Shazia Buskens is the Community Engagement Coordinator at HomeFront, the organization we have chosen as the beneficiary of our Spring 2022 Giving Project.

Shazia recently spoke with us about HomeFront's multifarious approach to helping break the cycle of poverty.

What is HomeFront's mission?

HomeFront’s mission is to end homelessness in Central New Jersey by harnessing the caring, resources, and expertise of the community. We lessen the immediate pain of homelessness and help families become self-sufficient. We work to give our clients the skills and opportunities to ensure adequate incomes, and we work to increase the availability of adequate, affordable housing. We help homeless families advocate for themselves individually and collectively.

How did the organization get started?

It started 30 years ago when our founder Connie Mercer was made aware (by her friend Dr. Hansen, a local pediatrician) of families with children living in dilapidated conditions (brown running water, broken windows etc.) in run-down motels along the Route 1 corridor. Families and children were exposed to unhygienic conditions, lack of sufficient food, and things they shouldn't see, such as drug use and prostitution. Dr. Hansen told her to "fix it," and she did. That same evening, she and her friends made sandwiches and soup and delivered them to the motels. This turned into 400,000 meals in just a year or two, then she added clothing and other necessities and eventually a few years later incorporated as a non-profit.

How has the pandemic affected the work HomeFront does?

The pandemic has increased the need for sure. In the last two years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of physical resources we distribute (food bags, diapers, hygiene kits etc.) We have also given out a significant amount of rental assistance to keep people from being evicted and that will increase again this year as people continue to be evicted with the end of the moratorium in NJ.

Tell us about your ArtSpace and SewingSpace initiatives. Any plans to incorporate the fiber arts?

ArtSpace is a spacious studio located at the heart of HomeFront’s Family Campus. It is a non-threatening, non-judgmental environment, with a caring staff and a team of volunteers to prompt and guide them. Clients are reminded of their goals and dreams; discover content that is personal, real, and truthful; and foster a sense of joy, creativity, and exuberance. Making art is therapeutic. It is a chance to breathe, a chance to reset your system and open doors to new ways of thinking and helps clients to see themselves in new and beautiful ways. Many soft skills employers are looking for are also taught through this therapeutic program, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and sometimes teamwork, which can all transform the lives of HomeFront clients.

SewingSpace has the same goals as ArtSpace. The space provides the tools and allows our clients' creative juices to flow. There is a part-time sewing instructor that teaches skills to make items like pajamas, pillows, seasonal decor, reusable grocery totes, large totebags that can be used for just about anything. SewingSpace provides skills and training, income pride and empowerment to individuals who are working so hard to achieve self-sufficiency. ArtSpace/SewingSpace items are available for sale with 60% of proceeds going to the clients creating the items. They are usually available at Homefront events, community art shows and fairs, and by appointment at the Blue Garage Gallery at our Family Campus. 

We do have a knitting circle at SewingSpace with a volunteer knitting instructor. This was on hold during the heat of the pandemic, and we are having on-site construction, so it may not be currently active, but it takes place both at our 1880 location and at our Family Campus. The circle is a wonderful way for clients to connect with each other, share and learn a new skill, as well as complete a project from start to finish.

How can people pitch in and help Homefront?

People can run drives for our most needed items, purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist, come in and volunteer and support us financially if they are able. Here is a helpful link: https://www.homefrontnj.org/what-you-can-do/

Is there anything else you would like to share?

People should definitely be aware of HomeFront's 360-degree approach to solving the problem of poverty. HomeFront has over 35 different programs! We don't just assist our clients with shelter and the physical necessities of life. We help them achieve their goals with educational assistance, summer camps for their kids, job assistance, therapy services, and innovative programs like SewingSpace. We do our best to level the playing field and give our clients all the opportunities we can so that they may thrive, not just survive!

Be sure to visit HomeFront's website to learn more!