“It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas”as 14 working poor families each un-wrap one of the greatest gifts of all thisholiday season: a safe and secure home.Thanks to Homes by TLC, in partnershipwith HomeFront, the first residentialcomplex of its kind opened in Ewing,New Jersey to help families facing hardtimes achieve dignified and stable liv-ing. In stark contrast to most affordablehousing units, the Ewing complex ac-commodates large families with enoughspace for mistletoe, Christmas trees andloved ones all around.

Beyond the physical walls, each homeunwrapped comes complete with a realchance at stability in a tranquil environ-ment coupled with goodschools, green spaces, playareas, transportation and grocery stores. Families can feelproud as they walk into theirbeautiful spacious units, reinvig-orated with dignity and now ableto provide uncrowded, comfortable living for their families.

The apartment project was made possible by financial support from theDepartment of Community Affairs’HOME Community Housing Develop-ment Organization and the Shelter Support Program, Ewing Township’s

Affordable Housing Trust Fund, MercerCounty’s Housing Trust Fund, WellsFargo and their recent investmentthrough the Priority Market Program,Reed Smith, New Jersey Manufacturers

and several private contributors. HomeFront will provide job coaching

and preparedness, daycare, a food andfurniture bank as well as life skills train-ing and case management for residentsof the complex. The property, whichboasts a spacious yard, off-street park-ing and central laundry facilities, has an

apartment mix that consists of six four-bedroom units, four three-bedroomunits, three two-bedroom units and aone-bedroom unit.

Homes by TLC, which has been devel-oping and managing affordablehousing projects in partnershipwith HomeFront over the past 18years, still sees a huge unmet needfor more projects for working poorfamilies in Mercer County.

“I've never had my own bed — nevermind my own bedroom and I can finallysleep in my own room after all theseyears...” said one tenant. “I just can’t believe how beautiful this apartment is.I’ve never lived in an apartment like this— I wish my parents could see this, theywould be so proud.”

Inside: KidZone Upcoming Events Our Community Cares homeFront happenings

The Best Holiday Present Ever:New Homes for Fourteen Families

WiNTER 2018

HomeFront MatterS

a person earning New Jersey’s $8.60minimum wage would need to work

131 hours per week — or 3.3 full time jobs — to afford a two bedroom apartment.

Notes From Connie’s DeskMany years ago an editorial assured Virginia that yes, there is a Santa Claus.We beg to differ. We at HomeFront knowfor a fact that there are hundreds, if notthousands, of Santas in our community.

Again this year individuals, congregationsand corporations will exemplify the holidayspirit by making sure that homeless, andrecently homeless children and their parents share in all the things that makeChristmas special.

First of all, HomeFrontstaff will ask each childto submit a ‘wish list’ for two special presents.Their parents wouldnever be able to provide them, but ourcaring community will make sure thesewishes come true.

A few days before Christmas, parents willpick up all the necessities for a Christmasthey could otherwise only dream of. Eachfamily will receive a food basket with allthe ingredients for a special meal that

they can prepare at home. They will alsobe given a Christmas tree and, most importantly, they will pick up the presentsthat their children had wished for.

Virginia would be overwhelmed by all theSantas in our area — from the companiesand congregations to all the individualswho simply answered a child’s request. Shewould have seen small faces shine in raremoments of joy and delight, and have seen

their parents’ faces glowwith the knowledge thatthere are so many peo-ple who care aboutthem and their children.

Our community is trulyblessed with people who do, indeed, personify the spirit of the season. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

WiShliST:• Extra-large adult

winter coats

• Gifts for teenagers

• Twin or full blanketsand sheets

• Low-sugar cereal

• Children's socks andunderwear

• Vehicles (in working order)

• Large diapers and pull-ups

• Personal & femininehygiene products

• Linens and towels

To donate items or get moreinformation, contact us: getinvolved@homefrontnj.org or 609-989-9417 ext. 137.

On the CoverEach issue of HomeFront Matters features work createdby an artist in ArtSpace. Thisissue’s winter scene waspainted by Shanell.

Connie MercerHomeFront Founder and CEO

Our community isblessed with people whodo, indeed, personify the

spirit of the season.

Holiday Donation Dock ClosureIn an annual holiday miracle, our warehouse transforms into a Santa’s Workshop during December. So, due to space limitations, we limit donations. From December 3 into early January, we will be unable to accept clothing and housewares.We will accept mattresses, box springs, frames, small diningroom tables and small dressers. We will continue to provide resources to clients during this time and will reopen our donation dock early in 2019.

As you may know, once you turn 70.5 you are required to take fundsout of your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Those who meet theage requirement can transfer up to$100,000 per year directly to a chari-

table organization without paying income tax on the transaction. You also will not needto itemize your taxes in order to make an IRA charitable distribution. Reach out to yourfinancial planner to learn more about this mutually beneficial way to make a gift.

KidZone!HomeFront kids are delighted with activities that nourish their lives and give them a vision of a brighter future.

UPCOMING EVENTS

For details, visit our website:www.HomeFrontNJ.org

AmeriCorps NCCC lends a hand This fall, HomeFront got ahelping hand from a won-derful group of AmeriCorpsNCCC participants. Duringtheir six weeks with us theteam was tireless, sortingthousands of backpacks forour Back to School drive,painting, landscaping,cleaning and organizing.We are so grateful for theircommitment to service.

Diaper Challenge Continues Teams of volunteers have been hard at workin our new Diaper Resource Center. Since announcing this new program, we have morethan tripled the monthly number of diaperswe have been able to share with familiesstruggling to make ends meet. Donations are still sorely needed and always welcome –especially of larger size diapers and pull-ups.

March 29 –April 15, 2019

A r t J a m

10th annual Women’s initiative spring luncheon

Ghostly Goblins andFreaky Fun Stuff

HomeFront kids had a blast celebrat-ing the spookiest time of the year.

April 142019

Our Kid Is KingCongratulations to Esko — one of ourJoy, Hopes, and Dreams volunteerGroup Leaders — for being votedTrenton Central High School’s 2018Homecoming King.

Tutoring SupportsOur Children

As HomeFront kids dive headfirst into the new school year, we alwayshave their backs. Our comprehensive tutoring program assures that no child falls behind.

Home Is Where the Heart IsOpen House at 1880 Princeton Ave.

February 12, 2019

JANUARY 19-26, 2019A Week of Hope

Our Community Cares

PSE&G: Generously Supporting homeFront's Resource Networkimagine a bedroom without a bed, a kitchen withoutany food or a closet without any clothes. Fortunately,with partners like PSE&G to support it, our ResourceNetwork ensures that struggling families get their basicneeds met. We provide furniture, food, household items,diapers, clothing, cars and access to lawyers, mechanicsand dentists — Whatever is needed.

Shine on, SHINE! Thirty-five Hire Expectations clients have benefitted tremendouslyby having SHINE as part of their lives. SHINE is a volunteer-run program whose mission is to help HomeFront clients succeed. Theydo this by working individually with clients to identify their uniquestrengths and matching those strengths vocationally. To date, 80percent of the clients who have participated in the workshops havesecured better-paying jobs, entered training programs or have begunhigher academic pursuits. SHINE complements our Hire Expectationsprogram and truly gives each and every client holistic service.

FreeStore Update:We are excited to announce that our Restore Our FreeStore

campaign has been a major success! With your help, we raised therequired cash match to be eligible for $300,000 in government

funds for the restoration of the FreeStore, our well stocked retailspace downtown where families in need can directly access the

clothing, appliances, housewares and linens that are so generouslydonated to HomeFront. We are planning for renovations to begin

in early 2019 and we look forward to showing off our new accessible, energy-efficient and enlarged FreeStore later in the year.

What makes us tick? You do! From our verybeginning, our volunteers and donors havebeen and continue to be our heart and soul.Here are just a few wonderful examples ofwhat happens when our community steps in.

Furnish the Future helps clients create livable homes.

Donated cars help parents get to work and get theirkids to activities.

ShiNE volunteers Jennifer Wilson, Jeanne Besser and Amy lustig

Volunteers from Johnson & Johnson help at the Diaper Resource Center.

Clients shop the FreeStore for gently used clothing.

Please come visit the HomeFront Family Campus!Contact Liza Peck at LizaP@homefrontnj.org toschedule a tour.

HomeFront Happenings

Year in Review

Busting Myths About Homelessness• In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people are home-less every night, and 1.35 million are children.*

• Over 60% of HomeFront families have at least oneadult working 40 hours per week.

• Providing housing to a homeless person is 3x less expensive than having them remain homeless.**

SOURCES: *Open Door Mission **Vox.com 2015

Celebrate your Birthday With a Facebook Fundraiser!

A small Facebook feature is doing a lot of good – and it’sa virtually effortless way to help HomeFront families.Birthday fundraisers, in which users can request that theirfriends donate to a cause for their birthday, have raisedover $300 million for more than 750,000 nonprofits sinceit started in 2017. It’s easy to do, and you can pick Home-Front as the charity you’re asking your Facebook friendsto support.

Thank you for thinking of us. And happy birthday!

Artful Collaboration Brings 25 Years of Creativity, Joy and Love to Kids in NeedMore than two decades ago, when swarms of bewildered,disillusioned and grief-stricken homeless kids lived in grimmotel rooms along the Route 1 corridor, HomeFront volun-teers often struggled to just get food to them.

Consumed with despair and confusion, these kids criedfor healing and longed for a path out of hopelessness. Thetruth is they needed morethan just food alone, theyyearned for an outlet ofhope. With deep concern,Anne Reeves from TheArts Council of Princetonreached out to Home-Front with an inspirationalvision to use art as a catalyst to evoke the dignity and fervor thatthese kids so desperatelyneeded. It began with one Thursday night of arts instruction, and thenanother and another. Itwas amazing to see kids, once depressed, being completely transformed by the power of art.

Every Thursday was an adventure and a chance to create something new in their lives. From the first Arts-Exchange 25 years ago to the present, this partnership between The Arts Council of Princeton and HomeFront continues to provide weekly, year-round arts instruction to children with families currently living in transient circumstances. November 29, 2018, marks the official 25th anniversary of the very first ArtsExchange in 1993.

families with 173 children lived in HomeFront’s permanent, affordable, service-enriched housing.

families with 339 children received intensive supportand were sheltered with dignity at our Family Campusand in our FreshStart housing program.

families furnished their new homes with beds, bureaus, tables and couches through our Furnish theFuture program.

visits were made to our FreeStore to obtain necessaryhousehold items and clothes free of charge.

children made memories to grow on in our year-roundJoy, Hopes, & Dreams programming of educationaland enrichment activities.

volunteers worked over 52,000 hours

homeless or at-risk kids attended our eight week glorious summer camp.

long-term unemployed clients were successfullyplaced in jobs.

families received emergency housing assistance tokeep them in their homes or to pay security depositsto acquire decent housing.

127

230

492

3,900+

406

1,600+116

73

423

In the past year at HomeFront:

1880 Princeton Ave., lawrenceville, NJ 08648

(609) 989-9417 www.homefrontnj.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDTrenton, NJ

Permit No. 1367

Help Us Save!If you’d like to receive HomeFront Mattersonline, let us knowand we’ll add you to our paperless list. Contact homefront@homefrontnj.org

No one is uselessin this worldwho lightens theburdens of another.

–Charles DiCkeNs

We wish each of you the kind of holidays that will delight the child within you.

We feel your warm hand in ours everyday.

— HomeFront

“The ache for home lives in all of us,the safe place where we can go...”

— Maya Angelou

“The ache for home lives in all of us,the safe place where we can go...”

— Maya Angelou