04/12/2024
EHAP Seeks to Expand Capacity to Serve the Homeless
Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program Inc. (EHAP) of Freehold hopes its plans for an expanded advocacy center in the borough will allow more people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Monmouth County to get housed and stay housed.
EHAP created a capital campaign called Safety from the Streets this past summer to raise $60,000 for an office expansion project. (EHAP has $65,000 in grants to help pay for the project, but the agency must raise the remainder in private donations to cover construction costs.) This boutique nonprofit that focuses on the most vulnerable cases in the county still needs to raise $27,000 to meet its goal.
The center will be a place in western Monmouth County where unhoused people can receive social services, safely socialize with peers, and escape harsh weather during the day. The project is needed so the agency can provide more gathering space, more stabilization services and more social workers for our growing clientele.
"At EHAP, we pride ourselves on offering comprehensive casework to support our clients in navigating the challenges of homelessness and housing insecurity," Tony Patti, the board treasurer, said. "From assisting with obtaining vital identification documents to providing rental assistance and distributing essential items such as food, clothing, and toiletries, our mission is rooted in compassion and empowerment."
Patti stressed the urgency for this vital community project.
"We are seeing unique challenges faced by community members who lack stable housing," he continued. "It is with a sense of urgency and determination that EHAP is currently undertaking this campaign to expand our advocacy center. By enhancing our facilities, we aim to increase our capacity to serve those in need and provide a safe haven for individuals striving to secure stable housing and rebuild their lives."
Last year, EHAP's social workers and volunteer caseworkers served 208 unique clients – or a total of 288 when spouses and children are included. The overwhelming majority of those clients were facing housing insecurity, which means they could not afford their rent and/or were facing eviction or needed help to search for a more affordable apartment. Others were sleeping on a friend's or relative's couch and needed employment or addiction services to get their lives back on track. Still others needed basic identification documents to begin the process of applying for safety net benefits, jobs or housing.
Joan Mandel, LSW, the executive director, said EHAP is recently experiencing an increase in clients with mental illness and addiction challenges. The agency is also serving more seniors as well as middle-aged, disabled individuals who lack support systems.
"Some are fleeing dysfunctional families with mental health and substance abuse issues," she said, "One woman told me she feels safer being homeless than living with her family."
EHAP’s clientele includes several chronically homeless senior women. Last year, the agency served 44 women between the ages of 55 and 77. Twelve of them lived in a place not fit for habitation, like a car or the streets, six couch surfed, and two stayed in motels.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that older adults comprise a fast-growing segment of the unsheltered population, with one in four adults experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The alliance projected that homelessness among older adults is expected to triple in 2030.
EHAP is grateful for contributions at all levels. The capital campaign includes exciting naming opportunities and sponsorship perks! Your tax-deductible donation can be mailed to: Nina Rizzo, director of operations, at EHAP, 41 Throckmorton St., Freehold, NJ 07728. To make a donation online, visit ehapinc.org/donate.
