BREAKING! "Hoboken Cares" kickoff!

Some Hoboken politicians want to take food from the mouths of Marie View residents attending a dinnertime government meeting. 

Others want to use their power to feed the hungry, to  extend a loving, caring hand to help our most vulnerable residents from becoming homeless.  

Such a politician is Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.  With his Chief of Staff, John Allen, Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman, and the Mayor's Homelessness Task Force they have made it happen. Today was the launch of "Hoboken Cares."

At 11:00 AM today, the launch was attended by  NJ Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, among others.  The entire City Council was invited; Jen Giattino was the sole Councilperson who came.  

So, what is "Hoboken Cares?" It's a program that's been developed over the past several months by the Mayor's Office in conjunction with the Mayor's Homelessness Task Force.  This innovative program has (3) parts:

(1) MITIGATION 

In  partnership between the City of Hoboken, the State DCA, the County, Hoboken University Medical Center, Jersey City Medical Center, and the non-profit organization Garden State Episcopal, the City of Hoboken  has secured an annual commitment of $250,000 from the two hospitals to:

1.  fund permanent housing for the chronically homeless through a voucher system administered by the DCA.
2. and to provide supportive services to these individuals through Garden State Episcopal

Supportive services include move-in assistance, home furnishing, substance abuse recovery, physical therapy, mental health rehabilitation, and financial literacy.   This innovative funding model is the first such in New Jersey, one of a very few in the country, and the only one anywhere to include State, County, and Municipal government partnering with for-profit hospitals and non-profit charitable organizations.

(2) PREVENTION

Keeping people from becoming homeless in the first place is key to a long-term solution to ending homelessness

In spite of opposition from Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, the Bhalla Administration has negotiated to make Hoboken a home to the charitable organization Easterseals New Jersey.   Easterseals is tthe ideal organization to provide these services because they specializes in servicing individuals with the disabilities so many of the homeless suffer from.

In addition to helping those with disabilities, Easterseals focuses on workforce entry and re-rentry programs for individuals who are at risk of experiencing homelessness, especially older adults who do not have the benefit of a family network to provide financial support.  Career coaches will provide training and support, including resume writing, computer training, certification support, and job placement, and all the additional support needed to succeed in a modern workforce.

Easterseals New Jersey will take up residence in City owned space in the Harlow located at 14th & Willow-- in immediate proximity to Fox Hill, home to many Hoboken seniors who could greatly benefit from the services Easterseals provides. 

(3) COMPASSION

The City of Hoboken has secured $10,000 from MBS, the owners of the building formerly known as the YMCA to open Hoboken’s first food pantry open to all residents .  MBS has also provided, at no cost, space for its operation

• We have also partnered with the public school system to help with food drives and fundraising to support the food pantry. 
• Physical advocacy in the form of “donation meters” which will be placed at strategic locations throughout the City where many individuals experiencing homelessness gather during the day. This is to help address panhandling in that it provides an alternative for people who want give to the homeless. Proceeds will go the Hoboken Homeless Shelter and other homelessness initiatives.

The United Way will serve as the pass through entity so donated funds do not get co-mingled with City general funds. These meters have been donated to the City by IPS, a manufacturer of parking meters, and the poles on which they will be mounted were donated by Hudson Pride Center. Robust public information campaign will be lead by the Interfaith Clergy Coalition to inform residents about the donation meters

Hoboken's Homelessness Task Force which meets every other month includes the Hoboken Shelter, GSE, Hospitals, County, United Way, Interfaith Coalition, Hudson Pride, MBS, Library, and Police. 

The Mayor's Homelesnesss Task Force

This is what government can do, when government cares. 

I am truly, profoundly proud to live in a city where the powerful care about the welfare of our most vulnerable population, and do the hard work to help them, not pay lip service.

Bless all of you.