Integrity House, a major New Jersey nonprofit provider of substance use disorder and mental health services, has been awarded a grant by the City of Newark Office of Homeless Services (OHS) to launch a specialized street outreach and engagement program.
The new initiative will deploy dedicated outreach teams seven days a week to assist unsheltered residents living in public spaces, transit hubs, and high-need areas across Newark.
Targeted support for vulnerable residents
The outreach program is structured to prioritize individuals experiencing severe life challenges, particularly those living outdoors or in locations unfit for human habitation while navigating substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or chronic medical needs.
Each mobile team will consist of:
- Two Street Outreach Specialists
- One Licensed Clinician
The teams will provide direct behavioral health assessments, crisis intervention, and overdose prevention education on-site. Additionally, clinicians and specialists will coordinate directly with local hospitals, shelters, crisis systems, and community health networks to ensure participants receive long-term, continuous care.
Relationship-first approach
Overseen by Robin Shorter, senior director of Community Engagement at Integrity House, said the initiative emphasizes trust-building to help connect individuals who are often disconnected from traditional support systems.
“People experiencing unsheltered homelessness often face complex challenges that can make it difficult to engage with traditional systems of care, housing, and other essential services,” Shorter said. “It all starts with trust. Through consistent outreach and relationship building, our outreach teams will help connect individuals to the resources they need to improve their health, stability, and well-being.”
