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News from Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison

Resident Spotlight: Jamie Aylward

If you met Jamie Aylward, you would find a very confident and passionate man who has big goals for hosting a radio show. However, when he first moved to Amandla Crossing, he suffered from severe social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder from his life leading up to living with Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison.


Jamie, who has been blind since birth due to Leber congenital amaurosis, and his mother had many struggles when he was growing up and found themselves homeless. In February 2018 while living in a hotel supported by social services and unsure of their future, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) – a federal program facilitated through Rutgers University designed to assist mentally ill individuals who are homeless – connected them to Mission First’s Director of Program Management Melissa Mascolo to find a permanent living situation.


“As things started to relax and my mom and I started to heal from that process, I started to become stronger as a person. Even when I would worry about things, I thought ‘look at what you and your mom went through and look how much stronger you have become’,” a sentiment that Melissa also reminds Jamie of when he is feeling down or being hard on himself.


Recently, Jamie’s mother was moved to an assisted living facility that could care for her health needs. With that Jamie had the option to stay in his apartment as a disability accommodation or move to a second floor one-bedroom apartment. Jamie took on the challenge of the upstairs apartment, further showing his growth in determination and confidence in himself.


“I am super grateful that I’m still able to remain here,” said Jamie right after transferring to a one-bedroom apartment. “I have built such an amazing community of friends and people who I would definitely consider family. I never thought I would have my own apartment and here I am.”


Now 33 years old, Jamie lives an independent life as a part-time student and member of the Honors Society at Middlesex College, studying Liberal Arts with a concentration in Communications. He is hoping to earn his associate degree in the next two years and move on to Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Jamie’s dream is to host an Indie Underground radio show where he can meet artists, interview them and explore their music, providing them with “a chance to be heard” on a larger scale.


In talking about first moving to Amandla Crossing Jamie said, “When I first got here, I was a scared soon-to-be college freshman, and since then I have learned to be more confident and do more things on my own.”


Jamie has taken advantage of an array of supportive programs offered through Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison to help him navigate his life. “It is important to utilize the services in any way you can,” said Jamie.


Melissa connected Jamie with the Joseph Kohn Training Center (JKTC) which offers people who are blind and visually impaired an opportunity to learn adaptive life skills. The program helped Jamie with independence and mobility, and “the best part of that experience was that at the end of the program there was an optional work experience program, and I was very fortunate to work for Melissa.” Jamie worked at Imani Park getting coffee for staff, distributing resident memos, shredding paper and more. “It was really awesome to give back to (Melissa) for all the help she has given to me, getting me that far.”


Together, Melissa helped Jamie with his college paperwork, which was not an easy task during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They worked on submitting the FAFSA, researching the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and many other documents. To further his accessibility at school, Jamie works with a mobility instructor from the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired who walks him around Middlesex College before the semester begins to ensure Jamie can navigate the campus and get to class independently.


Jamie also takes advantage of our connections to Volunteers of America for help with his social security and other important documents, the Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care for his mental health services, and NJ ACCESSLink to help him get around town. He also attends our Community Meetings and holiday events to connect and engage with other residents.


Another meaningful connection Jamie has made is with our annual Rutgers University interns who coordinate programs for residents. Beyond the programming, Jamie has found great value in talking with the interns as well as fellow college students discussing their academic goals. “It really helped motivate me more to pursue my career at Rutgers once I graduate from Middlesex College.”


“A lot of residents are inspired by Jamie,” said Melissa. “I have heard them say it. I think by watching him and what he has accomplished, they can take that for themselves.”


Most recently, Jamie was connected to Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) so he can visit his mother. He has also been working with his mobility instructor to navigate his mother’s new care facility so he can pop in without any worries to surprise her and bring her things she needs or special gifts. Jamie’s mother is a huge part of his life, and being able to see her more frequently with this access has a great impact on both of them.


“It has been an honor to watch Jamie’s journey and to be part of his journey to see all that he has accomplished,” said Melissa. “The growth that we have seen in Jamie is remarkable over time and it is not only seen by me, but it is seen by the other wraparound supports. I am looking forward to see what’s next.” So are we Jamie!

Partner Spotlight: Jewish Renaissance Foundation

Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison has been partners with the Jewish Renaissance Foundation (JRF) for 7 years! We have engaged with the JRF to refer our residents to primary healthcare services and host JRF on site monthly. Partnering with JRF allows us to bring the critical healthcare services to the residents who live at Amandla Crossing and Imani Park.


Everyone deserves the right to have resources provided to them. Whether it is food, water, medical services, or anything else. (JRF) is a perfect example as they meet people where they are regardless of status.


The JRF’s duty to serving underprivileged people is at the heart of their mission. “We’ve seen firsthand the impact that being able to provide these vital services have had” says Kristi Zayas, the director of health services at the Jewish Renaissance Foundation. Kristi has been with the Foundation for 14 years and has witnessed the transformation into something remarkable.

The Jewish Renaissance Foundation was established in 1996, providing Social Services through various programming. In 2010 they received the Community Action Agency designation which allowed them to provide services to underserved communities and low-income individuals within Middlesex County. Throughout the years it became apparent there was still a large gap between meeting the social service needs and health needs of our community members. In 2015, the JRF received the Federally Qualified Health Center designation, allowing them to further service the needs of our communities providing primary and preventative Medical and Dental services. One of the greatest benefits of their health services is that they treat all patients regardless of their ability to pay, or citizenship status, or insurance.


“Had it not been for you, I don’t know what I would have done,” a resident told Kristi. “I let my health go for so long and it wasn’t until I found you guys that I got the care that I needed.” That is one of the many things that Kristi said that patients report to them. It is always important to be invested in the work that you do, especially when it involves helping others. Kristi captures this perfectly, when she mentions that “those stories are what drive us, and what prompt us every day, you look forward to going to work when you know you have such an impact.”


The theme of meeting people where they are, helped develop the partnership between JRF and Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison. It started out as JRF visiting Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison properties to provide health screenings, education, and resources. Eventually JRF wants to expand and bring the mobile unit to Imani Park and Amandla Crossing. “We really want to be able to bring the services there to those individuals that may need it." Kristi says that “It’s been a great partnership.”

Melissa Mascolo, Director of Program Management for Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison has been integral in establishing this partnership and has been meeting with Kristi to go over the calendar and tie in resources with other partners. Kristi mentioned there was an individual who by chance got their blood pressure checked at a screening, and it was really high. “This is one of those incidents where under normal circumstances they might have not checked their pressure because they were not experiencing any symptoms.”


The impact of this partnership is being felt in the community. The view on health is slowly starting to change for some residents. “There are a couple of residents who have become patients from Amandla and Imani,” and that really means a lot to the members of the JRF. Kristi shared that “it shows that they trust us with their medical care.” That trust is a direct result of an understanding and care for the resident’s unique needs, “because of our presence and building that trust, they came to us as patients of the health center.”


The Foundation truly lives by the One People One Heart slogan. Kristi said that it means as it sounds, “We are one people, so we need to respond with one heart.” This amazing foundation has impacted the lives of many in the communities that it serves. It is also a great reminder that people need to be seen as people and have their needs met, regardless of their personal circumstances.


Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison cannot put into words the impact that the Jewish Renaissance Foundation has had on the community. The willingness to meet people where they are is admirable and inspiring.

SNAPSHOTS: Events in Edison

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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