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News from Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison

Partner Spotlight: Volunteers Of America - Greater New York

Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison depends on and values its partnerships with local support organizations and support agencies. We are grateful to have a longstanding partnership with Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY).


Volunteering is about sacrificing some of your time to make an impact. It only takes one to make a difference. Whether that means one person, one organization, or one initiative. VOA-GNY has been working hard to ensure that the impact of generosity continues to be felt in various communities.


VOA-GNY started in 1896 with the drive and hunger to make a difference. Fast forward all these years later, VOA-GNY has grown into a wonderful organization filled with people who understand their why. The vision of

VOA-GNY is to end homelessness in the surrounding New York area by 2050. “VOA is committed” Paula Turso, Assistant Vice President, of Behavioral Health and Youth Services, an eight-year veteran of the organization.


Much of their work in Middlesex County, NJ is done with Melissa Mascolo, Director of Program Management for Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison. Melissa is also part of the VOA advisory board. The partnership has been going on for six years, starting with Imani Park. “It was a nice facility, and they were looking for a service provider,” said Paula. Later, the partnership expanded to Amandla Crossing. Melissa has been a valuable resource to VOA-GNY, especially when educating about homelessness in Middlesex County.


Janette Kazazian, Director of Behavioral Health, was introduced to Melissa and praised Melissa’s guidance in helping her learn the system. “We have developed a nice rapport over the last three years,” said Janette. “If she has clinical concerns regarding a program participant or questions about the mental health piece, she calls me. If I have questions regarding the homeless services because she has been doing it a lot longer than I have, I’ll call her.”


“One area where we see a lot of partnership between Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison (Melissa), and the case managers for Community Support Services (CSS) is around the recertification with housing,” said Janette. VOA-GNY’s biggest success was at Imani Park with a program participant. “They had a huge rent deficit due to COVID,” said Janette. Melissa and Janette’s persistence helped the resident complete an application to settle their rent ledger.” The resident was overwhelmed with the news. “I remember the program participant learning that she got this award and crying because it was a huge weight off her shoulders,” said Janette. This is who VOA-GNY is and that is the work that they do.


That level of trust and communication is important for this partnership because it helps with recommendations with the program participants. There are residents that Melissa has referred to the program who according to Janette, “are not really open,“ but Melissa asks if they can try anyway. Janette said, “We have been successful more times than not in getting the individual to explore mental healthcare.” This is something that Janette attributes to the partnership, “They see the working relationship between Melissa and myself, and my staff.”

This is partnership that goes both ways due to VOA-GNY referring clients to Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison. Janette mentioned that two program participants who have recently moved into Amandla Crossing were referred by VOA-GNY. “Participants are going somewhere they know they are going to be supported and helped,” explains Janette, “we know and trust the people there.” Basic needs, especially housing, are resources that everyone should have access to. Our Permanent Supportive Housing program is a testament to this belief. “When we look at our approaches,” Paula explains. “We really believe and support the housing first philosophy where you have to meet the program participant exactly where they are.” She believes that if people don’t have a roof over their heads, how can they think about other things?


“It has been a pleasure to work alongside Paula and Janette, who bring decades of clinical expertise to their roles,” said Melissa, “as well as the Community Support program team members who in many ways feel like a natural extension of our staff. I look forward to new and exciting opportunities to come with this invaluable partnership.”


Volunteers of America is truly an organization that values helping others and strives to continue to make a great impact in our society. That is due to the foundation that VOA-GNY built over the years. “It’s about the people,” Janette said when talking about what she believes is the most important aspect of VOA-GNY. Janette continued by saying, “Whether it is the program participants, or our co-workers, it is 110% the people. It is the people within this incredible organization who make this partnership so wonderful.”


Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison values and appreciates VOA-GNY’s work in the community. The willingness to meet people where they are is admirable and inspiring. They are the definition of what it means to be a partner, an organization with a thoughtful approach and above all things…a volunteer.

Intern Spotlight: Nethra and Shuchi

Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison is lucky to have a great partnership with Rutgers University’s School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Office of Interprofessional Programs’ Equity in Action Summer Internship (EASI) program. Each summer we host incredibly talented interns that help provide our team with extra capacity to assist our residents, as well as a meaningful experience for the Rutgers students.


This summer we hosted two EASI students, Nethra Parasuram and Shuchi Merai. Nethra and Shuchi joined us from May-July to support our Director of Program Management Melissa Mascolo with outreach to residents and programs at the Amandla Crossing and Imani Park communities.


Here is a little more about our interns and their thoughts on their experience this summer:

Nethra is a 2nd-year medical student at Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

“I have had a wonderful experience working with the residents, my teammates, and especially Melissa, our facilitator, at Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison. Before school, I worked in different clinical spaces, deepening my interest in how we can meet the diverse needs of people. Interning at Mission First Supportive Housing has been exciting, allowing me to build on my previous work and build new relationships with the residents of Imani Park and Amandla Crossing. One of my favorite memories was our educational nutrition day with Andrea Dean, the horticulturist, where we made food together with the residents. I also enjoyed the one-on-ones we did with the amazing residents – feeling the success of figuring out solutions collaboratively to accomplish their goals. I will be forever grateful for my time here and take the lessons I’ve learned as I move forward in my medical career.”

Shuchi Merai is a 5th- year pharmacy student at Rutgers University’s Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

“I did not know what to expect coming into Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison but found it to be a truly fulfilling and rewarding experience. I really enjoyed working with the residents during our one-on-one sessions, building connections and assisting with resource navigation. I found that many of the residents enjoyed simply having someone to talk to, and it was really inspiring to listen to their stories and gain an additional perspective. Engaging the residents in community activities was a fun way to educate them on various topics such as vaccine education, healthy eating, and wellness tips. Overall, learning from these residents’ experiences will give me the tools to provide the best care possible in my future pharmacy career.”


Thank you very much Nethra and Shuchi for spending the last few months with us. We wish you the best of luck in your continued studies, and hope we can continue a relationship with you in the future.

CDBG 50th Anniversary

Approaching its 50th year, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program has three main objectives. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program makes grants to organizations whose programs and services, principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons or households; prevent or eliminates blight; and/or address an urgent community need or problem.


Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison has seen firsthand how CDBG funds can be a boon to the organization, those they serve and even the wider community. In the past five years alone, Mission First has received $124,500 which supported various projects and developments at each of its two sites, Imani Park and Amandla Crossing.


“Mission First Supportive Housing has benefited from the Edison Township CDBG program since re-opening Amandla Crossing as in 2017 and Imani Park in 2018, as Permanent Supportive Housing.” said Melissa Mascolo, Director of Program Management. “Through the years these various capital needs projects have allowed for critical improvements to both Amandla Crossing and Imani Park. CDBG program funds allow Mission First to keep our buildings safe, energy efficient and beautiful,” she explained. “It is a pleasure to work with the staff at Edison Township who make the process easy to understand and who are always available to provide the appropriate guidance and technical support.”

In 2019 Mission First was awarded $17,000 to upgrade lighting at Imani Park.


An award of $50,000 in 2020 was originally meant for renovations at Amandla Crossing but due to the spread of COVID, Edison Township approved the repurposing the original grant to purchase and install a gazebo at Amandla Crossing to provide space for outdoor programming. Exemplifying the rapport of the relationship, the flexibility of each organization in regards to an emergent need led to the creation of an outdoor gathering space beneficial to on-site programs like the food pantry program, as well as general well-being of the resident population in unprecedented times.


The gazebo project was completed under budget but with the approval of Township administrators Mission First received permission to allocate the remaining funds for the creation of a raised bed garden, which is in process now. While a relatively small amount, the creation of a raised bed garden is impactful for residents, building community through the creation of shared goals and responsibilities and creating food security and better health outcome as a source of fresh produce, not to mention an opportunity to develop a fun, rejuvenating hobby for residents of all ages and abilities.


Most recently, Mission First was awarded $45,000 to upgrade and install security cameras at its Amandla Crossing site. Contracts have been executed and work will begin soon on another much-needed upgrade that will increase resident security and sense of community safety.


Amandla Crossing and Imani Park provide a total of 46 units of safe, affordable and permanent housing to approximately 90 individuals, combined with on-site support services where residents can access the resources they need to increase health, independence and housing stability. CDBG funding has been crucial to the growth and development of Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison but much more importantly to that of the individuals and families they serve.


We are grateful for their partnership and wish the program another successful 50 years!

SNAPSHOTS: Events in Edison

We have great things planned for the end of the year holidays as well! Want to keep up-to-date on what's going on at Edison and Mission First's other work? Follow us on social media:

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Support Our Residents

Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison provides permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families in Middlesex County. Our on-site support services offer our residents access to the resources they need to increase health, independence and housing stability. When you make a donation to Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison, you are helping to ensure that residents have the supports they need to remain successfully housed, get back on their feet and live as thriving members of the community. Your support means so much! 


Donate online by clicking below or by mail to Melissa Mascolo, Supportive Housing: Edison, c/o Amandla Crossing, 100 Mitch Snyder Drive, Edison, NJ 08837.

DONATE NOW!

Other Ways to Support Our Residents

Do you want to do more than make a donation?

Here are some other great ways for you to help:

  • Help secure a matching gift from your employer.
  • Host a fundraising event and donate the proceeds to Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison.
  • Host an essential items supply drive.
  • Introduce your friends, family and colleagues to Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison and encourage them to give.


Do you have ideas you’d like to discuss? Give us a call! We’d love to work with you. For more information, please contact:

Questions about Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison?

Melissa Mascolo, Director or Program Management - New Jersey

609-373-8550, mmascolo@missionfirsthousing.org