ANCHOR HOUSE INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of Anchor House is to provide a safe haven where abused, runaway, homeless, aging out and at risk youth and their families are empowered to succeed and thrive.
About This Cause
Throughout its 43-year history, Anchor House has continuously met the complex needs of runaway, homeless, and abused youth, ages 12-24, and their families. Our agency is headquartered in Trenton (Mercer County, NJ). Although the majority of our clients we serve are from the Trenton/Mercer County area, we also serve youth throughout the state. Our Vision Statement is, “Anchor House, Inc. will be recognized as New Jersey's preeminent advocate for abused, runaway, homeless, aging out and at-risk youth and their families, and a model of trauma-informed best practices in the field.” While our programs have grown and evolved over time, Anchor House’s purpose remains constant as we seek to improve the lives of vulnerable youth in Mercer County by designing programming and services to address the specific needs of the runaway and homeless adolescent population. Anchor House Shelter opened in 1978 to move homeless and runaway youth off the streets and reunite them with their families. In 1984, school outreach programming was added. The Anchorage, a transitional living program for homeless youth who need help moving into adulthood, opened in 1992. Anchor House expanded its services in 1998 to include a street outreach program, Anchor Link, designed to help youth leave the streets and prevent their exploitation. A transitional housing apartment program, Anchor Line, opened in 2007 for homeless youth to gain skills needed to live independently. Connect to Home offers Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 apartments to DCP&P (Department of Child Protection and Permanency) referred young adults (a Rapid Rehousing Program also offers subsidized apartments and supportive services). Anchor House also offers life skills programming in all of our residential programs and a separate Life Skills Program through funding through DCP&P. Our agency provides the only shelter, transitional living, and Section 8 Apartments in Mercer County targeting abused, runaway and homeless youth. In addition, Anchor House has a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) comprised of young people who receive services through Anchor House who take an active role in the service planning, development and evaluation of our agency’s programs, as well as advocate for runaway and homeless youth on a larger scale. Substance abuse prevention, counseling and referrals are available, as are aftercare and support groups for youth and their parents. Programs work together to provide continual, comprehensive services to youth and their families. The agency also is a resource and an advocate for youth and their families in the county and state. Anchor House programs provide a myriad of services to meet the needs of our youth and improve their well-being. All youth receive life skills education, educational preparation and counseling, and job readiness skills. Anchor House is a strong advocate for this population, and seeks to improve access, support and services so homeless, runaway, missing, and at-risk youth can have a better future. Short-term goals stabilize youth and include necessary services such as emergency shelter or residential services, food, clothing and a safe environment, but also much needed crisis intervention, individual, family and group counseling, and medical, dental and mental health care. Longer term goals are based on providing services that will improve the resiliency, productivity and self-sufficiency of youth, which will have an impact long after the youth leave Anchor House Inc. Youth residing in our transitional and supportive housing programs have improved social and emotional well-being, improved employment and education success, increased permanent social connections, and upon discharge, should be able to maintain stable housing, thus leading to a reduction in homelessness. We help youth reduce risk factors by decreasing their psychological stressors, providing opportunities for positive growth and development and removing them from unsafe or unstable environments. The goal in all programs is to prevent homelessness, improve and strengthen family relationships, and build each youth’s internal and external assets. Our programs work together to provide a continuum of care with the goal of addressing traumas, providing support during a crisis, assisting youth in securing safe, stable housing, moving youth to permanent living arrangements and success in independent living. Many of our youth have experienced or have been exposed to trauma including child maltreatment and complex trauma; serious accident or illness; victim/witness to domestic, community and school violence; traumatic grief, separation, significant loss and abandonment; historical and generational trauma; and poverty. Due to our participation in the National Council Trauma-Informed consultation process, Anchor House is listed in the trauma-informed mapping project hosted by ACEs Connection. ACEs Connection is “the most active, influential ACEs Community in the world that connects with people using trauma-informed/resilience-building practices and helping people to stay current with news, research and events. We recognize the long term detrimental effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on our youth and all staff, volunteers and the board are trained on Trauma Informed Care (TIC). Our agency has used a trauma informed approach long before it was identified as an evidence-based practice in working with this population. The impact of traumatic stress can be devastating and long-lasting. That is why all of our staff has been trained in Trauma Informed Care (TIC) and we are working to ensure that our staff consistently applies TIC when working with the youth. We at Anchor House believe, as experts conclude, that the mental health impact of COVID-19 will outlast the virus. Mental health programming and services are needed now more than ever during the pandemic. Anchor House hired a new Therapist who started in October 2020. Research shows that COVID-19 related isolation and stress can lead to an increase in susceptibility to substance misuse, addiction, and relapse. Youth who run away or experience homelessness have higher rates of alcohol and drug use than their peers. Anchor House hired a Substance Prevention Counselor in 2020, a new position for our agency. The Substance Prevention Counselor was able to provide immediate service through individual sessions and education. The Substance Prevention Counselor meets with clients weekly to evaluate and provide ongoing services to address their substance use and awareness. For more information, please check out our website at www.anchorhousenj.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.