PLATINUM2022

Homeless Solutions, Inc.

A Hand UP, Not a HandOUT

aka HSI   |   Cedar Knolls, NJ   |  www.homelesssolutions.org

Mission

Our mission is to offer shelter, services, and supportive housing to the homeless and working poor. Our Philosophy is “A Hand Up, not a Handout.” As a private, nonprofit organization, Homeless Solutions has been helping the homeless and working poor in our community since 1983. We are unique in what we do. It’s not just about providing a warm meal and a place to sleep. Our goal is to give those who we serve the tools and surroundings they need to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient. What sets our nonprofit apart from others is our Continuum of Housing options including our Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing Program for families, Mt. Kemble Home for senior women, Overnight Center, and our Affordable Housing properties. Last year, our services helped over 600 people.

Ruling year info

1986

CEO

Dan McGuire

Main address

3 Wing Drive Suite 245

Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

22-2491675

NTEE code info

Single Organization Support (L11)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

As a private, nonprofit organization, Homeless Solutions has been helping the homeless and working poor in our community since 1983. We are unique in what we do. It’s not just about providing a warm meal and a place to sleep. Our goal is to give those who we serve the tools and surroundings they need to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient - a "hand up, not a handout". What sets our nonprofit apart from others is our Continuum of Housing options including our Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing Program (THP) for families, Mt. Kemble Home for senior women, Warming Center for street homeless in the winter, Promising Solutions campus for single women in shared housing, and the 74 Affordable Rental Housing units we own and operate. Last year, our programs and services helped over 5O0 people.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Homeless Solutions, Inc.

HSI offers a unique continuum of housing options:

Our Main Shelter provides 85 beds for multiple programs, including those for Families and Single Women, Single Men, and our Safe Haven Program (designed for homeless people with a mental health diagnosis, the only one of its kind in the state). The shelter also includes a Warming Center for street homeless people during the winter months.

Our Transitional Housing Program (THP) has ten furnished apartments that serve as an intermediate step for families whose adult members are working. Case Managers provide structured support and a variety of workshops designed to develop and strengthen skills in budgeting, parenting, and employment.

Our Family Supportive "Outreach" Program is for our Transitional Housing Program (THP) graduates. They have the option to receive follow-up supportive services for two years following their exit from THP. The goal is to ensure they remain housed and do not cycle back into homelessness.
HSI also operates the historic Mt. Kemble Home for senior women of limited means(65+ years). It provides safe, affordable housing for 22 residents. Each resident has her own room, shared bathrooms, a common sitting room, and a dining room.

Our Promising Solutions campus is a unique shared housing model including nine houses that provide permanent housing for 32 homeless and at-risk single women.

Homeless Solutions also owns and operates 74 Affordable Rental Housing units throughout Morris County.

Population(s) Served
Homeless people
Low-income people
Working poor
At-risk youth

Our 85-bed shelter is designed for short-term stay in dormitory-style living. This program is designed for families and single women. We provide a safe, secure, supportive, drug-and-alcohol-free environment. Our highly structured programs provide goal-oriented Case Management, our Life Skills Curriculum, childcare, linkages to medical care and transportation, and more.

Population(s) Served
Families
Homeless people
Parents

Our 85-bed shelter is designed for short-term stay in dormitory-style living. The Men's Shelter Program is focused on homeless men, and provides a safe, secure, supportive, drug-free and alcohol-free environment. Our highly structured programs provide goal-oriented Case Management, our Life Skills Curriculum, childcare, linkages to medical care and transportation, and more.

Population(s) Served
Men and boys
Homeless people

The Safe Haven Shelter Program, in partnership with the Mental Health Association, provides shelter and services for homeless people with a mental health diagnosis. It is the only program of its kind in the state. Safe Haven can accommodate up to 20 men and women at a time, providing case management and outreach services. Annually, Safe Haven shelters 50-60 individuals

Population(s) Served
Homeless people

The ten 3-bedroom apartments that comprise our Transitional Housing Program facility are home to families whose adult members are employed and working hard to obtain permanent housing. The facility can house up to 60 people for 12-18 months. The program focuses on budgeting and saving to prepare guests to return to independent living, and includes our Life Skills Curriculum and childcare assistance

Population(s) Served
Families
Homeless people

The Mt. Kemble Home provides safe, affordable housing for 22 senior women of very limited means. The home has been in existence for over 130 years and is listed on state and national historic registries. We have performed significant renovations to upgrade and restore the home, including many safety and mobility enhancements.

Population(s) Served
Seniors
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Awards

Housing for Everyone Grant 2021

TD Bank Foundation

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of families that graduated from our Transitional Housing Program (THP)

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Related Program

Transitional Housing Program

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

THP is home to families whose adult members are working hard to obtain independence and permanent housing.

Number of homeless participants engaged in housing services

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Related Program

Homeless Solutions, Inc.

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

People who received shelter and housing through our programs and services.

Number of meals served or provided

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Related Program

Homeless Solutions, Inc.

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Meals provided by volunteers to families staying at our shelter.

Percentage of families that graduated from our Transitional Housing Program (THP) who secured permanent, affordable housing

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people

Related Program

Transitional Housing Program

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

THP is home to families whose adult members are working hard to obtain independence and permanent housing.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

At Homeless Solutions, we are aiming to break the cycle of homelessness. It is expensive to live in Morris County. Many of the families in our programs are working two or three minimum wage earning jobs and still cannot afford to pay rent while taking care of their basic needs - like food. They get stuck in a vicious cycle where they're bouncing from shelter to shelter, sleeping on floors, and lacking that sense of security.

Homeless Solutions aims to restore security and self-sufficiency to our participants through our structured programs.

Our organization's key strategies can be found in our Life Skills Curriculum. Our Life Skills Curriculum helps guests get back on their feet by teaching them skills such as money management, resume writing, effective parenting techniques, nutrition, and more. We aim to educate and empower our program participants by identifying what caused their homelessness and giving them the tools they need to get back on their feet, so that they can be independent.

When participants graduate from our program, they are given the opportunity to enroll in HSI's Family Supportive Housing Program, also known as "Outreach". This program provides follow up case management services for two years following their exit from our program. These families can continue to attend educational workshops and participate in the seasonal item distributions. The goal is to ensure that our graduates remain housed and do not cycle back into homelessness.

We offer a range of services to help the people in our program become self-sufficient and not cycle back into homelessness.

Main Shelter: Our 85-bed shelter is designed for short-term stay. It provides a safe, secure, supportive, drug and alcohol free environment. Our highly structured programs provide goal-oriented case management, our Like Skills curriculum, childcare, and more.

THP: Home to families whose adult members are employed and working hard to obtain independence and permanent housing.

Outreach: Provides follow up case management services for two years following participants exit from THP. Our goal is to ensure that they remain housed and do not cycle back into homelessness

Mt. Kemble Home: Provides safe, affordable housing for senior women of limited means

Affordable Rental Housing Units: Through construction, renovation, and advocacy, our housing development team creates award-winning, environmentally-friendly homes that people can afford.

Over the past 38 years, we have been developing and expanding our Programs and Services to accommodate the increasing demands to help our homeless neighbors in need. We started as a small shelter in the basement of a church helping single men. Today we are the largest provider of homeless services in Morris County and helped over 700 men, women, and children last year.

In addition to our Main Shelter and Transitional Housing, we provide affordable housing. We began our Housing Development in 2004 with 15 apartments, and today we own and operate 74 affordable rental units.
Over the past several years, we expanded our programs to include our Mt. Kemble Home for senior women of limited means and a Warming Center for the street homeless during the winter months providing 1,872 bed nights last year. We recently launched Promising Solutions, a shared housing model for homeless and at-risk single women that includes a campus with nine houses accommodating 32 residents.

We just completed our renovations for our Next Level Shelter Expansion Project that provides twice as much space for a new Kitchen and Dining Room, allowing larger volunteer groups. It will also result in a new permanent Overnight Center with showers and bathrooms and laundry facilities for emergency shelter on both the coldest and hottest nights.

We have a robust history and continue to evolve to accommodate the needs of our community, always with our mission in mind to offer shelter, services, and supportive housing to homeless and low-income people. We are making an impact and helping to break the cycle of homelessness by providing “A Hand Up, not a Handout.”

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Homeless and low income families and individuals.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Case management notes, Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, We don't actively use collected feedback,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    We’ve made several changes to our COVID policies/procedures due to client feedback. Some examples include mask mandates, the use of protective shields, and how we implement vaccine incentives. We have also recently implemented the use of water filters on sinks used for drinking water due to client feedback.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board, Our funders,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    The people we serve feel more empowered and respected when we use their feedback to implement change. This month, we have focus groups scheduled during which clients will review four specific shelter policies. We’ll be asking clients to make suggestions for revisions to the policies / ways that we can make the policies more inclusive and/or trauma informed, specifically. We find that clients are more likely to respect rules when they feel as though they played a part in creating them.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback,

Financials

Homeless Solutions, Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Homeless Solutions, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 09/30/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

George Goldman


Board co-chair

Mary LeBlanc

Dan McGuire

CEO of HSI

Warren Estey

Mike Gayda

George Goldman

Mary LeBlanc

Diane Mann

Megan Young

DaVon Gorman

Sally Mulligan

Colleen Bondy

Gary Pancoast

Georgia Papathomas

Steve Schroeder

Darla Wilkinson

Ryan Spencer

Ling Yin

Nuris Portuondo

Marc Steinman

Scott Chilson

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 9/19/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 09/19/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.