Blogs

We began this community of bloggers because we wanted to start a conversation. We wanted to provide a place where this community can come to check its own pulse. We encourage response and conversation. We just ask you to keep it respectful. We'd love to hear it. It's a conversation, after all, we hope you'll add to it.

Blogs

What A Blessing!

Submitted by Buelah Heights ... on Sat, 07/09/2011 - 18:16

The Beulah Heights Social Integration Program (BHSIP) was awarded a grant from Neighbor to Neighbor Lifeline for a second year. This year we were able to help 50 individuals and families, by providing a food voucher from Shop Rite or give a  food bag filled with nutritious food. We have heard the cries of so many families and individuals that are struggling to make ends meet.

Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen offers summer food program

Submitted by Downtown Evenin... on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 19:06

N2N Lifeline 2011 funding provides The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) with fresh fruits & produce for summer food programs.

The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) has been extremely fortunate to have the Neighbor to Neighbor Lifeline Grant funding this year. It truly has been a lifeline to many of DESK’s food programs, especially the bag lunch program & the weekly food pantry. DESK began the 2011 summer in early June by serving over 250 individuals at the evening meal. The months of May-September are the busiest times for DESK and the increase for food requests can often double in all of DESK food programs.

The demand for bag lunches for the working poor has also increased and soon this summer bag lunch will be provided for school age children during the summer months. These bag lunches have been drastically upgraded, thanks to the N2N Lifeline funding. Fresh fruit is now a staple in each bag, depending on the availability oranges, peaches, apples, grapes and plums are among the recent favorites. One DESK guest commented that he particularly likes the fresh fruit which he knows” is very healthy for him” and he cannot, himself, afford fresh fruit every day. The commitment to provide DESK’s guest more fresh fruit in every meal offered is directly because of the N2N funding on 2011.

In Their Own Words

Submitted by Jay Korman on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 17:48

The Monterey Place Family Enrichment Program, a collaboration between Marrakech, Inc., City of New Haven Housing Authority, and Beacon Community Residential Management has been helping New Haven residents this summer who have found themselves in a food crisis.  Food vouchers are available due to the generosity of the donors who support the Neighbor to Neighbor Lifeline.

 

The impact this program has had is best described by two of the many residents at Monterey Place who have been helped this summer.

Rescued from Foreclosure

Submitted by New Haven Home ... on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 13:47

Despite living on a limited income and managing the medical expenses for their disabled son, Roy and Sharon A. had always paid their mortgage on time.  Their West Haven home of twelve years was an oasis for their family.  Bad fortune toppled their security when Roy was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Severe Asthma in 2009.  Because he required oxygen 24 hours a day, he eventually lost his job and his benefits.  He applied to extend his Social Security payments and was denied twice.  He drained his savings to pay his mortgage, and with only $450 a month in income, he and his family quickly faced foreclosure. 

Fortunately for the Roy and his family, their lender referred them to NHS of New Haven and with funds from N2N LifeLine, we were able to help them with foreclosure prevention counseling and financial assistance with a 0% deferred loan that paid up their mortgage delinquency and qualified them for a loan modification.  Also, Roy’s application for Social Security benefits was finally approved.

A hardworking, humble couple, overwhelmed yet not overpowered by obstacles, Roy and Sharon A. persevered to keep their home.  Finding an affordable solution took time and effort, but with the support and assistance provided by N2N and NHS, they are now settled and living comfortably in their home.

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven wishes them all the best.

Proper Nutrition Keeps a Family Together

Submitted by AIDS Project Ne... on Fri, 07/01/2011 - 20:32
Maria was running out of options on how to keep her family together. Maria was diagnosed with HIV twenty years ago when her first child, a son, was born. It was the saddest day in Maria’s life – not only did she learn that she was HIV+ but her son was positive as well. 
 

Keeping Hope Alive

Submitted by AIDS Project Ne... on Fri, 07/01/2011 - 19:23
A year and a half ago Deborah felt that she was on top of the world. She had a steady job and had just purchased her first home. Deborah had grown up in a public housing development and thought that she had achieved her life long goal of stable housing for herself and her two children. She had to adhere to a very strict budget but was extremely proud that she had accomplished this all on her own.
 

Peanut Butter and Eggs

Submitted by Isadora Del Vecchio on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 18:36
Peanut butter and eggs are the two foods “Jennifer”, a senior, would sustain herself on after her income and food stamp benefit runs out each month. Instead, she has become a customer at Community Action Agency of New Haven’s Open Choice Food Pantry. In her case, the recent shortfall in terms of food security came from a reduction in her SNAP benefits. Jennifer said, “if I could not visit the food pantry, I would have to spend money I don’t have on food when I need that money to pay for bills”.
 
Sadly, Jennifer’s struggle to obtain food security is

Grateful Grandparent Hearts……

Submitted by Grandparents Ra... on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 15:33
This summer, thanks to the support of Neighbor to Neighbor Lifeline, family members in the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) program in New Haven will not have to worry about providing food for their grandchildren. Summer months will be filled with healthy breakfasts, lunches diners and an occasional snack.  
 

Jenna's Story

Submitted by Jackie Janosko-NHHR on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 20:23
Jenna came to The Furniture Co-op after her apartment was burned to the ground, still traumatized from the experience. As a struggling single mom, Jenna wasn’t able to afford renter’s insurance for her family’s apartment and was left with nothing after the fire. After moving from shelter to shelter in the area, Jenna was able to find a new apartment to house her family safely but could not afford to furnish it.

HPRP Safety & Success

Submitted by Jackie Janosko-NHHR on Wed, 06/29/2011 - 20:22
Sandy is a single mom working full time. Sandy and her children were fleeing from domestic violence and no longer had the option of staying with friends or family. Due to the overwhelming need for shelter, Sandy had been unsuccessful at obtaining a bed for her and her children. She was at risk of having to return her family back to the dangerous environment, in addition to being at risk of losing her job because of her housing instability. 
 
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