The word "home" to most of our kids does not have any meaning. They come from dysfunctional families that often toss them out on the streets once they reach the age of 18 or even sooner. Covenant House New Jersey has served as a temporary home for these kids since 1989, providing shelter, food, clothing and a variety of programs to help them overcome their adversity and steer them onto the road to independence. It is a difficult and challenging path. But with the support, love and guidance of our staff, our kids are provided with every opportunity to put their pasts behind them, look forward to their futures and obtain a stable living environment. A home they can finally call their own.

Our "Housing Opportunities for the Motivated and Empowered (H. O. M. E)" program plays an integral part in bringing our young people to independent adult lives. Not only finding a place to live, but furnishing it as well, can be a very stressful process for our kids. Many have just obtained employment, maybe for the first time in their lives and are trying to cope with the pressures of their new environment. Without our assistance, many of our kids may fall back into the cycle of perpetual homelessness. Developed in May 2000, the H. O. M. E. program meets the challenge by assisting these young people to become self-sufficient members of the community.

The H. O. M. E. program strives to enable our youth to become acclimated to independent living by teaching life skills, providing individualized case management services and support groups. We afford our youth the opportunity to set goals for themselves and we provide assistance to them in achieving those goals. It is estimated that each participant will complete the program in 12 months; however, this varies depending on the individual.

All participants in the program must be between the ages of 18 and 22, have full time employment and actively saving 90% of their income. Each participant must also attend mandatory life skills training classes, meetings and support group sessions throughout the 12-month period. Upon obtaining an apartment, the individual must agree to open a bank account and maintain a clean and safe environment.

The staff of the H. O. M. E. program assists the participant with furnishing his/her apartment and supply the basic needs, such as dishes, towels, bed sheets, pots/pans, laundry baskets, first aid kit, etc. Home visits by staff are conducted on a regular basis to monitor the individual's progress and to offer any help or guidance. Individual counseling sessions with their primary service manager continue while the participant is in the H. O. M. E. program.

After successfully completing the program, the participant is eligible for three months of aftercare support services if needed. Aftercare support includes periodic home visits, individual counseling and attendance at peer support group meetings. The focus of the aftercare services is to ensure that the participant continues to develop a greater self-determination through job maintenance and maintaining their own apartment.