Donations to the 2024 Thanksgiving Drive from the Chinmaya Vrindavan Temple in Cranbury.
Dedicated to Eradicating Homelessness in Central New Jersey and Helping Families Break the Cycle of Poverty
By Donald Gilpin | Photos courtesy of HomeFront | Holiday cards created by HomeFront ArtSpace artists
The challenges of homelessness locally and across the country are daunting, with more people than ever, of all ages, lacking basic necessities like shelter, food, and clothing. Fewer resources are available, and the support of government funding is increasingly uncertain.
Workers at HomeFront NJ, based at their headquarters on Princeton Avenue in Lawrence Township, at their Family Campus in Ewing, at the HomeFront Treasure Trove in Hopewell, and at the Free Store in downtown Trenton all see homelessness as a solvable problem, and they are determined to take the steps necessary to solve it.
Approximately 770,000 people in the United States were homeless in 2024, an increase of 18 percent from 2023, and the number of families that were homeless increased by 39 percent, with the largest increase by age group being children under eighteen, according to a recent New York Review of Books article.
In Mercer County, services are in greater demand than ever with homelessness at record high levels since 2023, as measured by the NJ Point-in-Time Count. Homelessness in the county is up 30 percent since 2023 and up 74 percent since the end of the pandemic. On January 23, 2024, the most recent night reported by Point-in-Time, there were 934 people, including 253 children from 633 households, experiencing homelessness in Mercer County. Of those homeless Mercer County residents, 706 were in emergency shelters that night, 81 in transitional housing, and 147 identified as unsheltered.
HomeFront Chief Development Officer Meghan Cubano spoke about the obstacles to ending homelessness that have only increased since the most recent Point-in-Time numbers came out. “We’re in such an uncertain time for HomeFront families — on every front,” she said. “The lack of affordable housing in our region has reached crisis levels. Too many parents are living right on the edge, where one setback — a car repair, a missed paycheck — can unravel everything. Homelessness is rising across New Jersey, while government supports are shrinking just as the need grows.”
The Current Crisis
In September’s “HomeFront Happenings” newsletter, HomeFront Director of Housing Resources Dana Nelson-Barnes described the crisis conditions. “There are a ton of families living in motels in our area,” she said. “What’s happening is people are being charged way over fair market rent for apartments, even in areas you wouldn’t expect, and salaries didn’t catch up. Our clientele, even if they’re working two jobs, still can’t afford this rent. And if food programs are cut, that makes it even harder for people to pay their rent.”
In seeking to meet the urgent needs of families needing more assistance in the face of rising prices and declining government support, HomeFront has acquired a residential building with five apartments, which they are upgrading as a new emergency shelter serving approximately 20 families, about 60 people. As the newsletter points out, “This alarming need for additional shelter means homelessness is not moving in the right direction in our community.” For the grateful families moving in, however, the expansion of HomeFront shelter space does come at the right time.
“When families get here, we get them to that point where they can take that breath and start to focus, in a safe place, on moving out of homelessness,” said Nelson-Barnes. “Many families are stuck. Stuck in motels, which are expensive, but easier to pay for right now. Stuck doubled up with others in a space meant for one family. Or they stay in abusive relationships because they don’t want to be in a worse housing situation. But when we’re able to pull all the worry out of the picture, then they can actually focus on sustainably moving forward.”
In a recent letter to HomeFront supporters HomeFront CEO Sarah Steward wrote, “In uncertain times, one thing must remain constant: families in crisis deserve safety, dignity, and hope.”
She continued, “Every day, we wake to headlines announcing funding cuts and policy changes that threaten the most vulnerable among us. For families already living on the edge — facing homelessness, hunger, or job loss — this unpredictability can be devastating.”
And she went on to appeal for the community’s help, in the form of donations and volunteering. “But amid the uncertainty, you can be the steady hand that holds your community together,” she wrote.
Cubano also noted, “In this moment, private philanthropy has never mattered more. Every gift is a stabilizing force — a lifeline that fills the widening gaps left by public funding and helps families regain their footing.”
Donations to the 2024 Thanksgiving Drive.
A 35-Year History
HomeFront started its work in 1991 after Connie Mercer, HomeFront’s founder, was invited by a friend to visit motels around Trenton where families experiencing homelessness were being temporarily housed. She saw children and parents living “without food, without resources, and, most devastatingly, without hope,” according to HomeFront’s “Our History” at homefrontnj.org.
Mercer quickly mobilized a group of volunteers, who began delivering meals to the motel. The grassroots effort grew rapidly to address urgent needs for clothing, personal care items, and essential supplies for the parents and enriching activities for the children.
On that foundation, under Mercer’s leadership, HomeFront developed into a comprehensive social service agency dedicated to ending homelessness and breaking the cycle of poverty. In addition to its headquarters, HomeFront now welcomes hundreds of families living on its Family Campus in Ewing, and also operates a Free Store, supplying food, clothing, and basic household needs on Division Street in Trenton, and the Treasure Trove thrift store in Hopewell, “a place to find a bargain and a beacon for sharing our mission,” the website notes.
From its initial focus on providing immediate help in the form of meals and clothing, Homefront rapidly expanded to deliver a full spectrum of support services for families and individuals. HomeFront now offers about 35 different programs to help its clients.
In 2022, Mercer stepped down and Steward took the reins. HomeFront’s current strategic plan spotlights the importance of being more “upstream,” by providing services to help families avoid homelessness before it happens.
Volunteers at the 2024 HomeFront Holiday Wishes Drive.
Many Stories in the Numbers
The numbers reported for the past year at HomeFront help to tell the story of a growing organization pursuing its mission and responding powerfully to the expanding needs of its community.
More than 450 individuals, the majority children, are sheltered by HomeFront on any given night. A total of 30,676 people were supported by HomeFront through shelter, food, and other assistance last year, with 571 families receiving critical support to remain in their homes or secure new housing.
“These weren’t just services; they were lifelines — the difference between despair and opportunity,” Steward noted, adding, “When you give to Homefront, you are not just making a donation — you are making a statement. You are saying that families should not face these hardships alone. You are helping to create a community where no one is left behind.”
Other remarkable numbers include an average of about 2,130 households per month that received free groceries from HomeFront food pantries, and 17,946 meals provided to about 400 homeless people staying in area motels. There were 3,794 visits to the Free Store for household items and clothing.
HomeFront’s Wellness Center, supported by community partnerships, received 2,471 visits for illnesses, mental health support, eye screening, well-baby check-ups, and general health screenings.
There were 139 children participating in year-round educational and enrichment activities in Homefront’s Joy Hope and Dreams programming last year.
Of the clients living in HomeFront’s permanent housing 76 percent sustained or increased their income, with 228 adults gaining the skills and resources needed for academic success or meaningful employment though HomeFront’s Hire Expectations program.
And through the HomeFront Diaper Resource Center, another extraordinarily successful initiative, 1,132,522 diapers were distributed in 2024, a 17 percent increase over the previous year.
Artisan vendors at the 2024 HomeFront Holiday Market.
Holiday Happenings
As the holiday season approaches and colder weather sets in, the pace at HomeFront is accelerating. HomeFront Community Engagement Manager Gina Davio talked about upcoming projects at HomeFront.
“I feel so lucky in my job at HomeFront because I get to work with volunteers, places of worship, schools, and others who want to make a difference for local families facing poverty and homelessness,” she said. “It’s incredible to see how much people care.”
She continued, “What excites me most about the holiday season with HomeFront are our Thanksgiving and Holiday Wishes Drives. They’re tangible — through packing a Thanksgiving basket, running a food drive, sponsoring a specific child’s Holiday Wishes. It’s a chance to feel connected to a particular family or child, knowing it’ll go directly to them and that you made it possible. HomeFront families are so appreciative of everything our community does for them, and it makes their holidays brighter.”
Rising grocery prices, rents, and multiple other expenses often leave families counting pennies at the end of every month, and the community’s help can make a big difference. “Every holiday HomeFront does such an amazing job with making sure each and every kid is happy and is set for that holiday,” said one HomeFront client. “I really don’t know where I would be without HomeFront right by my side. Thank you.”
HomeFront’s Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 16-23 offers opportunities to volunteer, organize a food drive, and to learn more about the organization. The week wraps up with HomeFront’s Holiday Market on November 22 and 23 at their Lawrenceville headquarters, offering visitors the chance to shop for gifts from dozens of local artisans and vendors with all proceeds benefiting HomeFront programs.
HomeFront’s Holiday Wishes Drive is in full swing November 24 to December 9, and volunteers can make sure children’s wishes come true by sponsoring a child or children. HomeFront will provide volunteers with a specific wish list, along with more information about the child, and participants can help to brighten the season for children and their parents.
Other ways to help include organizing a new toy and gift drive, donating gift cards, and donating new toys and gifts. Donation drop-offs will take place November 24 to December 9.
Also underway and supporting HomeFront’s mission is the Treasure Trove Holiday Boutique on Broad Street in Hopewell, open Wednesday through Sunday through December 21. Featuring vintage and collectible objects, furniture, and more, the Treasure Trove is stocked with additional holiday-themed items for seasonal shoppers. It will be closed from December 22 to January 1, opening again on January 2.
“We know that life gets busy for everyone around the holidays, but through our drives there are ways to help whether you have a lot of time or a little bit of time to give back,“ said Davio. “We hope to see you through any and all of our HomeFront drives and events this season.”
Cubano described her role in acting on HomeFront’s “core beliefs”: that families deserve safe, secure housing; that all families, with the right tools, can succeed; that families need basic necessities to live a life with dignity; that personal wellness (physical, mental, and emotional) is essential to thriving families; and that children nurtured by love and support will grow on a path toward realizing life’s possibilities.
“My role at HomeFront puts me at a powerful intersection: between caring people who want to change their community and the place where generosity becomes action,” Cubano wrote in an email. “I’m deeply honored to witness that transformation every day — to see what happens when someone’s belief in hope translates into tangible impact for a family.”
She went on to highlight HomeFront’s ultimate goal and the powerful process in operation to achieve that goal. “Our mission is simple but bold: to end homelessness in Central New Jersey,” said Cubano. “That vision depends on a strong network of supporters who stand with us — now, and for the long haul. Together, we’re not only helping families stabilize and thrive; we’re building a stronger, more compassionate community for everyone.”
A View from the CEO
After three years on the job now, and another six years before that as chief operating officer at HomeFront, Steward has strong feelings about the organization and its mission in these troubled times, about the clients and the colleagues she works with every day, and the community that supports their monumental endeavor.
“Families count on HomeFront, and we’ve made a commitment to them — no matter what present or future uncertainty there might be,” she said. “Funding remains uncertain, but the need is not. More families are struggling just to get by, to have a safe place to sleep, to afford all the things their family needs and can’t go without. And for many it seems like no matter how hard they try, they just can’t make it all add up.”
She continued, “These challenges have been growing over time as rents continue to rise and basic things people need just aren’t affordable. Families just can’t afford to lose more. And we know we need to be there. And we know we will be, because we know HomeFront is made possible by our caring community.”
She went on to emphasize the extraordinary generosity of the community during the holiday season, “a time when people want to connect, they want to give back — to be part of something bigger,” and she pointed out, “At HomeFront we see and feel the holiday spirit of our community coming through our front door and Donation Center in all sorts of amazing ways. There’s such an outpouring of care and giving.”
Steward, who has been described by HomeFront founder Mercer as “the perfect addition to the HomeFront family” and an “intelligent, talented, and caring woman,” noted the importance of the Central Jersey community’s support. “The people of our Mercer County want to see this community thrive, and so many are eager to be part of something that makes that possible for families from all circumstances,” she said. “Every bit that our community contributes makes a difference.”
She discussed the HomeFront Choice Market, in partnership with local farms and fellow organizations, helping to feed nutritious foods to thousands of families free of charge. She also mentioned HomeFront’s partnership with Homes by TLC, recently breaking ground on four duplexes in Ewing, which will become eight new affordable homes, as well as the acquisition of additional HomeFront apartments for emergency housing — an important initiative to meet an urgent need, but at the same time a warning sign that there is still no end in sight to the battle against homelessness.
“Ultimately, our mission is to end homelessness in Central New Jersey,” she said. “That’s a bold statement. It can seem like it’s not feasible, especially now. But it remains our audacious goal, and it’s achievable with the support of this community.”
Visit HomeFrontNJ.org for more information about HomeFront and the best ways to donate and volunteer.
