OCEAN COUNTY – Daffodils adorn the perimeter of the unassuming grey house nestled amidst commercial businesses on Route 9 in West Creek.
The vibrant yellow blooms represent new beginnings, a fitting symbol for the non-profit that owns the building. Family Promise of the Jersey Shore aims to help struggling families grow permanent roots of their own.
Dozens of children have hopped on the swings and slid down the slide outside the house while parents sat on the back deck. The interior of the house has a friendly and warm décor with family photos of people who may not have ever crossed paths – but are on the same journey.
A kitchen and laundry room are available for families in transition. Upstairs bedrooms converted to play areas and meeting rooms provide daytime refuge to Family Promise clients. The already homeless admitted to the program will find sleeping accommodations in a location separate from the Day Center.
“Some of the people who call us have the impression that we won’t help them until they’re living in their car,” said Krista Raj, one of the group’s case managers. “We’re a resource and here to act as advocates because navigating the system is really difficult.”
Family Promise is a national organization that began in Summit, New Jersey. According to its mission statement, the goal is to “help families experiencing homelessness and economic uncertainty to achieve sustainable independence through prevention programs, advocacy and community support services.”
The local non-profit changed names recently to reflect an expansion in its service base. Formerly known as Family Promise of Southern Ocean County, the organization branched out to the entire county to offer its prevention program during COVID. As Family Promise of the Jersey Shore, the group plans to find additional host sites to house the already homeless in other parts of Ocean County.
Referrals generally come from the Ocean County Board of Social Services, which provides those in need with a list of agencies that can help them. Someone who works in Toms River or whose children attend school there may find it too expensive and time-consuming to move into temporary accommodations in Little Egg Harbor. Family Promise hopes its expansion will provide a safe haven in the northern end of the county as well.
Between its prevention program and temporary housing support, Family Promise assisted 1,700 individuals by the end of 2022.
Homelessness Prevention
Elizabeth Golla, the non-profit’s executive director, said one of the group’s goals focuses on preventing people from going through the rigors of losing housing in the first place.
Not only does the organization step in and assist people in catching up on back rent and mortgage payments, but it also ensures families are not affected by utility shutoffs by taking care of outstanding bills.
“We have paid to fix cars to make sure people can get to and from work,” added Golla. “We try to offset other costs, so they use their money to keep them housed rather than becoming homeless.”
Additional support can come in the form of food, clothing, or toiletry needs. Family Promise also dedicates much of its efforts to making life as “normal” as possible for children. This includes making sure families have access to ample school supplies, as well as Easter baskets and Christmas gifts.
Meanwhile, the monetary assistance isn’t intended to act as a Band-Aid solution. The premise is that financial aid and other associated services will help people move forward and take the edge off what might otherwise feel like an abysmal situation.
“We are not a handout, but a hand up,” stressed Golla. “We can try to help a little bit, but they (program participants) have to be able to show future affordability.”
Circumstances dictate how those signed up for Family Promise’s Prevention Program participate in requisite meetings. Options include Zoom, the library, or by telephone and feature lessons on financial budgeting, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
A Place For Families Without Homes
Family Promise arranges shelter for families courtesy of various churches within the community. A classroom or other type of room may be cleared to accommodate parents, grandparents, and children – or whomever else is considered part of the family unit.
“We have a trailer with beds, and they get pulled in,” Golla explained. “Volunteers will decorate the room and make it look like a regular bedroom and house. For example, if intake notes indicate a child loves ‘Frozen,’ we use Elsa and Anna bedsheets.”
Everything from food to clothing to toiletry items is supplied to families who move into the housing provided by Family Promise. The expectation is that clients will limit their spending to personal cell phone bills and car insurance payments.
“Right now, our host sites are from Waretown to Little Egg Harbor,” said Golla. “To become part of the program, someone either has to have reliable transportation of their own or have a friend that will drive them. I’ve had someone tell me they needed to ride their bike every day, and I was fine with that as long as they could get around for the whole time they were in the program.”
Participants in the temporary housing part of the program generally begin with 30 days of assurances they will have a roof over their heads. During that time, case managers help set and achieve goals for the immediate future. Those who use drugs or alcohol are not accepted as part of the Family Promise model. Failure to comply with the contracted rules can result in removal from the program.
Future affordability for housing acts as an essential concept as those provided services need some kind of income to get out on their own. This could include a job, Social Security benefits or a pension.
“The market has been extremely challenging when it comes to finding housing,” Golla acknowledged. “The average family is in with us for three to six months until they finally get into some kind of housing.”
Family Promise has the ability to accept four or five families at the same time. Those seeking transitional shelter from the non-profit must show evidence that they want to get out of their situation. At least one family member must be a child under the age of 18 in order to qualify for the program. Buses transport students to their previous school districts for a feeling of continuity.
A Family In Transition: Shakira, Xavier and their children
Shakira, Xavier and their children became homeless after a gas leak and rodent infestation deemed their apartment uninhabitable.
Family members initially took in the couple and their two sons and two daughters, aged 11, 7, 6 and 3. Shakira felt helpless as she continued to look for alternative housing options and learned of Family Promise from Ocean County Social Services.
“They were the only ones who called me back,” said Shakira. “The kids were still in their old school, and it was far to go back and forth from West Creek. The case manager told me the only way it would work is if we moved the kids to schools down here. I basically didn’t have any other choice.”
Shakira and her family were accepted into the Family Promise program at the end of January. Sundays are moving days as the six stay together to move on from church to church for overnight accommodations.
Some of the churches cook them meals at a set dinner hour. Other times, the family heads to the Day Center where they can sit at the table in a regular kitchen that feels like home.
Meanwhile, the quest for new living quarters hasn’t been an easy one. The family is on waiting lists for some complexes and having a difficult time finding affordable housing. Market rate rentals start at $2,300-$2,400 and even the less than optimal homes are scooped up quickly.
“Family Promise has really been here to open some doors for us,” Shakira said. “Because of them, my family and I have shelter. We have somewhere warm to stay, somewhere we can take a shower, and although it may not be ours, it feels like it is. I am so grateful for that.”
Ocean County’s Homeless
Numbers regarding the extent of homelessness may be grossly underestimated. A statewide snapshot of 2022 counts appeared in a report prepared for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. The numbers at that time estimated a total of 6,663 homeless households, many with children under age 18. Ocean County’s homeless population comprised approximately 5 percent of the state’s total count at the beginning of last year.
Homelessness is a plight that can afflict families due to an array of unpredictable and often unfortunate circumstances. For instance, the very foundation of people’s lives can be uprooted if a landlord decides to sell or loses ownership through foreclosure. Similarly, an unexpected illness or injury may force a family member out of work, and without any savings cushioning them from unforeseen expenses such as medical bills; the situation can rapidly spiral out of control.
Ocean County does not have a shelter established or run by government authorities. Code Blue shelters are available when temperatures drop. It’s left to other agencies try to help fill the void.
“One of the issues is that nobody seems to want to collaborate and work together,” shared Golla. “If we all worked together, I feel like we could better address this problem. It’s like no one wants to talk to each other because they’re competing for funding.”
“I love helping people and that we can genuinely make a difference,” Golla continued. “We desperately need to help more people and need funding to make it happen.”
Family Promise relies on grants, donations, and fundraisers in order to provide services. In addition to a small staff, many of the people who assist are volunteers.
Faith-based communities that are involved in providing temporary shelter through Family Promise include Lighthouse Alliance Community Church, St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Bayside Chapel. Ocean Community Church, Zion Lutheran Church, Lord of Lords, Manahawkin Baptist Church, Harvey Cedars Bible Conference and First United Methodist Church of Beach Haven Terrace. Each of the churches provides 2-4 weeks of temporary shelter throughout the year.
