Christie Administration Awards $400,000 Homelessness Prevention Grant to HomeFront
EWING – December 21, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — As part of the Christie Administration’s Season of Service for citizens in need, Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Ken Kobylowski today announced a $400,000 homeless prevention grant to Lawrenceville-based HomeFront. He also delivered gifts to clients for their families, toured the organization’s Family Preservation Center in Ewing and served as a judge for a “Decorate Your Door” contest.
“Today’s grant builds on Governor Christie’s efforts to help our fellow New Jerseyans in need,” Acting Commissioner Kobylowski said. “Last year, I had the pleasure of volunteering at HomeFront’s toy and food warehouse in Lawrenceville,” the Acting Commissioner said. “Today I had the honor of meeting HomeFront’s wonderful clients who will benefit from this grant and will be able to keep their families together under one roof until they get back on track. HomeFront is a key player in the fight to keep families intact and off the streets.”
The $400,000 grant to HomeFront was awarded by the Department of Community Affairs as part of 11 Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing grants totaling $3,767,448 in both state and federal funding to nonprofit organizations across the state. The grants will be used to provide temporary rental assistance and stabilization services to assist individuals and families living on the streets or in emergency shelters obtain permanent housing. The organizations can also use the grants to assist households in imminent risk of homelessness due to an eviction.
Participating in the Christie Administration’s second annual Season of Service, Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Ken Kobylowski visited HomeFront’s Family Preservation Center in Ewing to announce a $400,000 homelessness prevention grant and to volunteer for the homelessness prevention non-profit. He took a break from judging a “Decorate Your Door” contest to learn about HomeFront’s ArtSpace during a tour of the center. From left, HomeFront CEO Connie Mercer, RuthAnn Traylor, ArtSpace Director, and Sheila Addison, HomeFront Director. Kobylowski also delivered gifts to HomeFront’s client’s families.
“We are happy to partner with the state and very grateful for this grant,” said HomeFront CEO Connie Mercer. “This will help us in our mission to end homelessness in Central New Jersey and lessen the immediate pain of homelessness while assisting families to become self sufficient.”
Since its inception 20 years ago, HomeFront has worked to break the cycle of poverty and end homelessness in Central New Jersey, serving thousands of Mercer County families. In the past year alone, HomeFront helped nearly 14,000 heads of households who walked through their front door looking for help. Started by volunteers providing meals for homeless families, HomeFront has since developed a holistic array of services for clients who are homeless or at high risk of homelessness.
Today’s event is part of the Christie Administration’s second annual Season of Service. Last year, Cabinet members participated in approximately 60 events across the state — from serving meals on wheels to shut-ins and helping to serve and stock food pantries to stuffing care packages for military service members overseas and holiday letter writing to troops abroad to collecting and delivering coats to homeless shelters.
Governor Christie has emphasized the importance of community service since his inaugural in 2010. Today, approximately 1.5 million New Jerseyans contribute about 170 million hours of service each year, bringing a positive influence to neighborhoods and communities throughout the Garden State through local groups, houses of worship and civic organizations.
Contact:
Ed Rogan or Marshall McKnight (609) 292-5064
