An Impact 100 Jersey Coast grant for our Housing Matters program fills a gap in funding to allow us to address the housing crisis for single mothers facing financial hardship who have nowhere to turn. Our current state grant only allows us to provide housing assistance to women facing domestic or sexual violence. We must turn away the woman who has not suffered violence, but faces homelessness.

It will allow us to serve 30-50 Monmouth County women (including their children). It will provide immediate housing assistance along with personalized solutions to help single moms and their children not only return to stability, but to see them flourish.

Mercy Center is well-equipped as it has supports and resources already in place. These include a Housing Navigator, Food Pantry, SNAP enrollment, parent and youth groups, counseling, immigration help, and a middle school for girls. Our diverse, bilingual social workers will rely on these wrap-around services to develop a set of mutually agreed upon strategies and supports to meet the complex needs of each family. Our experience in doing this work has shown us that each woman’s and her children’s journey is unique and they will have our support as long as they need us.