The Newark Public Library will be hosting its “Shaping Lives 2019: Links to Homelessness Services” event on Friday, October 25th, from 10AM-2PM in Centennial Hall at The Newark Public Library, 5 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.
At this vital event, over 25 providers of health, nutrition, shelter, and other services will be on site to share information and connect attendees with supportive programs and agencies. In addition, participants will be offered free health screenings, clothing, toiletries, snacks, and other useful items. Audible will serve free lunches.
According to NJCounts, the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Essex County has been increasing since 2015, when 1,723 people were counted. The county had 1,779 homeless residents in 2016, 2,048 in 2017, and 2,229 in 2018. About 87% of Essex County’s homeless residents live in New Jersey’s largest city, Newark.
Many homeless people have jobs but not enough money for rent. Winter hardships are approaching, and this event will inform homeless persons of services to help them to receive food, shelter, showers, laundry, mental health therapies, pediatric care, prison discharge services, drug abuse counseling, health screenings, transportation, immigration and naturalization guidance, and more.
Jeffrey Trzeciak, Director of the Newark Public Library stated “it is part of the Newark Public Library’s vision to serve the entire community of Newark. With the Shaping Lives 2019: Links to Homelessness Services event, we are connecting one of the vulnerable populations of Newark to agencies and services that can best aid them. We are proud to partner with Audible, the City of Newark, Bridges Outreach, and the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center to host this crucial event to provide assistance to the homeless population of Newark.”
The Newark Public Library is committed to addressing the needs of the City’s many constituencies and their interests. In particular, the Library collaborates with partners to work toward eliminating homelessness in our city and to increase literacies and life skills so that each resident can find more opportunities for health, safety, thriving, and happiness. As individuals develop strengths, so does the City prosper.
Over the past four years, the Library has partnered with the Rutgers University School of Social Work to engage student social workers to assist visitors with counseling and referrals to social welfare agencies and organizations. In March, 2019, the Library also hired a full-time social worker who is on site at the Main Library.
This event is co-sponsored by the City of Newark, Bridges Outreach, the Shani Baraka Women’s Resource Center, Audible, and the Newark Public Library.
For more information about the Shaping Lives 2019, please contact Leslie Kahn at the Newark Public Library at 973-733-7779 or lkahn@npl.org.
