(TRENTON, NJ) – Volunteers of America Delaware Valley (VOADV) today announced the launch of the Safe Return Legal Navigator Program. Building on the principle of meeting people where they are, the newest Safe Return/Navigator Program will enhance the existing IMPACT (Immediate Mobilization of Police Assisted Crisis Teams) service delivery model. “The Safe Return Legal Navigator program is a crucial extension of the many services VOADV provides,” said Daniel L. Lombardo, VOADV President and CEO. “By bringing legal assistance straight to those who need it most, we are reinforcing our commitment to direct, immediate services. Safe Return Legal Navigator will expand…

Amani House, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley’s 25-bed transitional housing program for men, is committed to providing comprehensive support to homeless men in Mercer County, NJ. Amani House offers a safe space where individuals can work towards stability and self-sufficiency through a variety of specialized programs and resources. One of the key partnerships Amani House has developed is with the WorkWell program, a New Jersey-based initiative designed to help people reenter society after incarceration. WorkWell focuses on providing job training and life skills through ongoing training cycles. These programs are crucial for empowering participants with the tools and resources they…

Jon Bon Jovi’s JBJ Soul Foundation, Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey and Volunteers of America Delaware Valley announced Monday they have launched an innovative new program called “Chance for Change” that provides a digital avenue for customers to donate safely and effectively to help those in need. They also announced a new partner in their longstanding effort: New Jersey Transit. The Chance for Change platform will be accessible online and through QR codes available on posters at NJ Transit facilities, digital advertising screens, on social media and on the NJ Transit mobile app. The various platforms will provide a secure platform for NJ Transit…

Forced labor and sex-trafficking are on the rise in New Jersey, and the state now has an independent unit within the state police department handling such cases. “You could say it’s an epidemic in New Jersey, it is growing quite rapidly,” said Detective Sgt. Rick Hershey, who supervises the New Jersey State Police Human Trafficking unit in South Jersey. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 170 human trafficking cases were identified in New Jersey by investigators in 2023 from calls to the hotline, up from 137 cases in 2022 and the largest total since 2019, when 247 such cases were identified. Cassidy Egan,…

NJ Transit, Jersey Shore rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen Foundation and two other charities launched a more helpful solution for people in need who are asking riders for spare change. The program, “Chance for Change” allows passengers to donate electronically to charities that will use the money to get help from everyday necessities to substance abuse counseling to housing for the unhoused and others in need. Officials speaking at a launch event at the Red Bank train station Monday called it a better option than giving a person cash for a one time, well-intentioned handout for coffee or food. The program…

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VOADV has launched their annual fundraiser, Operation Backpack®, collecting backpacks and school supplies throughout the summer.

From cleaning up parks and washing county vehicles to receiving identification and interviewing for full time positions, the Work Now program offers those experiencing homelessness a pathway to stable, independent lives through a paid day of work and access to crucial services. A partnership between Volunteers of America Delaware Valley and the Camden County Board of Commissioners, Work Now provides a unique opportunity for individuals who may have been reluctant to seek help initially. By earning a day’s wage, participants are incentivized to engage with services, breaking down barriers of mistrust and skepticism. The heart of the program lies in…

This great day was a long time coming. In 2020, when the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey saw its first leadership change in 25 years, one of the organization’s new priorities was assuring it was giving back to the community. That came with a shift in its mission, vision, strategic priorities and a renewed focus on recruiting nonprofits and other community-based organizations to its membership base. Another aspect of this new direction was adding programming to the chamber’s already packed slate of more than 120 events per year that encouraged its more than 1,200 member companies to give back and support…

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) delivered the following remarks at a Human Trafficking Symposium today in Freehold: “Forced labour in the private economy generates $236 billion in illegal profits per year, a new report (published on March 19, 2024)  from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has found… “Forced commercial sexual exploitation accounts for more than two-thirds (73 per cent) of the total illegal profits, despite accounting for only 27 per cent of the total number of victims in privately imposed labour… “These numbers are explained by the huge difference in per victim profits between forced commercial sexual exploitation and other forms…