NJ Coalition to End Homelessness: Good news - the tents are coming down

Tents are coming down in the Lakewood Tent City -- and in a good way! As per the court orders with Lakewood obtained with the Coalition's support, all of the homeless residents who participated in the court-ordered census last April are now in the process of moving out of the cold woods and into apartments.  So far, more than 30 men and women who had to fight to survive in the woods are now warm indoors.  Their tents are only coming down when they are no longer needed.  The Coalition congratulates board member Jeff Wild for his dedicated efforts in securing this victory.

Here is a link to one of the many heartwarming stories of those who finally have a home of their own:

Kevin's Story

There is, however, much more work to be done. Even though Lakewood is now abiding by the law – providing housing for these unsheltered homeless - Ocean County is not. Ocean County must provide a safety net – an emergency housing center – for all the other homeless throughout Ocean County.  At the so-called “Special Response” Office of the Board of Social Services in Toms River, homeless men, women and children are still being turned away on a daily basis as “ineligible” for emergency shelter.   The Coalition has made addressing this unconscionable situation one of its top priorities for this year.  Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution towards the Coalition's remaining work using the link below.

Support the Coalition

Thanks!

Deb Ellis

NJ Coalition to End Homelessness welcomes new director

The Coalition is pleased to announce the appointment of Deb Ellis as Executive Director. Created in 2012, the statewide Coalition works to eradicate homelessness through public policy advocacy, education, and organizing. 

“The appointment of Deb Ellis is a critical part of our initiatives to end homelessness in New Jersey,” said Alison Recca-Ryan, the Coalition’s President. “Deb’s passion, extensive advocacy experience, and energetic dedication will enable the Coalition to be a leading voice for the homeless of New Jersey and ensure that homeless individuals are treated with dignity and respect.”

Deb has had a long career as a social justice advocate, both in New Jersey, where she was the Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, and on the national level. Deb’s work on behalf of the homeless began in the late 1980’s as an overnight volunteer at the Riverside Church’s shelter in NYC. Since moving to New Jersey, she has volunteered for both the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County and Toni’s Kitchen in her hometown of Montclair.

Most recently, Deb was Assistant Dean for Public Service at NYU School of Law, where she launched a new generation of lawyers into public interest law while creating innovative programs to strengthen NYU’s institutional commitment to public service. Deb’s work at NYU was recognized by a White House Champion of Change Award, the National Association for Law Placement’s Leadership and Public Service award, and the NYU Law Alumni Association Public Servic Award.

“I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve,” Ellis said. “It is a travesty that in New Jersey, with some of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., we have thousands of homeless individuals and families. It is hard to believe that some New Jersey citizens even live in tent cities, just like the Hoovervilles of the Depression era. I am looking forward to working with partner organizations in New Jersey to find innovative solutions.” 

In addition to serving as Legal Director of the ACLU of New Jersey and of NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, Deb was a staff attorney at the national ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center and a partner in a small employment discrimination law firm in Newark. She has taught at NYU and Rutgers Law Schools and at Yale College, and has spoken and published widely on social justice. Deb graduated from Yale College and NYU School of Law. Deb can be reached at debcoalition@gmail.com.

New from Jeff Wild, NJ Coalition to End Homelessness

Attorney Jeff Wild, defender of people living in Tent City and a trustee for the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness wrote the following:

On Wednesday night, with the bitter cold approaching, the City of Lakewood sent its police into Tent City and ordered the more than 80 homeless men and women shivering in the woods to shut down the wood-burning stoves they need to survive.  At least three residents were charged under Lakewood's latest municipal ordinance for the "crime" of being homeless and trying to survive.  Those charged included Monique G., who is six-months pregnant; her boyfried William B.; and even a senior citizen, 72-year-old Phyllis H.

However, with your support, we obtained an emergency Temporary Restraining Order on Friday afternoon prohibiting any effort by Lakewood to enforce the ordinance against the lawfully protected residents of Tent City until at least the next court hearing on December 6th.  Here are links to the TV story from NBC News and the newspaper story from the Asbury Park Press:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Tent-City-Eviction-in-New-Jersey/233147191

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013311220023

Just during our first year of work, the Coalition provided $108,370 in grants for Rapid Rehousing (securing immediate permanent housing for the homeless), $70,000 for Homeless Prevention (help with rent or utility arrears to prevent homelessness), $28,803 for Emergency Housing (for the most desperate individuals and families), and $200,000 for those homeless due to Hurricane Sandy. We are also becoming NJ’s leading voice in Trenton and elsewhere for the homeless and law reform to end homelessness.
Please join us now.

If you are homeless, there is no charge for you to click below and become a member of the Coalition. If you are lucky enough to have a home, please consider clicking on the link below and supporting the Coalition with a $50 annual membership.  Any business can support the homeless by becoming a member for $500 and any nonprofit can support the homeless with a $250 membership. Of course, all contributions are tax-deductible -- and every membership makes us stronger when we are there for NJ’s homeless:
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E163318&id=3

Tent City reprieve

From the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness:

This morning News 12 has reported that the Tent City in Lakewood, New Jersey would be demolished today.    Thanks to the attorney Jeff Wild, Esq., who represents the Tent City residents, the order has been overturned.

Nothing in Tent City will be demolished and no one will be fined any time soon!

Volunteers Needed for the 2013 Point-In-Time Count!

On Wednesday, January 30, 2013, there will be a state-wide effort in conducting the Annual Point-In-Time Count, which is mandated by the United States Department of Housing & Urban Development.

The Point-In-Time Count (PITC) is an unduplicated count of homeless persons held annually on a single night in January.  The count includes both sheltered homeless persons (living in emergency shelters and transitional housing) and unsheltered homeless persons (living on the streets, in tent camps, cars, and any place not fit for human habitation) and captures data on gender, household, type and subpopulations like chronically homeless persons and veterans.  In addition, programs that have beds to serve homeless persons conduct a bed inventory for their community’s housing inventory chart (HIC).  The PITC provides a snapshot of who is homeless on a given night.   Accurate data collection is key to creating this picture of homelessness on the local, state and national levels.  

The NJ Coalition to End Homeless has partnered with Counties across the state to recruit volunteers for the Annual Point-In-Time Count.
For information to help in Ocean County contact the NJ Coalition to End Homeless at
info@njcoalitionhomeless.org
Monmouth County is in  need of bilingual volunteers (Spanish speaking).  To enroll as a volunteer contact:
Judith Diaz at 732-845-2054 or Email JDiaz@co.monmouth.nj.us 

Donation opportunity to end homelessness

End of Year Giving Campaign

Greetings Friends, Feeling thankful that your home survived Hurricane Sandy?  Hurricane Sandy was very devastating to our state this year. Many homeowners lost all of their possessions. Family memories were washed away with the floodwaters. Can you imagine what would happen if you were living outdoors during the storm? What would happen if your emergency housing became flooded and you are left abandoned once again? Can you imagine living in your car during the storm and having to leave it because it was flooded? This is the case with many of our homeless neighbors. Then, there are those who were on the verge of becoming homeless are now homeless. The proverbial bottom fell out for this vulnerable population. Within the State of New Jersey there are approximately 29,011 homeless men, women, and children living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, on the streets and other places not fit for human habitation. You can make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable population – the homeless, by helping New Jersey's homeless with a end of year donation now.  Now, more than ever, we know that any of us could be homeless with just a little bad luck.  But with your tax-deductible donation, the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness can fund and advocate statewide for emergency and permanent solutions for the tens of thousands of NJ men, women and children who have no home this winter. As we approach the year's end and are deciding where to donate we ask that you support the Coalition and its mission to end homelessness across the state of New Jersey. To make your year-end donation click on the link below:  http://www.njcoalitionhomeless.org/How_to_Donate.html Sincerely, Tonya R. Bryan Executive Director

Storm updates from NJ Coalition to End Homelessness

STORM UPDATES
For those affected by the Storm recovery assistance is available by:
Calling 1-800-621-FEMA or www.disasterassistance.gov

For up to date information visit fema.gov/sandy or tweet @FEMA

For Spanish speaking constituents go to @FEMAespanol

NJ Coalition to End Homelessness

Releases Request For Proposals for Atlantic, Essex, Hudson and Ocean Counties

The New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness (the Coalition) is a statewide non-profit with one mission: to eradicate homelessness in New Jersey.  We believe in a New Jersey where no one is forced to sleep outside and where every man, woman and child lives in safe, affordable housing. The Coalition will work with its partners throughout the State until that vision becomes a reality.

Both data and outcomes have proven that the “Housing First” model is the most successful approach to ending homelessness.  Housing  First is currently endorsed by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) as a "best practice" for governments and service-agencies to use in their fight to end chronic homelessness in America[1]^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_First - cite_note-5} and has also been recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as an Evidence-based practice.[2]  Therefore, the Coalition will provide funding opportunities to organizations that are implementing this approach in three specific categories: Rapid Rehousing to provide  security and /or utility deposits to assist  in the rehousing of homeless individuals and/or families;  Homeless Emergency Fund to provide short term emergency stays for those needing temporary shelter while permanent affordable housing is secured , and;  Homeless Prevention, to pay rental arrears up to 3 months for residents who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless and have demonstrated means to resume payment of housing costs within 3 months.; to provide  to organizations that are implementing this approach.

For additional information and deadlines visit www.njcoalitionhomeless.org

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_First#cite_note-5

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_First#cite_note-5

NJ Coalition to End Homelessness Announces Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 16, 2012
 TRENTON -  The NJ Coalition to End Homelessness ("NJCEH") announced today that Tonya R. Bryan, Policy Advisor to Newark's Mayor Cory Booker, has agreed to serve as NJCEH's Executive Director.  As Mayor Booker's Policy Advisor on Homelessness, Ms. Bryan served as Co-Chair of the Essex-Newark Coalition to End Homelessness; worked on the development of the Essex-Newark Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness; and was successful in helping homeless men, women and children secure emergency shelter and affordable housing.  Ms. Bryan also served as the Director of the NEWARK NOW Family Success Center.

             NJCEH's President, Alison Recca-Ryan, announced:  "Tonya Bryan is a leader in the fight to end homelessness, and our Board of Trustees is thrilled that she has joined our coalition in its statewide mission:  to advocate, educate, organize and, if necessary, litigate for emergency and permanent solutions to homelessness. We believe in a New Jersey where no one is forced to sleep outside and where every man, woman and child lives in safe, affordable housing."   

For further information contact:

Alison Recca-Ryan, President
NJ Coalition to End Homelessness
650 South Broad Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08611areccaryan@njcoalitionhomeless.org
609-392-7820

About NJCEH

NJCEH, based in Trenton, is New Jersey's first organization dedicated to pursuing emergency and permanent solutions to homelessness throughout New Jersey, where tens of thousands of men, women and children are homeless each year.  NJCEH's nine-member Board of Trustees includes leaders from such prominent NJ organizations as the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, Homefront NJ, Monarch Housing Associates, the Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center, United Way of Hudson County, R. B. Coe Development and Consulting, LLC, and Lowenstein Sandler PC.  For details, see http://www.njcoalitionhomeless.org/Our_Board_of_Trustees.html or contact Alison Recca-Ryan, NJCEH President.