Mailing Address:
610 Beverly-Rancocas Road
Willingboro, NJ 08046
Phone: 609-261-5400
Fax: 609-261-1824
Program Director: Kristen Tahaney
Program Coordinator: Tom Hendershot
- Program History
Trinity Place Host Homes was designed to address the gap in resources, within the Mercer-Burlington-Camden region, for runaway or "throwaway" youth. Our host home model takes advantage of the flexibility of this approach to serve kids needing an immediate placement.
- Program Goal
The primary goal of Trinity Place Host Homes is to provide a safe haven, with concrete and emotional support services, for runaway and homeless youth while family reunification is negotiated and/or other needed services are put in place. The secondary goal is to prevent family disruption for at risk families and youth. Outcome objectives focus on strengthening family relationships and helping youth reunite with their families or locate an alternative safe, stable placement, preventing family disruption and youth homelessness, and helping youth build on hidden talents and strengths in order to develop life skills and competencies.
All services are aligned to work toward our ultimate goal: giving homeless youth the opportunity to exit life on the street for good.
- Target Population
Trinity Place Host Homes serves homeless and runaway youth up through 18 years.
- Approach
Offering a safe haven for runaway and homeless youth, Trinity Place Host Homes provides an alternative to being involved in the law enforcement, child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems. In recognition of the ominous risks facing kids on the street, including setbacks to their emotional, physical, and educational development and the trauma resulting from sexual exploitation or other types of victimization, the program offers alternatives for adolescents who are already on the street along with working to prevent homelessness by intervening with families at risk of disruption.
- Program Services
Our network of licensed homes provides the basis for Trinity Place Host Homes. The youth may stay in the host home for up to 15 days, during which time staff work with the youth on a daily basis to address priority needs and establish a workable plan.
Other program components include food, clothing, assessment, intensive case management, supportive counseling, family mediation & counseling, access to medical/behavioral healthcare and educational services, advocacy, and aftercare & referral services.
- Access to Program Services
Trinity Place Host Homes works with community collaborators, such as the police and the schools, to help street youth and at risk youth access shelter care or other types of resources when needed.
- Program Fees
Trinity Place Host Homes is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, with 10% matching funds from our community partners. The program does not charge a fee to program participants.
