Morristown homeless center's goal: Involve the community Invites participation as it tells local groups about new programs
By Minhaj Hassan • Daily Record • October 17, 2008

MORRISTOWN -- Our Place Inc., the daytime drop-off center for homeless individuals that runs from the basement of First Baptist Church on Washington Street, Thursday invited houses of worship, organizations and local businesses to an informational luncheon in hopes the different groups could further enhance the center's services.

Zamir Hassan, vice president of the organization, said the center has launched two new programs.

One program consists of a book sale that will take place weekly outside the church. While Hassan hopes passersby will make a donation when picking up a book, he hopes it accomplishes another goal. "We hope that it raises awareness" in people about homelessness, he said.

He said the next step will be to set up an Our Place Inc. used book club on Amazon.com. Doing so could create jobs for clients in such areas as packaging, and shipping and handling.

Things are looking rosier since June, Hassan said, when officials said funding was drying up and the center had just enough to get them through a few months. Unlike in June, the center now has Internet service and is awaiting three laptop computers, which will be installed in a job search station being created in one section of the room. Three weeks ago, the Rev. Osvaldo Jimenez began serving as the agency's Hispanic Affairs case manager. There is also a volunteer director of development that helps raise funds for the operating budget.

To help Our Place Inc.'s clients navigate the world of job hunting, Executive Director Jim Oppenheimer said the group will receive advice from People Helping People In Need, a non-profit organization specializing in job placements, as well as providing programs on such subjects like substance abuse.

Since its founding 10 years ago, Qadriyyah Sakhu, executive director of People Helping People who was at Thursday's luncheon, said her agency has placed people in jobs at warehouses, customer service and hospitals.

Hassan said more laptop computers are welcome, adding "We are not looking for anything fancy."

Oppenheimer, who was homeless many years ago, said finding a job is only part of the process.

"It's not finding a job that's difficult, but keeping it," he said.

Afsheen Shamsi, a public relations director for the Council on American Islamic Relations, said her organization will also help Our Place Inc. by providing volunteers and raising funds. The council provides volunteers to Muslims Against Hunger, which helps out several times a year at the soup kitchen on South Street. Several Our Place clients use the soup kitchen.

Operations Manager Miroslaw Betka said the monthly expenses for Our Place Inc. is about $3,000, most of which goes toward the rent for the basement, and coffee and cream for the agency's 70 clients.

Both Hassan and Oppenheimer hope the new programs will help reduce homelessness and create stable jobs for their clients.

Minhaj Hassan can be reached at (973) 267-9038 or mhassan@gannett.com.

Troubled homeless shelter regroups
by George! The Start-Ledger MORRISTOWN GREEN
Friday June 20, 2008, 10:34 AM
Our Place, a homeless shelter in the basement of Morristown's First Baptist Church, has fallen on hard times. But the organization has scraped together enough resources to continue through October, reports The Daily Record. In November, several church leaders said they cut off funding to the center and stopped sending potential clients there because they were hearing complaints from people seeking help from the organization and volunteers associated with it. . . Officials stressed the need for more people to join the board, serve as volunteers and give donations, and more importantly, direction. . . Plans include naming a volunteer executive director, launching a fund drive and recruiting volunteers from area colleges, the paper reports.
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Morristown homeless center still open to serve
Agency reorganizes, raises funds for rent after director resigns
By Minhaj Hassan • Daily Record • June 20, 2008

MORRISTOWN -- Our Place, the daytime center for homeless individuals housed in the basement of First Baptist Church on Washington Avenue, has been reorganized and has money enough to keep going through October.

"It gives us a little breathing room," Zamir Hassan, vice president of the board of trustees, said of having enough to cover the $1,800 monthly rent.

Raising enough money to cover five months' worth of rent was one of the goals set out in a reorganization plan adopted by the group last month.

In November, several church leaders said they cut off funding to the center and stopped sending potential clients there because they were hearing complaints from people seeking help from the organization and volunteers associated with it.

Since then, Executive Director Linda Ripley stepped down for medical reasons, and the center has been going through a reorganization. An open house took place at the center Thursday as an outreach to the community.

About 15 church officials, county employees and volunteers were among those present.

Officials stressed the need for more people to join the board, serve as volunteers and give donations, and more importantly, direction.

To meet those goals, center officials hope to appoint a volunteer executive director, start a fundraising drive and review policies.

One of the ways it hopes to recruit volunteers is by reaching out to the colleges in Morris County; Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, the County College of Morris and College of St. Elizabeth.

On May 20, a new Web site for Our Place was completed. It can be accessed by logging on to www.ourplacemorristown.org.

Treasurer Michele Smith DeBlasi said the organization has about $3,000 to $4,000 on hand. Given the recent downturn in the economy and escalating food prices, donations are needed more than ever, she said.

"The funding is getting low," she said. "The economy isn't what it once used to be."

They said they barely have enough to pay their one employee, Miro Slaw, a former client who now serves as the operations manager of Our Place.

Tim Tansey with the Morris County Department of Community Development said the center is more than welcome to apply for grants for specific purposes regarding the operation of the place.

"It is a wonderful place, and they are filling a need," Tansey said.

Since its inception 13 years ago, Our Place has served thousands of clients. This year alone, between January and May, the center served 6,187 clients, of which 109 were new, officials said.

Center volunteers said Our Place serves as a safe place for the homeless to connect with various social services for housing, job placement and public assistance among others things. The center also serves as a mailing address for individuals, as well as a locale for them to make phone calls and receive messages, and obtain hygiene kits.

Hassan said there are also plans in place to have computers with Internet access to enable job searches.

Assumption Church had provided funds to Our Place in the past but it was not clear whether it would do so in the future. Monsignor Martin Rauscher was out of town Thursday and did not attend the open house.

Church Deacon Mike Hanly, who said he was attending the open house as an independent observer and not as a church representative, said that "it looks like they're moving in the right direction and have a clear set of goals."

Board President James Oppenheimer said he can't overestimate the importance of the center.

"It is a true family atmosphere," he said. "When I was homeless, this was my home."

Minhaj Hassan can be reached at (973) 267-9038 or mhassan@gannett.com.

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