NJ Transit launches QR codes for Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, charities to aid homeless

RED BANK – Lasheema Edwards had gotten her bachelor’s, master’s and was in the process of getting her Ph.D. in psychology at Grand Canyon University. But then she found herself homeless in Penn Station.

“Every person’s situation is different. For me it was untreated mental illness that I didn’t know I had,” she said.

To help fund programs to assist the homeless, NJ Transit has begun an initiative to place QR codes at its facilities to give commuters an easy way to donate. The transit agency is hoping to deter commuters from directly giving to panhandlers, while also giving commuters an option to donate to social service organizations whose job is to reach out to the homeless, many of whom frequent NJ Transit train station and bus stops.

The initiative, called Chance for Change, is in partnership with the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley and Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey. All funds donated via the QR code will go to those three organizations, which NJ Transit has partnered with due to their track record of working with vulnerable communities.

More information can be found at www.njtransit.com/change .

“Here’s the reality that we know in law enforcement. That good-natured donation that you give on the spot, as much as you’re doing it from your heart, it’s going more than likely to foster the addiction problem and you’re not helping the people that you think you’re helping,” NJ Transit Police Department Chief Christopher Trujillo said. He said that’s why Chance for Change initiative would allow commuters to donate to partner organizations specializing in outreach, healthcare and housing instead of to individuals panhandling at NJ Transit stations.

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“The reality sometimes also is, people who are looking to panhandle, commit crime,” Trujillo said. “(They) frequent public transportation because they know that people will give them money. You can make our transit facilities safer if you utilize the Chance for Change QR code and donate by that way.”

One of the partner organizations, Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, operates the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a restaurant that serves everyone regardless of their ability to pay, in Red Bank and Toms River.

Heather Goldfarb, the executive director, said “No one organization can do this work alone.”

She said the number of guests at the restaurant, many of whom take NJ Transit, has been its highest ever.

Over the years the organization has built up its own services and allied with other organizations to help its guests with other needs.

Goldfarb said in the last nine months, the organization and its partners found housing for about 20 guests.

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After six years of homelessness, Edwards is no longer homeless.

The organization that reached out to Edwards was Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey.

Edwards had turned down the support programs’ outreach workers multiple times due to negative experiences with other organizations.

“Other agencies were like, ‘Get in the vehicle. This is where you’re going to go. We’re going to take you here.’ I wasn’t even ready,” Edwards said.

But the politeness and persistence from the Collaborative Support Programs’ workers won her over and one day she walked into one of their wellness centers seeking help.

Pamela Baker, deputy director of homelessness services, said the support program is a one-stop shop of resources including housing, detox treatment and food.

“We ask, obviously ‘Can we talk to you? Is that okay?’ We obviously ask folks for permission,” Baker said. “Everything is kind of on their terms. They tell us what they want. If they say, ‘No, I don’t want to talk today, but come back tomorrow,’ then that’s what we’ll do. But if they want to talk, then we’ll go through the list of things of what do you actually need.”

Baker said some people come in looking for a job to jumpstart their life again while others need to start from scratch and are looking for ways to replace their missing IDs.

For Edwards, she’s been doing well. She volunteered with Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey before being hired as the organization’s regional coordinator for Hudson, Union and Essex counties.

“Right now, I’m happy where I’m at,” she said.

Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Transit launches QR codes for Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, charities to aid homeless