Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison, through its permanent supportive housing model, utilizes a network of supports to achieve the goal supporting the transition back to permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness. A major piece of that network is neighbor and New Jersey’s largest university, Rutgers University.

People experiencing homelessness can include whole families, victims of domestic violence, individuals with mental or physical disabilities, veterans and seniors. The needs of this rapidly growing population are complex and require new approaches to address them. Together with Mission First, various University schools and departments have used their expertise to do just that, finding synergy along the way.

Similarly, Rutgers Scarlet Day of Service, exemplifies that action at the student level. The annual spring event provides students and alumni with an opportunity to serve New Jersey by cleaning up communities, revitalizing outdoor spaces, working with youth and older adults and more. The most recent Scarlet Day of Service introduced Mission First to its newest partner, says Brinda Patel, Chair of Delta Kappa Delta Sorority.

Betterment of the community through humanitarian services is a core value of the South Asian service sorority. Patel, a biomedical sciences and economics double major, spoke of the value of their experiences at Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison. Facilitating a day of crafting, snacks and workshops, the sorority also gave a presentation on child abuse prevention and resources.

Patel credits the experience as a chance to engage adults and children, further demonstrating how community networks and resources can be employed to approach issues of widespread concern.

She cited Director of Program Management Melissa Mascolo for her enthusiasm and commitment, a key factor ensuring the continued growth of the partnership for years to come.

As partnership with student-led organizations blossoms, several other University programs, schools and departments are deepening their roots with Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison. We spoke to Equity in Action Summer Internship (EASI) program co-directors Sarah Kelly and Maria Pellerano about their collaboration with Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison.

Headquartered in The Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) Office of Interprofessional Programs, the program is focused on addressing social determinants of health through a social justice lens.  The Office regularly assists in annual needs assessments and resident surveys.

Annually, an intern from the EASI Program spends time learning about Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison’s programs and services as well as the larger homeless community needs and services. The intern then conducts outreach to residents at both Edison sites in order to engage them with phone, paper or online surveys to elicit program feedback.

The EASI Program also supports the work of at least two Masters level students annually to assist with surveying the residents for program feedback, designing, planning and implementing programming based on their needs and interests.

The experience “rounds out” interns’ education, says Maria Pellerano, program co-director. “Melissa is wonderful, she even had our students helping with the grant application for an arts program.” Her praise does not end there, noting programmatic impact, “students continue to volunteer [with Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison] after their internships end.” Now as communities rebound in the wake of the COVID pandemic the goal is that this impact continues to widen, creating health professionals attuned to the true shape of community needs.

The Community-Based Services Department at Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare (UBHC) has been collaborating with Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison since 2017. UBHC staff provide case management and support services to various residents. Its programs have a “two-way” relationship with Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison both making referrals to and receiving referrals.

The partnership has allowed them to facilitate getting over 30 chronically homeless individuals off the streets and into long-term supportive housing. Affordable, safe housing is difficult to find in Middlesex County, so this program is an invaluable resource to individuals in need. “The Mission First staff have been reliable partners who are always willing to collaborate” notes Jeanmarie Leitch, Program Director of UBHC.

“The Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison staff do an amazing job of linking residents to support services, such as arranging for the local Senior Center to take them to the grocery store once a week,” Leitch explained, “helping residents acquire furniture, and advocating for continued support services. We hope to continue the close working relationship with staff to address homelessness and provide supported housing opportunities to Middlesex County residents in need.”

Rutgers University’s New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP) comprises a spectrum of services meant to prepare differently abled persons in the greater Rutgers community to navigate and utilize area mass transit confidently and comfortably.

Part of efforts by the University’s Public Policy Center to investigate the impact of built environments on the community, NJTIP has become a trusted and indispensable partner of Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison, providing residents with the information and skills they need to lead independent lives.

Since beginning its relationship with Mission First in 2017, the organization has offered its multi-faceted training services to residents. Travel Instruction is a spectrum of services meant to teach safe independent travel skills. NJTIP customers learn how to read bus and train schedules; plan their trips; pay their fares; and take safety precautions, going as far as to train people to cross streets safely and navigate in areas without sidewalks.

“NJTIP Travel Instructors are seasoned professionals,” notes Travel Coordinator Louis Hoffman. “They have experience in teaching, special education. They are not only uniquely positioned to facilitate this groundbreaking work, but ensure its sustainability. This is critically important as quality of life, access to community, healthcare, education, recreation and healthy foods are sometimes overlooked parts of a lifeline which can positively impact the lives of individuals and households transitioning out of homelessness.”

The partnership between Rutgers Horticultural Therapy Program and Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison began in 2021 after Rutgers Entomology graduate students donated materials and grew plants for three raised bed gardens on-site. That seedling enjoyed rapid growth and after Melissa and students joined together for a garden building day in the summer of 2021, it bloomed into consistent partnership, says program intern Andrea Dean.

“An evidenced-based practice which utilizes plants and gardens as a modality for human healing and rehabilitation,” explains Dean, “horticultural therapy is used to assist residents with chronic physical and mental health conditions as well as challenging life circumstances.” The garden and Horticultural Therapy Program provide additional opportunities to support the overall well-being of residents.

Work toward individual and collective goals also becomes a source of pride. After working with plants residents have reported feelings of calm, decreased anxiety, and improved mood as well as increased self-esteem and self-confidence,” said Dean. “Feelings of hope and excitement about the future as they look forward to seeing when the tomatoes will ripen or when the next flower will open.”

Whether breaking cycles of food insecurity, building skills or changing minds, the benefits are immense. “It is a pleasure to work with the residents,”, says Dean, also citing the willingness of Mission First staff to support the work. Additionally, horticultural therapy’s ability to combat food insecurity, promote stress management, healthy diet and physical activity to name a few, ensure the upward trajectory of the partnership.

Addressing homelessness in our communities is a complex challenge, weaving together supports for a variety of issues, including mental health, domestic violence and poverty. The work receives tremendous benefit from cross-sector collaboration, further exemplified by Mission First Supportive Housing: Edison's partnerships across the Rutgers University community. Invaluable to both staff and residents, they expand our services and capabilities, diversifying and developing new ways to achieve the organization’s mission. Grateful for the partnership, Mission First is excited about the future and the potential to broaden its’ reach to other areas of study at Rutgers.

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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.

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:

• Moira Rooney, Director of Philanthropy & Communication, 267.269.3331, mrooney@missionfirsthousing.org
• Melissa Mascolo, Director of Program Management, 609.373.8550, mmascolo@missionfirsthousing.org