Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has announced that Ocean’s Harbor House (OHH), an organization supporting at-risk youth, will receive a federal grant of more than $1 million over the next three years. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Transitional Living Program for Runaway and Homeless Youth.
“The mission of Ocean’s Harbor House (OHH) is one of changing lives, as the organization enables teens and young adults have a safe place to live while they finish school and prepare for the workforce,” said Smith.
“OHH provides critical services for at-risk youth, and the work completed by the OHH’s dedicated staff is nothing less than amazing. Every penny of this grant will go towards making tangible differences in the lives of young people who have been dealt difficult hands in life.”
Donna Carlson, Chief Operating Officer of OHH, stated, “This most welcome news now has us focused on the work ahead and the futures of the young lives in our care.” She explained that OHH offers transitional housing, supportive living programs, and advocacy services throughout Smith’s congressional district.
“Ocean’s Harbor House provides housing, supportive living programs and advocacy for youth who are homeless or in crisis, empowering them to build successful pathways, relationships, and futures. This has been the cornerstone of our work for 40 years. We believe every young person deserves more than survival—they deserve the chance to thrive,” Carlson said.
The SHORE House program at OHH was established 22 years ago to provide safety and stability for young people facing homelessness in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Carlson noted, “Today, our SHORE House continues this vital mission. In this House, we celebrate young people who now not only have a safe place to live, but also have the tools to heal, learn, grow, and become self-sufficient through education and job readiness. Their sense of hope, identity, and future sustains us, and restores the fabric of our shared communities.”
The new grant will help OHH continue its supervised transitional living program for unhoused youth ages 16 to 21. The organization prepares these individuals for adulthood by teaching economic strategies such as financial literacy, budgeting, planned spending and saving. Other skills include meal planning and bill paying.
Smith added: “Ocean’s Harbor House is on the front lines of preventing and combating youth homelessness in our communities. The committed staff ensures that these young people have hot meals and a safe place to stay, equipping them with the necessary resources to complete their schooling, prepare for employment, and reach for a brighter future.”
Chris Smith has represented New Jersey’s 4th District in Congress since 1981 after replacing Frank Thompson. He was born in Rahway in 1953 and currently resides in Manchester Township. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
