Anchor House Inc

ANCHOR HOUSE INC.'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN WHERE ABUSED, RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE EMPOWERED TO SUCCEED AND THRIVE.

THE ANCHOR HOUSE SHELTER PROVIDES SAFE SHELTER AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR ABUSED, RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 12 TO 17. RESIDENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDE SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL, DENTAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE. RESIDENTS AND OUTCLIENTS RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND GROUP COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION, EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION, JOB READINESS SKILLS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND COUNSELING, TRANSPORTATION, RECREATION, AND SERVICE LINKAGES. AFTERCARE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS, AT-RISK COMMUNITY YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. A COMPONENT OF OUR SHELTER SERVICES IS OUR SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM. ALL SHELTER YOUTH ARE CHECKED IN WITH REGARDING SCHOOL SITUATIONS LIKE ATTENDANCE AND GRADES AND ALL YOUTH ARE OFFERED HOMEWORK HELP IF NEEDED. ANCHOR HOUSE EMPLOYS A SCHOOL OUTREACH COUNSELOR TO MANAGE THESE EFFORTS AND TO CONNECT WITH THE HOMELESS LIAISONS THROUGHOUT MERCER COUNTY TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING TO STUDENTS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP YOUTH IN SCHOOL AND OFF THE STREETS.

THE ANCHORAGE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL ATTENTION, PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS, THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONS SERVICES TO HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 18-21 TO ENSURE THEIR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE. THIS FISCAL YEAR, EIGHT YOUTH RESIDED IN THE PROGRAM. DISCHARGED YOUTH TRANSITIONED INTO SAFE, PERMANENT HOUSING. STAFF HELP YOUTH SECURE OTHER RESOURCES SUCH AS WRAPAROUND FUNDS FOR FURNITURE AND OTHER NECESSITIES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE.

ANCHOR LINK OUTREACH INCLUDES OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM (SOP), COC RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM, COORDINATED ENTRY FOR HOMELESS YOUTH, AND THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC). THE ANCHOR HOUSE SOP, WHICH HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MERCER COUNTY'S YOUTH HOMELESS PREVENTION EFFORTS, WORKS DIRECTLY WITH RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND STREET YOUTH AGES 14-21 IN CRISIS AND HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFULLY HELPING YOUTH LEAVE THE STREETS, REDUCE EXPLOITATION, AND IMPROVE THEIR WELL-BEING AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. RAPID REHOUSING SERVES YOUTH 18 TO 24 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE HUD ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING COUNSELING AND SEARCHES. ANCHOR HOUSE'S YOUTH COORDINATED ENTRY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM TEAM (CEAS) WORKS WITH YOUTH AGES 18-24 YEARS OF AGE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. CEAS WORKS CLOSELY WITH ALL COMMUNITY PARTNERS SERVING THIS POPULATION TO STREAMLINE AND COORDINATE THE NAVIGATION OF YOUTH THROUGH HOUSING ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICES, COMMUNITY AND STREET OUTREACH, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND CASE MANAGEMENT, AND REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THIS TEAM IS INTEGRATED INTO THE CITY OF TRENTON'S COORDINATED ENTRY AND ASSESSMENT SYSTEM UNDER THE COC. YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN OUR YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC) WHICH GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SERVICE PLANNING, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF ANCHOR HOUSE'S PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS ADVOCATE FOR RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ON A LARGER SCALE. ANCHOR HOUSE EMPLOYS A THERAPIST ONSITE AND A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COUNSELOR.