By Clare Marie Celano
Correspondent
FREEHOLD – The Freehold Clergy Association’s Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program, now in its 12th year, continues to provide overnight emergency housing and advocacy to men in need.
The program, which was created to provide the comfort of a warm bed and a hot meal to men in need during the winter, has evolved to include advocacy services such as assistance in finding housing, employment and medical care, and other social services.
The program continues to help individuals who need a helping hand after a downturn in their lives, according to Joan Mandel, a founding member and director of social work since the program began.
Mandel, of Freehold Township, is a licensed social worker. She said the program has expanded its mission in recent years by helping men whose lives have been turned upside down move forward.
Stan Rosenthal of Holmdel is a founder of the program and a volunteer. He said the program offers a warm place to stay to men who might otherwise have to spend the night outdoors in a makeshift shelter or in no shelter at all.
The program is run by coordinator George Lowe of Howell. Mandel and Rosenthal are volunteers.
The following houses of worship are participating in the emergency shelter program on a rotating basis this winter: St. Veronica’s Roman Catholic Church, Howell; Jerseyville United Methodist Church, Howell; Hope Lutheran Church, Freehold Township; Temple Shaari Emeth, Manalapan; St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township; Grace Lutheran Church, Freehold Borough; St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Millstone Township; and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Freehold Borough.
Other houses of worship, as well as individuals, foundations and businesses, also provide assistance to help operate the program.
Men who seek shelter are screened to make certain no one is under the influence of alcohol. The men are transported from Freehold Borough to the hosting house of worship. The congregants of the hosting house of worship provide their guests with a hot evening meal, breakfast and transportation.
During the winter of 2014-15, the program provided well over 1,100 “bed nights” for 35 men in need, according to Rosenthal. The program is funded by the Freehold Clergy Association through private donations and grants.
Now, in addition to providing emergency housing, the program helps those in need access social services and navigate through the paperwork and phone calls necessary to secure food, medical care, permanent housing and employment, according to Rosenthal, who said the program costs about $18,000 annually to run.
Mandel works with each participant to help him achieve his goals.
“We want them to be in a better place when they leave us than when they arrived here,” she said. “When the gentlemen arrive, we help them assess their goals and help them to achieve those goals before they leave us. If their goals are not yet achieved, they are invited to continue working with us until those goals are accomplished. … Some things we work on are health insurance and housing, employment, mental health care and smaller goals such as clothing. … Sometimes they also ask us to help them with family reunification. When they achieve housing and become more stable they can begin to reintegrate with their family. The dynamics are very exciting.”
Mandel said the program assists some professionals who are going through hard times for a variety of reasons, including loss of employment, divorce and medical problems. She said the program has found housing for 12 men this year and jobs for others; some participants have gone back to school, a few have saved money and purchased a car, and others have reconnected with family members.
The directors would welcome donations of hygiene products (including body wipes), hats, gloves, socks, T-shirts, phone cards, snacks that can be carried (i.e., crackers with peanut butter), knapsacks and duffel bags. Gift cards to pharmacies and department stores would allow volunteers to purchase necessary items for the participants and the program.
Tax deductible donations (checks) may be sent to St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728. Make checks payable to St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church and write “Homeless Program” on the memo line. For information about donations, call Rosenthal at 908-902-0769 or Mandel at 848-459-6215.
For information about how to volunteer to assist the program, call Lowe at 732-299-4320.
