Dear Friend,
As August begins and many of you start preparing your children for a return to school, Arm In Arm continues our work on the front lines, ensuring individuals and families have food on their tables and a roof overhead, both of which are critical to making certain that the children in our community are able to grow and learn. While our mission extends beyond immediate aid as we strive for long-term stability, it often begins with ensuring basic needs. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have provided food through more than 200,000 food pantry and Mobile Pantry visits and home deliveries, and assisted 1,050+ households to make rent, utility, mortgage, and security deposit payments.
The demand for our services has never been higher. United for ALICE reports a significant increase in families living below the poverty line and those classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). The cost of living has soared, yet wages have not kept pace. The actual cost of living for a family of four in Mercer County is around $73,000, far above the federal poverty level of $27,750, and 90% of the families Arm In Arm helps with housing assistance are led by single parents surviving on only one income. For these families, the struggle is real and present.
Our Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stability services made the following impact in FY24:
- Prevented eviction for 193 households by providing rental assistance
- Assisted 37 households with security deposits to obtain housing
- Helped 3 families avoid foreclosure with mortgage assistance
- Supported 103 families (240+ children) with emergency services and temporary housing in collaboration with the Trenton Board of Education’s Parent Connect Program.
We’ve also secured two new government contracts aimed at fighting homelessness— one through the Department of Community Affairs and one through the Trenton Board of Education— offering financial aid for rental arrears and security deposits (DCA), and emergency assistance/housing solutions during crises (TBOE). These contracts are a testament to our ability to combine private and public funds, while also leveraging our other programs, to maximize impact for the families we serve. For example, 25 of the families assisted through our Parent Connect Program were also connected to our housing services for: financial literacy education and rental deposits; Housing Stability Case Management; Still Standing Program for single mothers; and our Hunger Prevention Program. Our programs not only meet immediate needs but also build a foundation for lasting success.
There is real work being done, but the current economic climate demands immediate and swift action. We need your help. Please consider a gift in support of this year’s 50 Family Challenge. Johnson & Johnson has committed to matching giving up to $25,000.
Every dollar counts just as every family counts. Each family has their own story and unique circumstances, and our staff is dedicated to providing more than just financial aid—we offer them hope and the real chance for a stable future. Your generosity can transform lives, and we are grateful for your partnership in this critical mission.
Sincerely,
David R. Fox, Ph.D.
Executive Director
*To learn more and about 50 Family Challenge, please click here.*