Your leadership generosity will help parents break the cycle of poverty, help children embrace the joys of childhood and inspire others to support this incredible program.  We are here every step of the way for our families and with your partnership, we will not let them down. 

Philanthropic dollars will help defray the $44,765 it costs per family to complete our program (this number is based on an 11-month stay).  Your gift will be used to:

• Subsidize rent allowing the families to never pay more than 30% of their gross income.
• Pay utilities in the apartment (e.g. heat, A/C, electricity, gas, water).
• Subsidize childcare so that the children receive quality, reliable care, and parents can maintain employment.
• Provide van transportation for the family to and from public transportation hubs, work sites, and daycare centers.
• Support intensive, personalized staffing by highly skilled, experienced professionals including a case manager, employment & housing specialist, child advocate, program manager, and onsite residential support staff.
• Maintain a safe and supportive home including a supervised setting with 10 furnished two-bedroom apartments located in a semi-wooded, suburban neighborhood.
• Support a structured Life Skills curriculum including courses in financial education, parenting, health and nutrition, healthy relationships, tenants’ rights, homeownership, legal matters, career advancement, credit counseling, and more. Childcare is also provided so parents can participate.

• Periodic updates via email regarding your sponsored family. Please note, in cases where the family’s safety could be jeopardized this may not be possible.
• Formal recognition on display at THP and acknowledgment on our website and in our Annual Report.
• Optional opportunities to volunteer in ways that will directly help your sponsored family (e.g. tutoring, babysitting, mentoring, moving, guidance for new experiences like first time car buying, college preparation for youth, new careers, and many other opportunities).
• Optional opportunities to help when your sponsored family moves to permanent housing (e.g. be part of moving team, help equip the home with donated furnishings and assist with assembly, and/or be part of the “Welcome Home” celebration by collecting and assembling a basket of basic food pantry items, kitchen supplies, items for children to present to the family on moving day).

“We have been supporting Homeless Solutions for almost 20 years and have witnessed firsthand the impact they have made in our community.  We are long-time supporters of the Transitional Housing Program and have made a 5-year pledge to continue our Family Angel Network commitment.

What makes this program so special is that it provides housing for families and so much more!  Educational programs like financial literacy and counseling help give parents the tools they need to succeed.  This program is a true testament to HSI’s mission of a hand up not a hand out and the success rate of the participants is truly amazing.  It is our hope that others will be inspired to join us in helping individuals and families gain independence and reestablish themselves in our community.”

-Art and Ann Corwin

(Pictured from left to right are the Corwins with Shannon Muti, HSI Director of Programs & Services and Stephanie Cicale, HSI Chief Development Officer)

“One of the things that attracted us to Homeless Solutions was its philosophy of “a hand up, not a handout“. The transitional housing program epitomizes that ideal. None of us would refuse to reach our hand out to help a drowning person struggling to survive. In like manner, the families in the transitional housing program are struggling to make their lives better.  They just need a helping hand. Helping those who are working hard to transition from homelessness to a stable household is not charity. It is our duty to our fellow human beings.  This is the work that Homeless Solutions does every day. We are proud to lend our helping hand.”

- Pattie and Mike Gayda

Kate & Colleen Bondy

Michael & Pattie Gayda

The Hampshire Companies

Gates & Mary Ellen Hawn

Sandy Jaffe

Santander Bank

Linda Stamato

Friends of THP:

The Corwin Family Foundation

The Welcome Home Project Benefits THP Families

HSI is fortunate to have been the beneficiary of some spectacular Scout service projects, including our most recent donation from local Girl Scout Angelina Galiano. Angelina, a junior at Mendham High School, created the Welcome Home Project to complete her Gold Award.

The basis of the project was a donation drive of a specific list of kitchen necessities to fill 10 “welcome boxes” for families entering our Transitional Housing Program (THP). The boxes contained kitchen items such as dishes, pots and utensils – every day items we wouldn’t think twice about having to buy when moving into a new home, but would be hard for families to afford coming from the shelter. Angelina’s hope is that these boxes will relieve some of the financial burden of families as they transition from communal living to an apartment at THP. She also added a personal touch to each box by including a homemade blanket that she made herself. The best part? Once these families move on from THP, they can take these supplies with them to their new home.

Thank you, Angelina for all your hard work in ensuring our THP families have a helpful surprise as they continue their journey!

If you’d like to help provide welcome boxes for our THP families, please contact TamalaReynolds@hsinj.org.