Some people are beginning to think that Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is trying to give venture firm Newark Venture Partners (NVP) a run for their money as to which is more innovative in addressing the needs of Newark. While NVP recently hit milestones in growing Newark’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in terms of funding women and minority entrepreneurs, Mayor Baraka continues to offer creative solutions to meet the needs of its local communities.
The Mayor’s latest effort announced on March 8th was the launch the NEWARK Hope Village. The Village, made of converted containers, will shelter at-risk residents or those without addresses. Seven containers will hold 24 homeless individuals from the Penn Station corridor during the 90 day program. He was joined by Sakinah Hoyte, City of Newark’s Homelessness Czar; Mike Loganbill, VP and COO of Homes 4 the Homeless; and Craig Mainor, Executive Director of United Community Corporation.
What began as an idea for rapid-response housing first proposed by Ms. Hoyte, the City’s former COO Natasha Rogers, and California-based non-profit, Homes 4 the Homeless, then became a reality through the Mayor’s backing and the involvement of a number of local organizations. Critical funding came from three key sources: the CARES Act, the Essex County Division of Community Action through the State of New Jersey Code Blue Grant, and the City of Newark.
The structures were manufactured and built to code by Texas-based Custom Containers 915 that had a timetable of under 90 days from contract to delivery. The containers are modular residences that consist of 20 dorm-style rooms, plus two utility structures with private shower rooms and a multipurpose structure.
The basics are well covered with rooms having simple furnishings, including a heater, bunk bed with extra storage and a small dresser. The designers at Homes 4 the Homeless directed the project, selecting modular steel structures offering security and the capability for rapid deployment and redeployment.
“NEWARK Hope Village will provide a welcoming atmosphere, where our most vulnerable have an opportunity to re-engage in services in a safe and therapeutic shelter. I will continue to work on pioneering strategies to end homelessness in our city in partnership with public, private, and non-profit partners,” Mayor Baraka said.
Those seeking shelter will also receive other supportive services including assistance with transition to permanent housing. But first the City of Newark wants to address the needs of those individuals who historically are shelter adverse. The goal is to transition those who are chronically homeless to a targeted street outreach that begins with a positive experience within the village. A continuum of social service supports is then added.
Mayor Baraka during his time in office has strongly engaged with the City’s broad community from business to residents. NVP that focuses on bring talent and investment to Newark has also been supportive of the Mayor’s community initiatives such as their participation in the All Stars Project of New Jersey in which they kicked off its Fall 2018 Development School for Youth (DSY) program in Newark. Just recently Vauhgn Crowe who joined NVP as managing partner has roots in the community and will be overseeing a fund that is intended to yield direct benefits to the local community. The synergy hoped for between the business community and Newark’s residents continues to gain momentum, much of it due to the collaborations the Mayor has championed.
