February 17, 2016
Ending Family Homelessness: What works and What Doesn’t
Connie Mercer
Founder and Director, HomeFront
Ending Family Homelessness: What works and What Doesn’t
Connie Mercer
Founder and Director, HomeFront
Minutes of the 20th Meeting of the 74th Year
President Leach called the meeting to order at 10:15a.m. There were 96 in attendance. The invocation was led by Joan Fleming and the minutes for the previous meeting were read by Helen Hamilton. Four members introduced guests: Brown Elmes, Ashok Kapoor, a nominee for membership; BF Graham, Margee Harper; Mary Reath, Henry Reath; John Kelsey, Mark Durand, a nominee for membership.
Nancy Beck introduced Connie Mercer, the founder, president and director of HomeFront, an organization that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Before discussing details about HomeFront, Ms. Mercer acknowledged the strength of caring and commitment from the Princeton community, which make all of HomeFront’s work possible. She made specific reference to the many in the Old Guard who have supported HomeFront.
When she returned home to Princeton after doing social work in Illinois, she was exposed to the conditions in which the local homeless lived, often in rundown motels without adequate space, food and little, if any, support to help people turn their lives around. This recognition of the homeless problem so close to her home began the journey that started with bringing meals to those motels and has become the HomeFront of today.
She emphasized the diverse causes of homelessness, ranging from short-term emergencies to long-term poverty, mental illness, domestic violence and other chronic problems. Those diverse causes mean that the typical “one size fits all” approach will not work. With that recognition, Ms. Mercer began shaping HomeFront into an organization that offers a range of services tailored to fit the needs of its clients. The most recent development is the opening of the HomeFront Family Campus, near the Mercer County Airport. The building has 38 residential rooms suitable for families. Typically, those in need are women with families. But men with families are not immune to homelessness and the new facility provides a section for them. Additionally, there is a library, a computer center for children and adults, 24-hour childcare for working parents, a health clinic, a teaching kitchen and more. In order for residents to avail themselves of other social services, HomeFront has a suite of offices dedicated to other county-based social service organizations, including the Mercer County Board of Social Services, the local welfare office, Womenspace, Family Guidance and Catholic Charities.
In addition to the new family campus, HomeFront provides longer-term transitional housing and about 100 units of permanent very low income housing, including donated home furnishings. They provide Tools for Self Sufficiency, including education, high school equivalency, career counseling and courses in many life skills. They continue to provide food for the hungry (over 1,000 bags of free food a month). Children also benefit from many educational and enrichment programs. These programs bring joy to lives that might otherwise be without it.
In concluding her presentation she provided some statistics on the scope of the needs of the poor and homeless. Last year alone, HomeFront answered over 16,000 cries for help with shelter, support and resources. More than 50 percent of parents who come for help are working at least 40 hours a week. As a last distressing statistic, Ms. Mercer said that the average age of a homeless person in the United States is 7 years old. She emphasized that as government support for social service programs declines the community must step forward.
Throughout her presentation she told stories of despair and hope and showed us dramatic photographs of the horrible conditions that inspired her to do this work and pictures of what HomeFront has been able to create in the way of safe housing, education and, above all, hope. Many of the audience were moved by her presentation.
Respectfully submitted,
William K. Wakefield
Nancy Beck introduced Connie Mercer, the founder, president and director of HomeFront, an organization that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Before discussing details about HomeFront, Ms. Mercer acknowledged the strength of caring and commitment from the Princeton community, which make all of HomeFront’s work possible. She made specific reference to the many in the Old Guard who have supported HomeFront.
When she returned home to Princeton after doing social work in Illinois, she was exposed to the conditions in which the local homeless lived, often in rundown motels without adequate space, food and little, if any, support to help people turn their lives around. This recognition of the homeless problem so close to her home began the journey that started with bringing meals to those motels and has become the HomeFront of today.
She emphasized the diverse causes of homelessness, ranging from short-term emergencies to long-term poverty, mental illness, domestic violence and other chronic problems. Those diverse causes mean that the typical “one size fits all” approach will not work. With that recognition, Ms. Mercer began shaping HomeFront into an organization that offers a range of services tailored to fit the needs of its clients. The most recent development is the opening of the HomeFront Family Campus, near the Mercer County Airport. The building has 38 residential rooms suitable for families. Typically, those in need are women with families. But men with families are not immune to homelessness and the new facility provides a section for them. Additionally, there is a library, a computer center for children and adults, 24-hour childcare for working parents, a health clinic, a teaching kitchen and more. In order for residents to avail themselves of other social services, HomeFront has a suite of offices dedicated to other county-based social service organizations, including the Mercer County Board of Social Services, the local welfare office, Womenspace, Family Guidance and Catholic Charities.
In addition to the new family campus, HomeFront provides longer-term transitional housing and about 100 units of permanent very low income housing, including donated home furnishings. They provide Tools for Self Sufficiency, including education, high school equivalency, career counseling and courses in many life skills. They continue to provide food for the hungry (over 1,000 bags of free food a month). Children also benefit from many educational and enrichment programs. These programs bring joy to lives that might otherwise be without it.
In concluding her presentation she provided some statistics on the scope of the needs of the poor and homeless. Last year alone, HomeFront answered over 16,000 cries for help with shelter, support and resources. More than 50 percent of parents who come for help are working at least 40 hours a week. As a last distressing statistic, Ms. Mercer said that the average age of a homeless person in the United States is 7 years old. She emphasized that as government support for social service programs declines the community must step forward.
Throughout her presentation she told stories of despair and hope and showed us dramatic photographs of the horrible conditions that inspired her to do this work and pictures of what HomeFront has been able to create in the way of safe housing, education and, above all, hope. Many of the audience were moved by her presentation.
Respectfully submitted,
William K. Wakefield