Ending Homelessness
One Family at a Time
Formerly Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County
April 2012
Meet the Board
Dominique A. Tornabe
President
David Bess
Vice President
Ally Cannon
Secretary
Ginny Donnellon
Treasurer
Michael S. Daigle
Trustee
Karen DeChristopher
Trustee
Mirna Del Valle
Trustee
Robert DiConstanzo
Trustee
James A. Kassis, Esq.
Trustee
Wendi Mazzucco
Trustee
Meet the Staff
Joann Bjornson, LSW
Executive Director
Allison Wise
Dir. of Programs & Svcs.
Jon K. Thomsen
Director of Operations
Nina Rifkind, LCSW
Director of Development
Lou Bodian
Bookkeeper
Katie Meier
Family Support Specialist
Social Work Interns
Michelle Duff
Brian McCullough
Nancy Molinari-Luque
Message from the Board President & the Executive Director
We are so honored to be part of an agency that has the incredible ability to
truly affect the lives of those facing the trauma of homelessness. Our work
is more than a band aid during difficult times, but a true resource and long
term solution to help people become once again self-sufficient and
independent.
Joann & Dominique at
Unique in our approach, we utilize existing community resources, and bring
Volunteer Recognition
the mission of volunteerism right to the doorstep of those who wish to
Dinner
serve. Our families feel welcome and that they belong, every day. With our
new name, Family Promise of Morris County, we are underscoring this sentiment – our promise to
those we serve is to make them feel like family. Great thanks to our staff, board, community
partners and to our families who fight to overcome challenges every day!
Dominique Tornabe, Board President and Joann Bjornson, Executive Director
New Leadership Councils
In order to be an effective advocate for our families, Family Promise of Morris County looks for
support and guidance from the community. With this in mind, last year a Corporate Leadership
Council was formed and early this year, the newly created Student Leadership Council came
together to help us to achieve this endeavor.
The Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) allows professionals to share their knowledge and
expertise; allows these leaders to learn about Family Promise; provides opportunities for corporate
leaders to serve as Family Promise ambassadors through networking opportunities; and benefits
both the business and non-profit communities.
Members of the Corporate Leadership Council are drawn from major business sectors: banking;
energy; manufacturing; media; professional services such as legal, accounting or insurance; real estate;
retail; telecommunications; and small business. A member is asked to commit to four meetings
annually, and attend 1 to 2 Family Promise events.
The Student Leadership Council (SLC) presents an opportunity for interested student leaders
to engage in community service through Family Promise. The mission of the SLC is to ensure the
safety and acknowledge the dignity of the community’s most vulnerable families through public
service, the development of leadership skills, and a growing consciousness of the needs of our
families.
The goals of the SLC: directly serving the community’s disadvantaged families; bringing the mission of
Family Promise to the high school level; leading the community to a stronger, more unified effort to
end homelessness; educating peers about the urgent needs faced by our neighbors and beginning
discussions that lead to greater participation leading to solutions; and uniting diverse community
groups under a common cause.
SLC functions: fundraising; education; service projects; assisting in event planning and preparation;
and making recommendations to the staff and board of Family Promise.
For additional information, or to inquire about joining, contact Executive Director Joann Bjornson at
973-998-0820 or j.bjornson@familypromisemorris.org.
Page 2
Ending Homelessness One Family at a Time
Our Families
“We had no place to live.”
That’s a hard truth to accept, especially for a parent.
l-r: Frankie, Elila, Crystal and Jesse
For Crystal, a single mother with two infants and pregnant with a third, the move
into the Family Promise of Morris County Emergency Shelter Program was not only
a place for her family to live but also a place for them to thrive.
Crystal became homeless after her grandparents were no longer able to continue to help her and her growing family.
After coming to Family Promise, staff and volunteers provided her with financial literacy education, support in completing
her high school equivalency diploma, and help sorting out all those issues that come with motherhood.
“I didn’t know they’d do that,” she said. “I thought it was just a place to sleep.”
Crystal began working full time while living in the shelter. In addition, she completed her GED program and received her
high school equivalency diploma. Equipped with some new life skills, enjoying the sense of accomplishment that comes
from achieving one’s goals and dreams, and benefiting from the on-going support of Family Promise, Crystal is now looking
to further her education. Just recently, she let us know that she has begun the process of enrolling in nursing school.
Crystal is so thankful for the guidance and support of the volunteers at both Family Promise and the Adopt-a-Family
Program, especially Lance & Nancy Kraai.
Lance & Nancy, along with a group of other volunteers that included a teacher and some young mothers with small children,
worked with Crystal for 18 months to help her develop new skill sets which would allow her to thrive independently. The
group focused on the following key areas: general life, financial, and, just as importantly, parenting skills.
“Crystal has been on her own since she was 14,” explained Lance. “She never had the
chance to learn parenting within a family. It’s hard to learn discipline with children when
you never had any. What is proper discipline for a 1-year-old, a 5-year-old?”
Kraai said that as a child Crystal saw her sister removed from their home by state
authorities, and in her young mind, concluded that her sister was taken because she
cried too much. As a mother, he said, Crystal was determined that it would not happen
to her children and she did whatever she could to stop them from crying.
Working with the Adopt-a-Family volunteers, “Crystal learned how to discipline in love
as a parent,” said Kraai. “She is an awesome mom — she just needed some help.”
Lance & Nancy Kraai
Since leaving the Emergency Shelter Program, Crystal’s days are filled with her new job caring for an elderly person and
getting her children to school and day care.
“It was a boost for my confidence,” she said of her time at Family Promise.
confidence. It is still hard for me.”
“That was hard for me, I didn’t have
But Crystal didn’t leave the shelter alone. Family Promise’s Permanent Supportive Program staff still supports her efforts to
move forward.
“I tell people that my time in the emergency shelter was good for me and my children,” she said. “My children had clothes,
toys and had new people to meet. The shelter for a woman my age with children is a safe place to live.”
Now 25, Crystal said there was one very important lesson she learned while at Family Promise: “I have big plans for my
family,” she said. “I realized that when I am 30 or 40, I would not be able to live the way I was living.”
Family Promise is so much more than a place to sleep: it is a home base, a safe place for children, a place
where parents can stop a moment and breathe, assess life’s challenges and opportunities, and make a plan for
the future; it is a community of supporters, teachers and friends.
Page 3
Wish List & Most Needed Items
Placing a family in housing addresses one of their most important needs. But it
does not solve all needs. Many of our families also have basic living needs that
relate to attending school and working and caring for a family.
Wish List
Baby wipes
Diapers and Pull-Ups—Sizes 5/6
Liquid laundry detergent (Regular and HE)
Paper Products – toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues
Cleaning Supplies
Shampoo and Conditioner
Small and large garbage bags
Large contractor garbage bags
When our families move into their own homes they
are provided with a computer. The wish list items
below assist family members as they look for work,
do homework, or just play a game.
Most welcome items
These items are of special importance to our families, as
they allow them the luxury of going to a local store and
choosing their own purchases, being it an outfit in a favorite
color, a particular pattern on their dishes, or the makings
for their favorite meal. These are unexpected treats for
our clients and thus are especially appreciated.
Gas cards (any gas station)
Wal-Mart or Target gift cards
Food Store gift cards
Copy paper
Stamps
No. 10 white envelopes
Avery Labels No. 5160
Did You Know?
The fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Morris County is $1,289 a month. In order to afford this
apartment, a household would need to earn over $51,000 per year. At the New Jersey minimum wage of $7.25 an
hour- that's 135 hours per week, 52 weeks a year!
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant
We are thrilled to announce that we recently received a $25,000 one-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
President’s Grant Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. This wonderful grant will allow Family Promise of
Morris County to provide case management services and connections to resources for a minimum of 50 new families, through
our Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH).
Families will partner with Family Promise’s PSH staff to develop personal goals, the attainment of which will lead to better job
prospects, financial literacy, less stressful parenting, or any number of positive outcomes that will result in meaningful change in
their families and foster self sufficiency. Parents are taught how to advocate for their children and themselves when needed
and to find the resources needed and available to help maintain a safe and stable family environment.
We are incredibly excited about this ability to provide services for even more families in Morris County who find themselves
precariously housed. We know how much this will help the community and want to find a way to keep this position funded
beyond the first year. To that end, we have created a match program to leverage grant funds. If you are interested in
supporting this effort, please contact Joann Bjornson, Executive Director for more information.
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
WEST CALDWELL, NJ
PERMIT # 1395
Formerly Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County
PO Box 1494
Morristown, New Jersey 07962
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Contact Information:
Phone: 973.998.0820
Fax: 973.998.0819
Web: www.familypromisemorris.org
Email: info@familypromisemorris.org
2012 Partner Congregations
Participating congregations partner with us to ensure our families most basic needs are met. Host congregations use their facilities to
shelter families. Support congregations provide meals and offer fellowship to families.
Host Congregations
Bethel AME Church, Morristown
Bethlehem Church, Randolph
Chatham United Methodist Church, Chatham
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church,
Chatham
First Baptist Community Church, Parsippany
Hillside Lutheran Brethren, Succasunna
Mendham Hills Community Church, Mendham
Morristown United Methodist Church,
Morristown
Our Lady Star of the Sea, Lake Hopatcong
Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township
Presbyterian Church of New Providence
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Succasunna
St. Vincent the Martyr Church, Madison
Shrine of St. Joseph, Stirling
Stanley Congregational Church, Chatham
Temple Shalom Reform, Succasunna
Support Congregations
All Saints Episcopal Church, Millington
Assumption Church, Morristown
Budd Lake Union Chapel
Butler United Methodist Church
Calvary Baptist Church, Morristown
Calvary Presbyterian Church, Florham Park
Chatham Summit Quaker Meeting, Chatham
Church of Christ the King, New Vernon
Church of God in Christ, Morristown
Church of the Redeemer, Morristown
Church of the Saviour Episcopal, Denville
Denville Community Church
First Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dover
First Presbyterian Church of East Hanover
First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway
First Presbyterian Church of Stirling
First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna
First Presbyterian Church of Whippany
First Reformed Church of Lincoln Park
First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Florham Park
Grace Episcopal Church, Madison
Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, Pequannock
Jewish Congregation of Kinnelon
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
Morristown
Lake Hopatcong United Methodist Church
Long Hill Chapel, Chatham
Meyersville Presbyterian Church, Gillette
Morristown Jewish Center-Beit Yisrael
Morristown Unitarian Fellowship
Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church, Chatham
Our Lady of the Magnificat Roman Catholic
Church, Kinnelon
Our Lady of the Holy Angels Parish, Little Falls
Our Lady of the Lake, Mount Arlington
Our Lady of the Valley, Wayne
www.familypromisemorris.org
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Stanhope
Port Morris United Methodist Church, Landing
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Parsippany
St. David's Episcopal Church, Kinnelon
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Parsippany
St. Joseph’s of Lincoln Park Church, Lincoln Park
St. Jude Roman Catholic Church, Hopatcong
St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Chester
St. Mark Lutheran Church, Morristown
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Pompton Lakes
St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Randolph
St. Michael’s Parish, Netcong
St. Patrick Parish, Chatham
St. Peter the Apostle Church, Parsippany
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Mountain Lakes
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Mount Arlington
St. Thomas More Church, Convent Station
St. Vincent de Paul Church, Stirling
St. Virgil Roman Catholic Parish, Morris Plains
Second Reformed Church, Little Falls
Temple Beth Hatikvah, Roxbury
Temple B’Nai Or, Morristown
The Episcopal Church of St. Paul, Chatham
Trinity Lutheran Church, Dover
Union Baptist Church, Morristown
United Methodist Church of Madison