\u201cWe offered a warm coat, personal care items and a range of health services to people,\u201d said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the County\u2019s Department of Human Services. \u201cCoats, blankets and hot beverage were important and needed, but we also wanted to make sure that each person who needs and wants assistance is being helped.\u201d<\/p>\n
Project Homeless Connect is the umbrella name for a nationwide effort to bring attention to efforts to end homelessness. People without a permanent residence or who are at risk of being homeless were encouraged to participate. Attendees completed a very brief survey form before being provided food, clothing, free health screenings, employment resources and other services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year we provided services to 196 individuals at the three locations,\u201d Curley said. \u201cThe purpose of Project Homeless Connect, coupled with the Point in Time survey, is to get a better idea as to who is homeless and out there somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
JBJ Soul Kitchen<\/b> participated in Project Homeless Connect for the third straight year. These counts aid communities in creating strategic plans and develop policies that deal with the homeless issues. This day enabled us, at Soul Kitchen, to put forth our product and engage those who are experiencing food insecurity issues in our work. Those who participated in Red Bank, NJ were offered a complimentary ride in a van, donated by Arrow Transportation, from Pilgrim Baptist Church to Soul Kitchen where they received hot soup and a sandwich. Soul Kitchen volunteers and staff members were on hand throughout the day to speak to those coming in and let them know how they could volunteer in exchange for a meal in the future. This year Soul Kitchen served over 100 meals to those who came in as part of Project Homeless Connect.<\/p>\n
The freezing temperatures and the snow storm on Wednesday played a role in reducing the number of folks who turned out for this annual event.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who is vulnerable and close to homelessness \u2013 especially families with younger children, need to know that there is help available,\u201d Curley said. \u201cShelter, food stamps and many other services can help improve their quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an annual, unified effort to reach people who do not have a permanent shelter,\u201d said Jeffrey Schwartz, director of the County\u2019s Division of Planning and Contracting for the Department of Human Services. \u201cWhile County staff and volunteers gathered information at designated locations, others were collecting information about people housed at other locations by various housing agencies and coordinating efforts with municipal representatives to locate unsheltered individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not included in the totals from the three locations are individuals who are in transitional housing, emergency housing, motels, hotels, boarding homes or other locations.<\/p>\n
Curley noted that the Sandy Homeowner\/Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP) is helping many potentially homeless individuals and families with a mortgage or rent subsidy as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the people displaced by Sandy were counted last year because they were being housed in motels and hotels,\u201d explained Schwartz. \u201cAnyone still displaced by Sandy should continue to be in contact with FEMA and the County\u2019s Long Term Recovery Group to maximize the resources available.\u201d<\/p>\n
The primary goal of Project Homeless Connect is to gain an accurate picture of the number of people who experience homelessness and to work toward providing them with needed services, Schwartz said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDonations of time, space and resources by businesses and not-for profit groups make the Project Homeless Connect event possible,\u201d Curley said. \u201cMonmouth County is a very caring community and we appreciate the time, talents and goods that make a positive impact in the lives of people who need these items and seek these services.\u201d<\/p>\n
The count is part of an annual point-in-time survey of the homeless population in the New Jersey. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that such a count of the homeless be done every year.<\/p>\n
Organizations that donated time and resources for Monmouth County\u2019s 2014 Point in Time Survey and Project Homeless Connect include:
\nAcelero Learning
\nAdelphia Donuts LLC
\nAffordable Housing Alliance
\nARC of Monmouth, Tinton Falls
\nArrow Limousine Worldwide
\nAsbury Park Social Services
\nBrookdale Community College
\nBurlington Coat Factory
\nCatholic Charities \u2013 Linkages
\nCentral Jersey Family Health Consortium
\nChild Care Resources
\nCohn Reznick
\nCommunity Affairs & Resource Center
\nCommunity Health Law Project \u2013 Asbury Park
\nComprehensive Emergency Assistance System (CEAS)
\nCovenant House
\nDivision of Child Protection & Permanency
\nEaster Seals NJ \u2013 Adult Shelter
\nFamily & Children\u2019s Services
\nFamily Promise of Monmouth County
\nFeed All God\u2019s Children \u2013 Jim Benedict
\nFoodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
\nFrank\u2019s Deli \u2013 Baked Goods
\nFreehold Area Open Door
\nHABcore, Inc.
\nHabitat for Humanity
\nHoliday Express
\nHowell Alliance and Schools
\nI Beseech Thee Community Development Corp.
\nInterfaith Neighbors \u2013 Nancy Flanigan, Heather Schulze and Catherine Wieczorek, Site Coordinators for Asbury Park
\nInvestors Savings Bank
\nJBJ Soul Foundation
\nJBJ Soul Kitchen<\/b>
\nJersey Shore Rescue Mission
\nJersey Shore University Medical Center
\nKula Caf\u00e9
\nLADACIN Network
\nLunch Break
\nManna House – Peggy Comfort, Site Coordinator for Freehold
\nMarlboro Elementary School
\nMonmouth A-Team
\nMonmouth Cares
\nMonmouth County Human Services Advisory Council
\nMonmouth County Department of Human Services
\n\u2022 Divisions of Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services; Mental Health and Addiction Services; Planning and Contracting and Social Services
\nMonmouth County Department of Workforce Development
\nMonmouth County Buildings & Grounds
\nMonmouth County Community Development
\nNew Beginnings Agape Christian Center
\nNew Jersey City University – Cheryl Leiningen, Assistant Professor and accelerated BSN Students, Wall NJ Campus
\nNew Jersey Department of Labor-One Stop Center
\nNew Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
\nNew Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency
\nNew Jersey Natural Gas
\nNew Jersey Youth Corps \u2013 Asbury Park
\nNovadebt, Freehold
\n180, Turning Lives Around
\nO.C.E.A.N, Inc.
\nOcean Monmouth Legal Services
\nOne Warm Coat
\nPaul David Party Supplies
\nPaul M. McGuire Family Health Center
\nPilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank
\nRed Cross
\nSalvation Army, Asbury Park
\nSigns, Sealed and Delivered
\nSocial Security Administration
\nSoleil Tans – Matawan
\nSoul Kitchen in Red Bank
\nSt. Peter\u2019s Episcopal Church
\nThe City of Asbury Park
\nUnited Way of Monmouth County
\nVNA Health Group
\nVarious Ministries
\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
\nWinifred Canright House<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
County staff and volunteers offer goods, services to those in need<\/i><\/p>\n
FREEHOLD, N.J. \u2013 Monmouth County\u2019s annual Project Homeless Connect, a one-stop event to provide various health and human services for homeless residents or those who are on in danger of becoming homeless, was held last week in Asbury Park, Freehold and Red Bank<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[31,8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n