PARSIPPANY — Members of Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany recently donated winter coats to Homeless Solutions. In addition, Ms. Lisette Rivera of Morris County’s Homeless Solutions discussed how that organization helps homeless families. Kiwanis member and former Homeless Solutions employee Nicolas Limanov organized the collection of the coats for the residents at Homeless Solutions.
The Transitional Housing Program opened in 1996 in order to give homeless families more time to work towards their goals and become self-sufficient. The facility includes ten self-contained apartments where families are provided with everything necessary for independent living (furniture, full kitchen, dishes/cooking utensils, etc.). The program requires that all adults in each family work full time with a minimum 30 hours per week. Families can reside in the program for up to eighteen months and most families obtain permanent housing and leave in less than a year. During this time, families work closely with Case Managers who provide them with supportive counseling and help link them with community resources.
Volunteers provide assistance including credit counseling, financial coaching, career
counseling, life skills workshops, tutoring for children, parties and activities for children, yoga, and more.
The program has helped over 190 Morris County families since its inception. In the past two years, twenty families have moved to permanent, affordable housing and remain housed.
The Transitional Housing Program staff stays in contact with families for up to two years after they graduate and provide follow up Case Management services in order to prevent recidivism.
Volunteer opportunities include hosting activities for children, babysitting for children while parents attend life skills workshops/case management meetings, helping to turnover apartments between move outs/ins, providing tutoring and music lessons for children.
Current needs for donations include new towels and wash cloths, new or like new lamps, new pillows, and large sized diapers (5, 6, 7 only and pull ups 2T, 3T, 4T).
Today, Homeless Solutions provides shelter for 25 homeless men, 10 homeless women, 10 families and 20 Safe Haven guests. Our guests receive services including case management, transportation to work and necessary appointments, money management and employment assistance, housing search assistance and daily living skills training. Referral services for counseling, substance abuse intervention, and prevention are also provided.
Homeless Solutions employs 49 staff, 36 full time and 13 part time. Homeless Solutions, Inc. is governed by a Board of Trustees and is incorporated as a non-profit organization in the State of New Jersey.
For more information on Homeless Solutions click here.
