We provide havens for homeless families

among interfaith houses of worship

within Somerset County. We help

homeless families plan their transition to

independence – HOMELESS NOT

HELPLESS. We connect families with

needed resources along their path to

independence.

2016

Annual

Report

http://www.ihnsc.org/

Empowering Homeless Families to Obtain and Maintain Independence

From the Executive Director Reflecting on the past year, the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County is so thankful

to all of our many loyal supporters who recognize the importance of working together on finding

a permanent solution to homelessness. We have the ability to help and give hope to homeless

families with children because of you.

Homelessness does not have a typical face and the ‘working poor’ is a growing reality across the

nation. Physical and mental health needs go unmet for families sleeping ‘couch to couch’ and in

their cars. Food security doesn’t exist and working parents who do not make a livable wage,

struggle with providing basic needs. IHNSC is dedicated to bring awareness and resources to

these families by providing a well-rounded continuum of care that supports relapse prevention.

With 90% of our families maintaining independence over the past five years after transitioning

from our emergency shelter, IHNSC continues to be a driving force in the fight against

homelessness.

With much gratitude,

Alyssa Martini, Executive Director

P.S. IHNSC is celebrating serving homeless families with children for 25 years in 2017!! Make

sure to stay connected and join us in celebrating this exciting milestone.

Staff Board of Directors Alyssa Martini, Executive Director Steve Vollers, President

Karen Donohue, Director of Volunteer Services Bill Jonat, Vice President

Ginger Torgrimsen, Case Manager Kathy Rue, Secretary

Kristana Hunter, Financial Case Manager Gary Survill, Treasurer

Elyse Schoepp, Mental Health Counselor Sharon Howard

Roberta Snead, Weekend Support Staff Dottie Driscoll

Richard Freeman, Van Driver Christine Petrane

Lee Matyola

Donna Delayo

Bob Foley

Kate Sarles

Stephanie Nolan

Dr. Angela Toia

Our 2016 Program Impact IHNSC’s continuum of care provides structured services and basic needs that support the

prevention of relapse back into homelessness. This well-rounded program approach accesses

clients to crucial supports that enable stability and independence, while creating client

empowerment.

Emergency Shelter provides nights, meals, basic needs and intensive case management, financial counseling, mental health evaluation and recommendation to families who are

homeless.

10 families served

30 individuals, 18 children

8 single mothers, 2 intact couples

6 adults secured employment while in shelter

6 families moved to independent housing

690 hours of case management

Sunrise House accommodates families who were previously in our Emergency Shelter and have

prepared themselves for independence but find themselves stalled by the search for permanent

affordable housing. Individualized case plans are continued and basic needs are subsidized as

families work on educational and employment goals.

2 families served

3 adults, 1 child

2 adults employed

1 child attended Daycare Plus

615 hours of case management

Phase 2 offers 18 months of continuing case management

and support to clients who have left our Emergency Shelter

and/or Sunrise House for their own independent housing.

This fills an identified gap in services to support previously

homeless families to prevent relapse(s) into homelessness. 21 families served 51 individuals, 29 children

18 single mothers

12 adults employed

715 hours of case management

Phase 3 provides permanent affordable housing with Section 8 rental assistance to previous

clients of the Emergency Shelter. This program is a response to the long waiting lists for state

rental assistance that can prevent families from moving to their own apartment.

2 families served

5 individuals, 3 children

2 adults employed

160 hours of case management

Sound Minds provides all clients, juvenile and adult, with psychiatric evaluation, mental health

counseling, and crisis intervention. Our counselor provides direct services to clients at our host

congregations, as well as in-home counseling.

109 individuals, 61 children accessed to mental health services

29 individuals, 14 children participated in consistent counseling

4 families participated in family therapy

No mental health hospitalizations

Rapid Re-housing serves clients who achieved independent housing. Clients receive Homeless

Trust Fund assistance and are considered at high risk of relapse back into homelessness. Clients

receive individualized case management, financial counseling, basic needs support and mental

health services.

11 families served

25 individuals, 13 children

12 adults employed

520 hours of case management

Daycare Plus provides children, ages infant through age 5,

to licensed and age appropriate child care and preschool at the

Somerville YMCA at no cost to the parent(s). We offer this

program service in partnership with the YMCA who provides

50% of tuition scholarships to our referred children. IHNSC

funds the additional 50% while offering case management

and transportation to and from the program.

1 child enrolled in daycare

1 child completed program

Resources 2,495 nights of

shelter provided

7,305 meals

served

2016 Volunteer Impact

L

In 2016, you responded to the

needs of 44 families!

109 individuals,

61 children

Shelter 17 host

congregations

14 support

congregations

Time Over 1,000 volunteers

9,469 hours of volunteering

All donated

food and basic

need supplies

were used for

every IHNSC

family

Immaculate Conception Church

Johnson & Johnson Somerset County

Companies Fund

Kelly, Sidney

Lamington Presbyterian Church

Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church

Liquid Church

Martinsville United Methodist Church

Middlebush Reformed Church

North Branch Reformed Church

Peapack Reformed Church

Pluckemin Presbyterian Church

Rotary Club of Branchburg

Somerset County Community

Development Block Grant

Somerset County Department of

Human Services

Somerset County Homeless Trust

Fund

St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church

St. Joseph’s Parish

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

St. Matthias Catholic Church

The Arthur E. and Elizabeth B. Roswell

Foundation

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

The Merck Company Foundation

The Provident Bank Foundation

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Bernard

Clairvaux

The Wawa Foundation, Inc.

TRUiST Employee Giving

United Reformed Church of Somerville

United Way of Central Jersey Employee Giving

United Way of Northern New Jersey

United Way of Portland Employee Giving

Vollers Family

YourCause Employee Giving

Our Learning Opportunites IHNSC feels strongly that it is important to engage interns in learning opportunities and provide them

with a well-rounded approach to social work, as well as other volunteer opportunities. In 2016, IHNSC

participated in supervising 12 students.

Social Work Interns

Senior Field Work

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

One student completed 450 hours of field work and graduated with a Bachelor in Social Work degree

(BSW). One student completed 250 hours of field work and will complete the internship in 2017.

Junior Field Work

Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ

One student completed 80 hours of field work and successfully transitioned to senior year towards a

BSW.

Reach Senior Option Program

Hillsborough High School, Hillsborough, NJ

Two students each completed a semester working as mentors to IHNSC emergency shelter children, as

well as working on social work projects.

Service Learning

Raritan Valley Community College, Branchburg, NJ

Seven students participated in service learning opportunities by volunteering time at host congregations.

Our 2016 Major Financial Contributors

Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church

Benjamin, Dottie

Bishop Janes United Methodist Church

Bradley Gardens Reformed Church

Catholic Solidarity Team Rice Bowl Grant

Congregational Church of Bound Brook

Evangel Chapel

Frazier, Norman

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Greenhorn, Ellen

Hazen, Phyllis

Hillsborough Reformed Church

Our Client Inspiration 2016 has proven to be a year of perseverance and resiliency for many of our clients. One client

who has truly used this year for self-reflection and action is Jasmine. Having previously

completed goals in the Emergency Shelter, Jasmine transitioned to Sunrise House in order to take

advantage of the “stepping stone” approach towards affordable housing that this program offers.

Jasmine became employed full-time as a security guard and enrolled in a full-time surgical

technician certification program. Jasmine’s son, Tyshawn, attended our Daycare Plus Program at

the Somerville YMCA and started kindergarten as a well-prepared student. While finding a

healthy life balance between employment,

education and family, Jasmine is working her way

towards independence. Participation in case

management and financial counseling remain

a priority, as Jasmine continues to use new and

learned life skills that will help her find and

maintain independent housing. Jasmine continues

to be an inspiration to staff and reminds us how

important it is to provide the programs that we do.

Stay connected in 2017 as Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset

County celebrates serving homeless families with children for 25 years!

Please join in our celebration as we continue to invest in the lives of

homeless families in Somerset County.

Celebrating 25 years of service in 2017!

ihnsc.org Contact Us:

(908) 704-1920 phone

(908) 864-0967 fax

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