Homefront Inc

HOMEFRONT'S MISSION IS TO END HOMELESSNESS IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY BY HARNESSING THE CARING, RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE OF THE COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION LESSENS THE IMMEDIATE PAIN OF HOMELESSNESS AND HELPS FAMILIES BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. HOMEFRONT WORKS TO GIVE ITS CLIENTS THE SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE INCOMES, AND WORKS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HOMEFRONT HELPS HOMELESS FAMILIES ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.

PREVENTION/EMERGENCY SERVICES:IT IS HOMEFRONT'S COMMITMENT TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND THEIR EMERGING NEEDS THAT HAS CREATED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:EMERGENCY SHELTER FAMILY PRESERVATION CENTER - SHORT-TERM PROGRAM AT THE HOMEFRONT FAMILY CAMPUS FOR UP TO 38 FAMILIES (INCLUDING SINGLE MOTHERS, FATHERS, AND TWO-PARENT FAMILIES) WHERE PARENTS LEARN THE SKILLS TO ENABLE THEM TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT & GAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. FRESHSTART - SHORT-TERM HOUSING FOR HOMELESS WORKING POOR FAMILIES. HELP IS GIVEN TO LOCATE AND SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING WHILE ALSO PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT.HOMELESSNESS PREVENTIONTHIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDS FOR BACK RENT/MORTGAGE/UTILITIES AND SECURITY DEPOSITS TO ENABLE MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS AT RISK OF EVICTION TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING AND TO BE SPARED THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS.THE RESOURCE NETWORKTHIS PROGRAM PROVIDES VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO ESTABLISH A LIFE WITH DIGNITY. DONATED GOODS & SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE: FURNISH THE FUTURE -DONATED FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES, AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO CLIENTS. FREESTORE - DONATED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO CLIENTS. DIAPER RESOURCE CENTER - DONATED DIAPERS, WIPES, AND FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO CLIENTS.SPECIAL NEEDSHOMEFRONT PROVIDES EMERGENCY AND ONGOING HOUSING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN WHICH ONE MEMBER IS HIV-POSITIVE, IS MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED OR IS BATTLING AN OPIOID ADDICTION. THIS HOUSING COMES WITH INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND A RICH ARRAY OF SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ARE TAILORED TO ADDRESS THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES THE RESIDENTS ARE FACING.

CLIENT SUPPORT SERVICESHOMEFRONT HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ASSIST LOWINCOME AND/OR HOMELESS FAMILIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY NETS AND BUILD SUCCESSFUL AND STABLE FAMILIES. HOMEFRONT BUILDS LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE FAMILIES, WHO UTILIZE HOMEFRONT'S HOLISTIC ARRAY OF WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AS INDICATED BY THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE HOMEFRONT FAMILY CAMPUS, MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED AND NEW ONES ADDED. THIS NEW "VILLAGE OF HEALING AND HOPE" OFFERS A ONE-STOP APPROACH TO SERVICES AND IS UNLIKE ANYTHING IN THE NORTHEAST. SERVICES INCLUDE: EMPLOYMENT -FOCUSED SKILLS BUILDINGHOMEFRONT RECOGNIZES THAT THE BASIC FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENCE IS EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLIENTS ARE ALWAYS GROWING AND TODAY INCLUDE: HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CLASSES AND TESTING TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS INCLUDING MICROSOFT OFFICE, SERVSAFE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SORA SECURITY OFFICER TRAINING EMPLOYMENT READINESS TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT COUNSELING ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING THROUGH THE ARTSPACE AND SEWINGSPACE PROGRAMS FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS PARENTING, NUTRITION AND PERSONAL FINANCE CLASSESCHILDREN'S PROGRAMSHOMEFRONT RECOGNIZES THAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF HOMELESSNESS AND EXTREME POVERTY ON CHILDREN CAN BE CRIPPLING - PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY. THE HOMEFRONT ENRICHMENT AND PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR CHILDREN IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND INCLUDES FREE SERVICES SUCH AS: ATKINSON CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER WITH EARLY HEADSTART PROGRAM YEAR-ROUND TUTORING AND MENTORING THE JOY, HOPES AND DREAMS AFTER-SCHOOL AND WEEKEND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THE CHILDREN'S CHAMPION TEAM FOR ASSESSING PHYSICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES 8-WEEK SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAM A BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE TO ENSURE KIDS START SCHOOL THE RIGHT WAY YEAR-ROUND FIELD TRIPS FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENTS CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAY PRESENTS - OVER 3,000 CHILDREN RECEIVE SPECIFIC PERSONAL GIFTS.EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRYHOMEFRONT PREPARES AND PROVIDES FOOD BAGS FOR HUNGRY FAMILIES IN MERCER COUNTY. ANYONE IN NEED CAN COME TO HOMEFRONT AND RECEIVE A FOOD BAG. OVER 49,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE FED THIS YEAR AND OVER 2,300 FAMILIES RECEIVE CHRISTMAS AND THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS EACH YEAR.

HOUSINGIT BECAME CLEAR TO HOMEFRONT THAT PROVIDING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ALONE ONLY ADDRESSED ONE SIDE OF THE CRISIS FACED BY THE HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES OF MERCER COUNTY. WITHOUT ACCESS TO SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE CAN BE NO HOME. HOMEFRONT IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE SERVICE-ENRICHED HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES AS WELL AS TO THE PROVISION OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, WHERE FAMILIES CAN BUILD THEIR SKILLS AS THEY PREPARE TO MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.TRADITIONAL HOUSINGHOMEFRONT'S PROGRAMS PROVIDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WHICH FOCUSES ON EACH FAMILY ON BECOMING INDEPENDENT: TRANSITIONAL LIVING COMMITMENT 3 - 6 MONTHS OF HOUSING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES RAPID REHOUSING FAMILIES RECEIVE ONGOING RENT SUBSIDIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.PERMANENT SERVICE-ENRICHED AFFORDABLE HOUSINGHOMEFRONT PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OVER 125 WORKING POOR FAMILIES LIVING IN PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MERCER COUNTY (RENTS ARE NO MORE THAN 30% OF INCOME).