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE PART A FUNDING. THIS YEAR, HOUSING WAS ADDED TO THE LIST OF SUPPORT SERVICES OFFERED. TO DATE, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 75 INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV.