Today was the kick off of this year’s golf classic beneficiary search! Jen, Mom, and I saw two wonderful organizations that both work toward helping the same cause: the homeless.
The first organization we visited was Covenant House, which has programs in Newark, Asbury Park and Atlantic City. This organization primarily helps 16 to 22 year-old youth. Covenant House is in need because the number of individuals aging out of foster care has increased, leaving them with nowhere to turn and left on the street. They serve 600 youth each year by housing them in their shelters. They also provide other services through their connections with other organizations, including counseling, legal advice, education and more. They also help youth find more permanent housing and help them manage their money.
The second organization we saw was Homeless Solutions. This organization helps a variety of people who have had the misfortune of becoming homeless. Many of these people are single mothers with their families. However, this is not the only group they serve. They have a shelter located in Morris County that provides families with housing for up to six months and for single women or men up to three months. At the shelter they have case workers that help get people back on their feet by helping them find a job, more permanent housing and more. Homeless Solutions also has more permanent housing available for rent for reasonable prices. They are currently filled to capacity – this shows how great this need is.
In all, it was a terrific day that we all enjoyed. It is going to be a tough decision this year! I will post more about the search in the coming days. Stay tuned!