Community Hope Recognizes Supporters and Stakeholders during COVID-19 Outbreak

Parsippany, NJ – Community Hope, NJ’s largest non-profit organization serving homeless veterans, veteran families and adults with mental illness has been facing a challenge since the pandemic outbreak earlier this year. As the owner and operator of 35 facilities and a provider of services in 13 New Jersey counties, Community Hope was faced with the challenge of keeping their residents, service recipients, and employees safe and healthy. Given the close quarters in 24-hour care locations and the need for other direct care services, the organization faced ensuring more than 650 people stayed well. To date, one percent of the employees, veterans and consumers in their programs have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and there have been no known cases of contact spread.

“We saw this was going to become an issue, so the senior leadership of our organization, with the assistance of our Board of Directors and our service delivery teams, all worked together to develop a plan to keep everyone safe, ensure critical communication lines were open and resources were available. We have pulled together as a team, innovated, and mobilized around the crisis, facing each challenge collaboratively.” says Carmine V. Deo, Community Hope Executive Director

Community Hope didn’t achieve these successes alone. Stakeholders and supporters activated around the crisis and bolstered our needs with emergency funding, expanded service delivery options, donated food, protective equipment, and gift cards. The organization is particularly grateful for having received emergency funding from a number of foundations, corporations, and individuals, including Novartis US Foundation, The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, The Rite-Aid Foundation and The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, all of whom exemplified that we are “all in this together”.

The funding and other resources helped accelerate planning as each level of the crisis grew and to ensure the crucial services, daily living essentials, and necessary travel were available to consumers and veterans across the organization. Community Hope employees migrated to a shop and deliver model to ensure food and medicines were available. Technology upgrades ensured delivery of teleservices and daily support continued uninterrupted. In addition, protective equipment was secured and deployed and disinfection ramped up to prevent virus spread.

“We are an essential business and our work cannot stop, no matter natural disaster or global pandemic. The recognition of this by stakeholders and funders who have provided their support is a true testament to our team of employees who have taken such good care of themselves, our veterans, veteran families, and our consumers. To say I am proud of everyone at Community Hope is an understatement. It is an honor to be a member of the Community Hope family.” says Deo