HomeFront shelter opens in Ewing; gives homeless families fresh start

EWING TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- With nowhere to go, Jayshera Taylor, the mother of a 9 month old, came to HomeFront.

After three months with the shelter, Taylor finished her GED, got a place of her own, plans to start trade school and is currently looking to obtain employment.

"They taught me a lot here, and I'm only 19. They taught me responsibility, and how to juggle my household," said Taylor.

HomeFront, a former Navy building turned family campus, opened its doors Wednesday in Ewing Township to homeless families in need.

"Families who are trying to claw their way out of poverty will have all of the resources and all of the supports," said Executive Director Connie Mercer.

Challenging the perception of homeless shelters, HomeFront offers access to childcare services, medical care, GED classes and job training, in addition to a clean, safe place to sleep.

"When you hear shelter you think oh, it's dirty, it's dark, they feed us terrible food, but it's actually the complete opposite," said Jamie Cuascut, a HomeFront client.

The 42,000 square-foot campus also offers a kitchen to teach clients how to cook and prepare healthy, budget-friendly meals.

"Our job here is we want to take the welfare moms and dads, and get them off welfare forever and back into the job market," said "Hire Expectation" Director Lynne Wise.

The $6 million renovation to the building was paid for by more than a thousand donors including some former clients.

"Our mission is to help people and families get back to independence and that resonates with everyone," said Fundraising Chairman Don Hofmann.

With a spacious, modern facility, HomeFront can continue to its 20-year mission to help homeless families escape poverty and create a fresh start for themselves.