About MIPH

Who Are We?

Middlesex Interfaith Partners with the Homeless (MIPH) was founded in 1987 to increase local services and resources for homeless persons. Initially, MIPH consisted of all volunteers who were represented by local advocates and clergy from the Middlesex County area. Since its inception, MIPH has operated a variety of programs: a dinner program in New Brunswick which served approximately 75 homeless individuals and families nightly; two overnight shelter programs in Temple Emanu-El in Edison, one for mentally disabled homeless individuals and one for families in imminent danger of breaking up due to lack of housing and various social service needs; a "Homeless Outreach Center" in New Brunswick for advocacy and referral services; and Amandla Crossing Transitional Housing Program for homelss single parent families.

MIPH has been heavily involved in the evolution of homeless services in our area since 1986. As a grassroots group pushing for expanded homeless services, we brought together mainstream public and private agencies through our efforts to advocate for the homeless. We also introduced the concept of transitionl housing for families to our area.

In 1988, MIPH became the first organization in the country to obtain federal surplus property under Title V of the Stuart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. It is on this property at the GSA Depot in Edison was built in 1991. MIPH obtained additional federal surplus properly at Camp Kilmer in Edison where we intend to build Imani Park, a transitional housing program for homeless individuals and families where one member is living with HIV/AIDS.

An additional program was developed in 2001 in collaboration with Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen, and the volunteer support from local houses of worship. This program, "The ClothesLine" provides free clothing to the poor and needy in our community by having an old school bus travel to various sites within the county thereby being accessible to those most in need.

How We Work

MIPH's guiding principal is that our activities be a true and vital partnership with homeless people. Therefore, we shall strive at all opportunities to seek counsel, cooperation and leadership of homeless people and formerly homeless in every aspect of our activities. Homeless people must have the assurance that their voice be heard in the formulation of our projects and policies, including their substantial representation on our governing bodies.

The administrative and program staff are kept informed and up-to-date on key isues on the local, county and state wide levels which affect homeless populations. By taking a leadership role and helping to formulate corrective actions on behalf of the homeless, MIPH has been and continues to foster independence and empowerment. MIPH is represented on the following:

New Jersey Alliance for the Homeless

Middlesex County Human Services Advisory Council

Comprehensive Emergency Assitance System Committee

HIV Health Services Planning Council for Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon Committee

Welfare Reform Sub-Committee

COMPASS Planning Group

Central New Jersey Non-Profit Forum

New Jersey AIDS Housing Coalition

What We Believe

Homelessness continues to be a more political, social and public health crisis in the United States.

Homelessness has an enourmous impact on a person's emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. The degrading state of homelessness is further coupled by systemic mistreatment. Overt oppression, social stigmatization, and public ignorance promote myths about the nature of homelessness.

• We believe that the fundamental causes of homelessness in the United States is not the fault of the individual. Homelessness is a result of failed social/political policy, particularly in the provision of sufficient affordable housing.
• We believe that the provision of emergency assistance and support services for people in need is not merely a responsibility of government — it is a human responsibility.
• We believe that it is necessary to bring together various parties in the public and private government agencies, social service providers, and concerned individuals, to share expertise and resources in helping people in need.
• We believe that in order to counter the mistreatment that homeless people suffer, that the provision of assistance and other social services be conducted in a manner that enhances human dignity.
• We believe that the delivery of services and assistance should foster independence and empowerment and not force dependency.
• We believe that is is essential that the issue of homelessness be brought and maintained in the public conscience.