25 Years ago I entered Anchor House for 31 days. Anchor House to me was the only place as a kid I felt safe. For the first time in my life I was able to breathe and not be afraid. I could go to sleep at night and not feel like something was going to happen. I had accountability for chores and the rules of the house which really went a long way. There was structure and caring. It gave me the chance to be a kid even if it was only for a short time. My case worker showed me so much compasion that I was able to break down walls and tell what did and was happening to me. She gave me hugs! That was a huge thing! The volunteers who came out often helped me to step away from all the drama and have fun. They would take us places or just hang out. So while we had to deal with our reality we knew that there were going to be times that we didnt have to focus on it and just enjoy ourselves. I remember while i was there I was told my great grandmother had passed and my birth mother blamed me for it. There was a volunteer who sat and hugged me and made me feel in that moment that things would be ok and that it was ok to be sad. Something I had never had before. I think of that volunteer often. Each little thing that the case workers and volunteers did for me helped to shape who I am today. Unfortunatly I was sent back to my birth family and that never got better. But because of my time at Anchor House I took what I was shown and taught and grew. Today I have a family of my own with two kids and a husband of 13 years. I cant imagine what my life would have been had they not sent me to Anchor House.
2,350 Pageviews Read Stories
- EIN 22-2229995
- (609) 396-8329
- 482 Centre St Trenton NJ 08611 USA
- www.anchorhousenj.org
- Facebook page
- Add to Favorites
25 Years ago I entered Anchor House for 31 days. Anchor House to me was the only place as a kid I felt safe. For the first time in my life I was able to breathe and not be afraid. I could go to sleep at night and not feel like something was going to happen. I had
Read More
dbard314, Client Served
Promote This Nonprofit
Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Family Services for Adolescent Parents
Mission: The mission of Anchor House, Inc. is to provide a safe haven where abused, runaway, aging-out, and at-risk youth and their families are empowered to succeed and thrive.
Target demographics: Runaway, homeless, abused, neglected, aging-out, and at-risk youth
Geographic areas served: Based in Trenton, NJ, but serving all of Mercer County and beyond, Anchor House, Inc. was founded in 1978 by a group of concerned individuals who had become aware of runaway and homeless young people in their midst who were without resources and vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Anchor House Shelter was founded to address the teens' unmet needs and to provide them with the building blocks of hope and healing. The name "Anchor House" was chosen to reflect the core mission of the organization: to help youth in crisis find stability, safety, and calm amid life's storms. Anchor House was the first Shelter in the County dedicated to adolescents and remains one of a scant few such programs in the state. The agency has served as a model for other programs and enjoys a nation-wide reputation for innovation and leadership in the field.
Programs: Over the years, Anchor House’s residential and community-based programs and services have grown and evolved to meet changing needs. The original Shelter is today joined by the Anchorage Transitional Living Program for aging-out youth; Anchor Link drop-in resource center; Anchor Line supportive apartment program; the Connecting YOUth program that helps systems-involved teens develop networks of supportive connections; and Connect to Home and rapid rehousing programs, focused on addressing and ending youth homelessness. The agency also offers a Youth Advisory Council opportunity for our youth to engage in advocacy and community service.