For Immediate Release:
February 9, 2015
Project Homeless Connect touches many
County staff and volunteers offer goods,
services to those in need
FREEHOLD, NJ – Monmouth County’s 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, Keansburg, Long Branch, Neptune and Red Bank.
“We offered a warm coat, personal care items and a range of health services to 233 people,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the County’s Department of Human Services. “This event is so important because it not only provides people with physical items they may need, it provides them with the access to resources that are available to them.”
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.
Services were provided at six locations and through mobile outreach. The 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.
Not included in the totals are individuals who are in transitional housing, emergency housing, motels, hotels, boarding homes or other locations.
“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,” said Jeffrey Schwartz, acting director of the Department of Human Services
“Donations of time, space and resources by businesses and not-for profit groups make the Project Homeless Connect event possible,” Curley said. “Monmouth 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.”
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.
Organizations that donated time and resources for Monmouth County’s 2015 Point in Time Survey and Project Homeless Connect include:
Acelero Learning
Affordable Housing Alliance
ARC of Monmouth, Tinton Falls
Arrow Limousine Worldwide
Asbury Park Social Services
Brookdale Community College
Burlington Coat Factory
Cannon U.S.A., Inc.
Catholic Charities-Linkages
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium
CHANT – Annie Hainesworth
Child Care Resources
Community Affairs & Resource Center – Beatriz Oesterheld, Site Coordinator for Asbury Park
Community Health Law Project – Asbury Park
Covenant House
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
Dunkin Donuts
Easter Seals NJ – Adult Shelter
Family & Children’s Services
Family Promise of Monmouth County
Feed All God’s Children – Jim Benedict
Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
Frank’s Deli – Baked Goods
Freehold Area Open Door
HABcore, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity
Holiday Express
I Beseech Thee Community Development Corp.
Interfaith Neighbors, Heather Schulze and Maura Comer
Site Coordinators for Asbury Park
Investors Bank
JBJ Soul Foundation
Jersey Shore – A Team
Jersey Shore Rescue Mission
Kula Café
LADACIN Network
Lunch Break
Manna House
Marlboro Elementary School
Meal at Noon – Long Branch
Mental Health Association of Monmouth County
Meridian Health
Monmouth A-Team
Monmouth Cares
Monmouth County Department of Human Services:
Division of Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services;
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services;
Division of Social Services
Monmouth County Workforce Development
Monmouth County Buildings & Grounds – General Trade Office
Monmouth County Community Development
Monmouth County Health Department
Monmouth County Homeless System Collaborative
Monmouth County Human Services Advisory Council
Monmouth County Long Term Recovery Group
Navicore Solutions
New Beginnings Agape Christian Center
New Jersey Department of Labor-One Stop Center
New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency
New Jersey Natural Gas
180, Turning Lives Around
O.C.E.A.N, Inc.
One Warm Coat
Paul David Party Supplies
Paul M. McGuire Family Health Center
Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank
Red Bank Resource Network
Red Cross
Salvation Army, Asbury Park
Social Security Administration
Soul Kitchen in Red Bank
South Jersey Legal Services
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Community Center in Keansburg
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Freehold
The Center in Asbury Park
The City of Asbury Park
The Community YMCA
United Way of Monmouth County
VNA Health Group
Various Ministries
Veterans Affairs
Wawa
Winifred Canright House
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