Monarch Housing’s Blog!

In our travels this week we were able to attend numerous meetings. Among the meetings were Homeless Network Planning Committee in Camden and the Hudson Alliance to End Homelessness. Both groups have ten year plans to end homelessness and are actively working to develop and implement innovative strategies to end homelessness.

At this week’s meetings both group had taken the initiative to develop an analysis of the January 29, 2008, Point in Time Count from the preliminary data they had been provided by the Corporation for Supportive Housing. We were impressed with both efforts as they clearly described the homeless within their communities. This information permitted the members of the groups and others to see patterns and clarify need. For example on the last page of Camden’s report they detailed observations from the data that encouraged a healthy discussion about the data. We commend both groups for the initiative.

To view the Homeless Network Planning Committee’s report on Camden’s homeless click here.

To view the overall report from the Hudson Alliance to End Homelessness click here.

To view the overall report from the Hudson Alliance to End Homelessness on the chronically homeless click here.

Talking Politics TV show is streaming reruns of their coverage of the 2007 Point in Time count in Hudson county. Rerun - If you missed it, watch our show on last year’s January Homeless Count Day. Meet some of the folks involved with helping the homeless whether through the County or private shelters. Come with us as Bob DuVal, TP’s cameraman, Tom Harrigan from PERC, a private emergency shelter, and I meet some of the homeless who live under the viaduct in Union City. Hear their stories. Get the insights on one of three private emergency shelters in HC as I talk to the Director of PERC in Union City. Many of those living in these shelters are the working poor, the minimum wage earners.

To watch the show click here.

The Jersey Journal published the following editorial today about the importance of ending homelessness.

Homelessness stats not moving, Thursday, January 31, 2008

For the homeless in Hudson County, time has stopped and the words about improving their condition are just echoes of years past.

Tuesday, there was a news conference at Grace Church Van Vorst in Jersey City. It was to coincide with Project Homeless Connect, an annual event where many Hudson County nonprofit agencies set up tables to provide services to the homeless.

Officials are saying the obvious by offering that the basic approach to ending homelessness in the county is to provide housing. County Executive Tom DeGise said that ideally, with housing, service providers can “bring them there and bring the services to them.”

At the press conference, it was noted that the county has about 300 chronic homeless and another 2,700 people who are in and out of homelessness, but enrolled in programs.

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Tags: Ending Homelessness, HUD, Hudson-County, Keys-to-Ending-Homelessness-in-Hudson-County:-Hudson-Co, Project Homeless Connect

Hudson County not only held a successful Project Homeless Connect on January 29, 2008, they also submitted their ten year plan to the community as well as to Phil Mangano from the Interagency Council on Homelessness. To read the article in the Jersey Journal click here. A copy of the full plan will be posted on this blog later this week.

These are random photos from the event. Click on anyone to see it full size. Click here to view all of the photos. To view a slide show click here.

Hudson County has found new partners in their Project Homeless Connect planning. A group of students from Weehawken High School have chosen Project Homeless Connect as one of three service initiatives to work with during the holiday season. An article in the Hudson Reporter highlights this dynamic group of students.

It’s the holiday season and there’s a group of Weehawken High School students who are making sure they are definitely in the spirit of giving.

The Peer Leadership group at the high school is comprised of approximately 40 students, half of whom are extremely active, who have donated their time and energy toward three different volunteer projects that have been taking place during the holidays. Collectively, they feel like they’re making their presence felt in the community and making a difference by assisting others in their time of need.

“It’s a great feeling,” said sophomore Veronica Nunez, one of the more active members of the Weehawken Peer Leadership. “I love making a difference and helping others. It’s why I joined Peer Leadership went I was in seventh grade. I always wanted to help others out and change things for the better.”

To read the full article click here

Where will they sleep tonight?

This article in the Hudson Reporter underscores the extent of the crisis of homelessness as cold weather arrives.

Hudson County homeless shelters near capacity in cold weather

Madeline Friedman, Reporter staff writer  11/25/2007
 
As the temperatures drop, the county’s three main homeless shelters are starting to feel the cold-weather crunch.

The three shelters - Palisades Emergency Residence Coalition in Union City, the Hoboken Homeless Shelter, and St. Lucy’s in Jersey City - have been operating at or near capacity on most nights, shelter workers said. The three shelters have, respectively, 40, 50, and 80 beds per night, but there are estimated to be approximately 2,973 homeless people in the county. 

To read the full article click here.

On September 5th Hudson County held a public hearing to secure feedback from the community on “Keys to Ending Homelessness in Hudson County: Hudson County’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.” This is an important step that is the result of over a year of work by hundreds of citizens including the homeless. To read County Executive Tom DeGise’s comments on the proposed plan click here.

To read the plan click here. For more information contact Jacob A. de Lemos or Monarch Housing [Email address: rbrown #AT# monarchhousing.org - replace #AT# with @ ].

The Hudson Reporter had an article on the plan that they published on September 7th. The following is a portion of the article. To read the full article click here.

‘No one in their right mind wants to be living on the streets’

Alliance plans to end homeless problem in 10 years
Jim Hague, Reporter staff writer 

There are approximately 2,973 homeless people in Hudson County, according to a study done last year, but the county’s three shelters provide only 180 beds nightly.

It’s not a good ratio.

Initially, last fall, a consortium of non-profit groups called the Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness (HCAEH) announced that it would put together a 10-year plan to virtually end chronic homelessness in Hudson County.

This past Wednesday night, the HCAEH unveiled the 10-year plan to the general public and began a 30-day discussion period before the plan officially gets adopted by County Executive Tom DeGise and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The plan focuses largely on obtaining federal funds to build 650 units of housing, and to address health needs. 
 
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This is an article that was referred to us by Jacob A. de Lemos about the homeless crisis in Hudson County. The full article with photos can be read by clicking here.

Jim Hague, Reporter staff writer

THROUGH THE HEADSTONES - The man makes his way through the headstones at the cemetery.
 
A 27-year-old man who would only give his name as “Eduardo” says that he has no choice but to call the Grove Church Cemetery in North Bergen, near Union City, home.

Eduardo is a native of Guatemala, but he’s an illegal immigrant who says he came to this country through Mexico and Texas, arriving in North Bergen after a family friend promised him construction work.

That was in May. The job lasted one week.

With no place left to go, Eduardo has joined a handful of friends from Guatemala who now live in the cemetery.

“I have little money,” Eduardo said last week, speaking very little English. “I have no house. I have no place to go, so I stay here.”

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