Project Gatekeeper

The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless serves approximately 2,500 people annually through Project Gatekeeper, our advocacy services.  Advocacy involves emergency case management,  which provides clients with an assessment of what services are available to them and how to acquire assistance.  If a client is denied services from a provider or social service agency, the Project Gatekeeper advocate will help the individual navigate the appeal process in order to obtain necessary services.  Clients are taught the COPE (Clarify problem, Organize information, Present problem, Evaluate results) method of problem-solving so that they learn to be independent and to self-advocate.

In the housing search component of our advocacy services, our advocates help to match available housing with clients looking for housing.  This service includes tenant training classes that instruct on how to conduct an apartment search, how to negotiate with a landlord, how to read a lease, how to inspect a property, as well as budgeting, minor home repairs and tenant’s rights and responsibilities.  Because the Coalition develops and maintains relationships with local landlords, we are effective in matching our clients to available apartments in the community.  However, when necessary our advocacy services include emergency shelter and rental assistance.  In 2008 the Coalition provided rental assistance to nearly 200 households.

Additionally, community education classes are provided to educate clients and interested members of the community on such issues as the Work First New Jersey regulations, Emergency Assistance, food stamps, immigration, Medicaid, etc.  Currently this program serves over 500 people annually.

In the winter of 2003-2004, the Coalition was able to organize and coordinate a group of concerned churches in order to create Operation Warm Heart to address the needs of the street homeless, particularly in harsh winter weather.  Each night through the cold winter months  one of our partner churches provides hospitality, a warm meal and a place to sleep for up to fourteen guests.  The Coalition provides staff supervision, transportation, and access to our other Project Gatekeeper advocacy services.   Each winter we serve well over one hundred individuals in Operation Warm Heart, and have been able to effect lasting changes in many lives.  We provide intensive case management in order to move clients from the streets to more traditional shelter, with the goal of permanent housing with social supports.