Village of Hope Celebrates Two-year Anniversary of Transforming Lives in Bridgeton, NJ
According to Merriam Webster, the word “Hope” is defined as “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment; to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or to be true.”
Hope is exactly what Village of Hope in Bridgeton, NJ is all about.
Village of Hope is a transitional housing community for males comprised of six tiny homes, where eligible residents can live for up to 180 days at no cost, while working to create a sustainable life post-incarceration. The community is a collaborative effort between us here at the Reentry Coalition of New Jersey and our partners The Kintock Group (an agency member of the Coalition) and Gateway Community Action Partnership (Gateway CAP), with additional support from the New Jersey State Parole Board, City of Bridgeton and local law enforcement and first responders.
“Without safe, stable housing, individuals reentering society post-incarceration are at a much higher risk for violating the terms of their release and reoffending – which ultimately puts them back into our prison system,” explains Kevin McHugh, Executive Director for the Reentry Coalition of New Jersey. “Village of Hope offers a creative solution to that issue – offering private spaces in a safe environment that allows individuals to focus on their future and meet their goals.”
At Village of Hope, individuals are assigned their own 100-square-foot “tiny home,” which provides them with a climate-controlled personal space while they transition back into the community post-incarceration. In addition to their personal space, Village of Hope residents have access to shared amenities that include bathroom facilities, an outdoor picnic area, community spaces equipped with WIFI, computer and TV services, and a fully stocked kitchenette and laundry area.
In addition to physical accommodations, Village of Hope residents also receive assistance navigating the reentry process from a trained professional while at the community. Kintock offers residents with access to their Transitional Services Specialist who works directly with residents onsite on a daily basis in the following areas:
- Assessment and procurement of identification (i.e. driver’s license)
- Employment placement and assistance services
- Financial and budgeting assistance
- Guidance and placement in permanent housing
- Rental assistance services
- Connection to social services and health and wellness resources
- Access to transportation services
- Procurement of supportive technology – i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc.
“Village of Hope is different from other transitional housing programs because of the physical design and layout of the community, as well as the direct access to supportive services and financial assistance that we and our partners offer those residing at the community,” explains Paul Taggines, Chief Operating Officer of The Kintock Group. “All of us partners work collaboratively together to ensure that Village of Hope is a safe place where formerly incarcerated individuals can lay the groundwork to safely reenter society while charting their own path to sustained long-term success.”
Each Village of Hope partner play a distinct role in helping residents establish themselves at the community and keep them steady on a path towards success:
- Kintock and Gateway CAP work together to provide Village of Hope residents with access to a wide variety of supportive services designed to address mental, behavioral and physical health needs, while also helping them secure employment and permanent housing. Additionally, their combined networks of community resources allow Village of Hope residents to link with additional supportive services and programming offered by other groups in the community to help keep residents on a path towards success.
- The Reentry Coalition of New Jersey provides eligible Village of Hope residents with financial housing assistance when they are ready to transition out of the community and move into permanent, stable housing.
- Mayor Kelly and the City of Bridgeton have also been extremely supportive of this program – allowing for Village of Hope to be a safe, stable space within the Bridgeton community to provide individuals with a second chance at life.
“Homelessness affects not only the City of Bridgeton, but also communities throughout New Jersey and across the United States,” said Albert B. Kelly, CCAP, President and CEO of Gateway Community Action Partnership and Mayor of Bridgeton. “The Village of Hope has been an undisputed success story here in Bridgeton in its first two years. It is providing individuals reentering society with a safe place to call home. But our support goes beyond housing; we are committed to helping them secure employment, find permanent housing, and access any additional resources they may need.
This year, Village of Hope is celebrating the 2nd anniversary of its opening and continues to be a beacon of light for those exiting the criminal justice system in New Jersey.
“We truly believe this innovative partnership is a model that can be replicated across the country,” added Mayor Kelly.
As we have seen firsthand at Village of Hope, it truly DOES take a village to ensure an individual transitioning out of the criminal justice system and back into society will succeed.
If you or someone you know is in need of transitional housing when exiting the criminal justice system, we urge you to consider Village of Hope – to learn more about the community, resident eligibility and to apply, visit: https://www.kintock.org/village-of-hope.
