Local Social Services

Mercer County Board of Social Services

Address: 200 Woolverton Street, Trenton, NJ 08650-2099
Phone: (609) 989-4320
Fax: (609) 394-6638
Email: mcboss@mcboss.org
Hours: Monday and Wednesday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm | Tuesday: 8:30am - 8:30pm 
The Mercer County Board of Social Services offers a wide variety of services and programs for individuals and families in need of assistance.  They act as a centralized hub for access to numerous assistance programs: WorkFirst New Fersey Temporary Assistance to Needy Families – WFNJ TANF (cash assistance, emergency assistance, support services), NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – NJ SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid/NJ Family Care (health assistance), child support, adult protective and social services, funeral and burial Assistance, transportation assistance, and other programs.

Work First New Jersey  

Work First New Jersey is the state’s temporary public assistance program, designed to help families move to self-sufficiency by offering them a full array of supports, from child care, health insurance and transportation, to substance abuse treatment and emergency funds. There is a five-year lifetime limit on cash assistance, and recipients must be employed or take part in work activities.  Call the Work First New Jersey Hotline at 1-800-792-9773 for more information.

HomeFront-Family Campus

101 Celia Way Ewing, NJ 08628 
Phone ((609) 883-7500
Website: www.homefrontnj.org/
Home to the Family Preservation Center. The 42,000-square-foot Family Preservation Center on Homefront's Family Campus accommodates 38 families, giving them on-site access to childcare, job training and other services designed to break the cycle of homelessness. Since its inception 25 years ago, HomeFront has worked to break the cycle of poverty and end homelessness in Central New Jersey, serving thousands of Mercer County families. 
Services 

• Case management
• Homelessness prevention services (including back rent & utility assistance),
• Emergency food, free clothing and household goods at our FreeStore,
• Affordable housing searches,
• Job placement and readiness skills.

Mercer County Shelters and Emergency Housing

Listing of Mercer County resources from HUD.gov
After 4:00 pm all after hour referrals for shelter should be directed to the Statewide Homeless Hotline, 2-1-1 or 1-877-652-1148. 

Arm in Arm

1 N. Johnston Ave. Suite A230, Hamilton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609-396-9355 
Website: arminarm.org/

Formerly The Crisis Ministry, this non-profit has served the residents of Mercer County who are struggling financially for over forty years.  If you are food insecure, need help with housing, looking for on the job training and more, check out their many resources.   

For Housing Assistance via phone intake, call 609-396-9355 X11 Mondays - Thursdays from 9 am - 3:30 pm.  For specific requirements see arminarm.org/preventing-homelessness/.  

Anchor House 

482 Centre Street, Trenton, NJ 08611
Phone: 609-396-9355 
Website: www.anchorhousenj.org/ 

Sage Housing for youth, counseling services, substance abuse prevention.

Catholic Charities 

383 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08607-1423
Phone: 609-394-3202
Website: www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/

Food Assistance, Housing, Addiction Treatment. 

CEAS Center

509 Perry Street, Trenton, NJ 08618  
Phone: 609-989-3722, 609-468-8293
Website: www.trentonnj.org/177/Coordinated-Entry-Assessment-System-CEAS

Housing assistance.

Childrens Futures childrensfutures.org/

16 West Front Street, Suite 220 Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609-695-1977
Website: childrensfutures.org

Housing assistance, Parenting Support.

Isles Isles.org

10 Wood St., Trenton, NJ 08618
Phone: 609-341-4700
Website: https://isles.org/

Lead/Healthy Homes Assessments, Foreclosure Prevention, youth mentoring.

Lifeties  
Phone: 609-771-1600
Website: www.centerffs.org/our-services/community-connections/lifeties-mentoring

Housing.  

Mary's Place 

Phone: 609-771-1600 X78124
Website: www.centerffs.org/our-services/safe-supportive-housing/marys-place

Transitional Housing (Ages 18-21).

Rescue Mission Trenton

98 Carroll Street, P.O. Box 790, Trenton, NJ 08605-0790
Phone: (609) 695-1436
Website: rescuemissionoftrenton.org/

Food Assistance, Housing, Addiction Treatment. 

Triad House

Phone: 609-771-1600 X78108
Website: www.centerffs.org/our-services/safe-supportive-housing/triad-house

Residential group home.

Womanspace

1530 Brunswick Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Phone: 609-394-0136
Website: https://womanspace.org/

Programs include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy and housing services. Womanspace receives funding from the State of New Jersey, the County of Mercer and contributions from individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations. 

Homeless Hotline

Phone: 609-278-1481

Salvation Army Drop-In Center

Phone: 609-599-9373

Day Shelter 

Rainbow House   

1301 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08618
Phone: 609-394-6747
Website: https://www.centerffs.org/

Group Home for women 12-21 who are pregnant/parenting, medically fragile, or suffering emotional/ behavioral challenges, with particular focus on women with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, lupus, and severe asthma.

Mercer Street Friends Food Bank

824 Silvia Street Ewing Township, NJ
Phone: 609-406-0503
Website: mercerstreetfriends.org/food-bank/
Mercer Street Friends was founded in 1958 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The Mercer Street Friends Food Bank channels 2.7 million pounds of food and groceries annually to a network of 80 local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, meal sites, schools, senior and disabled programs and low-income housing sites. Mercer Street Friends Food Bank is a Partner Distribution Organization with the Community FoodBank of NJ and Feeding America.

Meals On Wheels of Mercer County

​320 Hollowbrook Dr., Ewing NJ 08638
Phone: 609-695-3483
Email: info@mealsonwheelsmercer.org

Languages spoken other than English: none
Website: http://www.mercercounty.org/departments/human-services/aging-disability-resource-connection/office-on-aging/nutrition-project-for-the-elderly
This program provides older Mercer County residents age 60 and older, with nutritionally balanced and appetizing meals that are served in centers that bring people together for activities and social contact.  In Ewing, seniors are served in the Hollowbrook Community Center at 320 Hollowbrook Road.  Complete lunches are served Monday through Friday that includes an appetizer, main entrée, vegetables, bread, beverage, and dessert.   This is a federally funded program.  It encourages participants to make a suggested donation of $1 for their daily meal.  Nutrition education/nutrition counseling is also available.  For those who need assistance with transportation, prior to COVID, the Senior van would do drop off/pick up to and from the program.  However, they are still presently doing curbside bagged lunches.  They are looking at resuming in May for indoor meals.  

Food Pantries in Ewing Township

• The Victorious Church Food Pantry, Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing :
  Contact: Barbara Collins (609) 771-4251
  Hours: Wednesdays and Fridays, 11am - 2pm
  Serves: No known restrictions
  Food available: Pantry items
  
  
• New Bethel Holy Church, 45 Weber Ave, Ewing, NJ
  Phone:  (609) 883-3979
  Hours: 3rd Friday of the month 9am - 1pm
  
  
• Faith Deliverance Cathedral, 15 Keswick Avenue, Ewing, NJ
  Contact: Pastor Everett Kelly - (609) 637-9604
  Hours - Every Friday, 10 am - 12:30 pm
  
  
• Celestial Church of Christ, 46 Weber Ave., Ewing, NJ 
  Phone: (609) 771-9227
  Hours: 3rd Friday of the month from 9am - 1pm
  
  
• Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, 1901 N. Olden Ave, Suite 25, Ewing
  Phone: (609) 883-9780
  Hours: 4th Saturday of each month from 9 am - 12 pm
  Serves: No known restrictions
  Food available: Pantry items
  
  
• The Shop at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing
  Phone: 609-771-2345
  Hours: Open to the public.  Contact Campus Police Department and they will open the pantry on demand. 
  Serves: No restrictions.
  Food available: Pantry items.

Food Pantries in Mercer County for information beyond Ewing.

Mercer County Food Pantries / Meal Services - created and maintained by Mercer Street Friends.

Trenton Area Free Food Resources - created and maintained by the Trenton Health Team.

SNAP Food Stamps and Cash Assistance

Apply for NJ Snap:

• Online, by clicking here. 

Ewing Helping Hands
Created to help Ewing families with children struggling to put food on the table due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. They are organizing donations of perishable/non-perishable food items and accepting monetary donations, store gift cards (such as from Halo Farms, Aldi, ShopRite, etc.)   All items are porch drop off or any other arrangement adhering to social distancing guidelines.  Make arrangements to donate using:

• Email
• Facebook Instant Messenger

Arm in Arm

1 N. Johnston Ave. Suite A230, Hamilton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609-396-9355 
Website: arminarm.org/

Formerly The Crisis Ministry, this non-profit has served the residents of Mercer County who are struggling financially for over forty years.  If you are food insecure, need help with housing, looking for on the job training and more, check out their many resources.   

Arm in Arm Food Pantry assistance is at two locations: 48 Hudson St., Trenton, NJ 08609 and 61 Nassau St. Princeton, NJ 08542.

Trenton Food Pantry Hours: 9:30 am -1  pm on Monday & Wednesday. 

Princeton Food Pantry Hours: Monday & Wednesday from 11am -4:00 pm and Tuesday from 1 pm -7 pm.

To apply for unemployment insurance, please visit www.MyUnemployment.nj.gov or call the following phone number for Central Jersey:

• 732-761-2020

State of New Jersey COVID-19 Jobs and Hiring Portal

For those who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced as a result of COVID-19.  Businesses across New Jersey need thousands of workers for immediate hire. Learn more about who is hiring in your community.

A License to Succeed

Drivers License Restoration Assistance - A unique program offered through Arm in Arm, which helps low income individuals who have lost their drivers license surmount the challenge of those lost licenses, fines and fees, thus freeing them from relying on restrictive bus routes to get to work and helping them to seek out jobs in more fields of employment.  

To apply, email drive@arminarm.org with your full name, phone number, and address. Applicants should obtain all required paperwork (listed below) before emailing.

New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline

The New Jersey Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for domestic violence victims and other seeking crisis intervention, information, and/or referral services. All calls to the hotline at 800-572-7233 (800-572-SAFE) are confidential.  

Womanspace

1530 Brunswick Avenue, Lawrenceville, NJ
Phone: 609-394-0136
Crisis line, available 24/7 609-394-9000 | Deaf or hard of hearing consumers text 609-619-1888.
Womanspace provides services to individuals and families impacted by domestic and sexual violence and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults and their families.
Services:

• Crisis intervention,
• Emergency shelter,
• Counseling,
• Court advocacy, and
• Housing services

Its counseling office can be reached at 609-394-2532 Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact of Mercer County

60 South Main Street Pennington, NJ 08534
Phone: (609) 896-2120 or (609) 585-2244
Call to speak with one of our highly trained, compassionate listeners: 8am-10pm / 7 days a week (When volunteers are present.) 609-737-2000
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24/7 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) / 1 (800) 273-8255

Signs of Sobriety, Inc.

100 Scotch Road, Second Floor Ewing, NJ 08628 
Phone (Voice): (609) 882-7677 Phone (TTY): (609) 882-7177 
Email: S0Snj@Juno.com 
Substance & Alcohol intervention services for the deaf 
Services: 

• Family Programs
• Halfway Housing
• Information/Referral
• Interpreted Meetings 
• Special Devices for the Deaf: Closed Captioning (Available by request)
• Prevocational training

Advancing Opportunities, Inc.

1005 Whitehead Road Extension, Suite 1 Ewing, New Jersey 08638 
Phone: 609-882-4182 Toll-Free: 1-888-322-1918 Fax: 609-882-4054 
Email: info@advopps.org 
Website: advopps.org/
A 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization providing services and supports to people with disabilities and their families so they can live independently. The organization traces its roots to United Cerebral Palsy Associations of New Jersey, Inc. In 2001, the agency changed its name to Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey. In 2008, the agency changed its name again to reflect the fact that it provides supports to people with all types of disabilities and creates a wide array of possibilities. 
Services: 

• Advocacy
• Assistive Technology Center: The Technology Lending Center is now a free service for New Jersey residents. Anyone with a disability who would like to trial assistive technology can contact us, sign up for free, and begin borrowing right away. Call: 888-322-1918, x 536, or email tlc@advopps.org
• Career Development
• Community & Individual Supports
• Family Support Services
• Residential Services
• Student Success Center

Developmental Disabilities Support Services LLC

5 Stamy Drive Suite #2, Ewing Township, NJ
Phone: 609-469-1958 
Email: lnfo@ddssnj.com 
Website: www.ddssnj.com/
In-home care service and individual supports programs. Provides a wide range of short-term and long-term in-home care services. Developmental Disabilities Support Services is a New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities Approved Provider and NJ Medicaid Provider.

The ARC Mercer

180 Ewingville Road Ewing, NJ 08638 
Phone: 609-406-0181
Website: https://arcmercer.org/ 
Provides community-based services for people with special needs and developmental disabilities. 
Services: 

• Behavioral supports
• Career planning
• Community supports
• Community inclusion
• Day habitation
• Residential service
• Respite service Healthcare center
• Transportation
• Supported employment
• Recreational services

Raymond J. DiFrancesco Memorial Playground
Ewing Senior and Community Center, 999 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08628
Phone: 609-883-1776
Website:https://ewingnj.org/escc#escc
Houses a Special Needs Access Playground with Inclusive Play™ playground equipment in the play area behind the ESCC for children with disabilities.  The Inclusive Play™ equipment allows children of all abilities to grow and play together by addressing accessibility, age and developmental appropriateness and sensory-stimulating activity.

Elite Caring Adult Medical Day Care

80 W Upper Ferry Rd Ewing Township, NJ 08628 
Phone: (609) 883-0020
Website: www.elitecaring.com/
Services: 

• Nursing & Rehabilitation Services
• Social Services
• Recreational & Therapeutic Activities
• Dietary services
• Transportation to and from the center, medical appointments, outings, & trips

Fresenius Kidney Care Ewing

1962 N Olden Ave Trenton, NJ 08618 
Phone: 609-671-1600 Fax: 609-671-9831 
Services: 

• In-center hemodialysis
• KidneyCare: 365 classes

Ewing Township Senior & Community Center

999 Lower Ferry Road Ewing, NJ 
Phone: 609-883-1776
Email: tforst@ewingnj.org 
Website: ewingnj.org/escc

The Ewing Senior and Community Center (ESCC) is a multi-generational facility that provides recreational, educational, social, and civic opportunities to Ewing Township residents of all ages. A wide variety of activities and events is offered regularly including:

• instructional classes
• fitness groups
• drop-in programs
• opportunities to socialize and participate in clubs
• free and fee-based services

Seniors activities offered include exercise classes, computer classes, pool tables, monthly programs, trips, senior clubs and more.

Hollowbrook Community Center

320 Hollowbrook Drive Ewing, NJ 
Phone: (609) 883-1199 
Website: ewingnj.org/hcc 
Services: 

• Pool
• Computer Learning Center
• Mercer County Library Hollowbrook Branch

Also at Hollowbrook: 

• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Mercer County
• Gateway Head Start Program
• Mercer County Nutrition Program for Seniors
• Meals on Wheels of Mercer County

Ewing Seniors, aged 60 and older who are unable to drive, may take advantage of our free van service from Monday – Friday. Service hours are from 8 am – 3:30 pm. Clients are regularly transported to and between our Community Centers, the ESCC and Hollowbrook (when it reopens) for Ewing Senior social events; to medical appointments, grocery stores; and Mercer County nutrition.

Transportation is by appointment only. Reservations can be made Monday – Friday between 8:30 AM – 1PM. Call Justin Latini at (609) 468-9364. The van is parked at 3:30 PM. For additional information about this service see our Ewing Seniors page on this website.

Mercer County TRADE Transportation

Another non-emergency transportation service available to Mercer County residents aged 60+ and to adults with disabilities is Mercer County TRADE. This County service provides door-to-door transportation within the County (and up to 5 miles beyond County borders). Service is available weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm. Advance reservations are required.

Mercer County TRADE Transportation
300 Scotch Road
Trenton, NJ 08628

For more information call 609-530-1971 or go to the Transportation Resources to Aid the Disadvantaged and Elderly page on the Mercer County website.

Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Mercer County

320 Hollowbrook Dr., Ewing, NJ 08638
Phone: (609) 883-1560 Fax: (609) 883-2898
Website: www.cyomercer.org/

Provides affordable, quality, educational and recreational services for Mercer County youth

Gateway Head Start Program 

Gateway Head Start/EHS offers a school readiness program for children ages 0-5 from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition, social, and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services.

Lifeties

John S. Watson Sr. Building 2205 Pennington Rd. Ewing, NJ 08638 
Phone: (609) 771-1600 Fax: 609-530-1648 
Email: info@lifeties.org 
Website: www.lifeties.org/
Lifeties, Inc. is a supportive network of professional staff and trained volunteers dedicated to creating programs for youth to overcome the effects of abuse, neglect or homelessness.

Triad House

2205 Pennington Rd, Ewing Township, NJ 08638
Phone: (609) 771-4221
Email: vharmon@lifeties.org
Website: www.lifeties.org/programs/triad-house/ 

Triad House, a program of LifeTies, is a 24-hour residential group home for youth ages 16-21 with emotional, medical and behavioral challenges.
Services: 

• 24-hour residential services
• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Family Counseling
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Substance Abuse Assessment and Referral
• Educational Planning
• Job Readiness Training
• Tutoring
• Community Service
• Program Aftercare

Mary's Place

Scattered site housing in Mercer County
Phone: (609) 671-0040 
Email: rwilkins@lifeties.org 
Website: www.lifeties.org/programs/marys-place/

Support services aimed at empowering residents and providing a safe secure environment to grow into self-sufficient adults. 
Services:

• Safe and Supportive Supervised Living Accommodations
• Facilitation and Linkages to Mental and Physical Health Care
• Financial Education and Money Management Skills
• Educational Services for Post-Secondary Education
• Assistance in Securing Long-Term Permanent Housing
• Instruction in Landlord - Tenant Rights
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Career Planning and Employment Preparation
• Recreational Services

Rainbow House

1301 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08618
Phone: (609) 394-6747
Email: vharmon@lifeties.org 
Website: www.lifeties.org/programs/rainbow-house/

A group home for female adolescents who have chronic illnesses such as Diabetes, Lupus or Asthma, or pregnant youth or parenting youth and their babies. In 1991, LifeTies opened Rainbow House, the first group home in the nation for adolescents with HIV/AIDS and their children. In 2009, Rainbow House expanded its services to include chronically ill young women with Lupus, Diabetes, Asthma, and other chronic health conditions. In 2013, Rainbow House expanded its services to also include pregnant/parenting youth, and youth with emotional/behavioral challenges. 
Services

• 24-hour residential services
• Individual Counseling Group Counseling
• Family Counseling
• Independent Living Skills Training
• Substance Abuse Assessment and Referral
• Educational Planning
• Job Readiness Training
• Tutoring
• Community Service
• Program Aftercare

T.I.L.T. Mentoring

John S. Watson Sr. Building, 2205 Pennington Rd., Ewing, NJ 08638
Phone: (609) 671-0040
Email: deaves@lifeties.org  | ttriano-davis@lifeties.org  
Website: www.lifeties.org/programs/t-i-l-t-mentoring/  

T.I.L.T. (Teenage Independent Living Training) Mentoring goal is to provide a caring adult in youth's life who are living in our group homes, supportive housing units and in the community.
Services

• Job Shadowing
• Exploring post-secondary institutions
• Participating in recreational activities
• Exploring career paths

Clinical Services:
Stabilize youth through providing trauma informed care through individual, family and group therapy to all youth in our Group Homes.

New Jersey Relay

A free service administered by the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in collaboration with Sprint, to ensure equal communication access to telephone service for people who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard-of hearing, or speech disabled. The service allows callers to communicate with standard (voice) telephone users through specially trained Relay Operators (OPR). 
Dial 711 to use NJ Relay.

COMMUNICATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH NJ RELAY

Text Telephone Relay (TTY)
Allows individuals using a TTY to type their conversation to the OPR, who then reads the typed conversation to a standard telephone user. 
TTY equipment is also available with braille or large visual displays for individuals who are visually impaired. 
Hearing Carry-Over (HCO)
Allows a speech disabled person with hearing capabilities to listen to a standard telephone user and type his/her conversation to the OPR, who will voice the message to the standard telephone user.
Video Relay Service (VRS)
Enables individuals who use sign language to communicate via a certified Video Interpreter via the internet, using any device equipped with a front facing camera or webcam. The interpreter voices the signed conversation over the phone - in real time - to the standard telephone users. 
Internet Protocol Relay (IP Relay)
Enables individuals to use any device connected to the internet to type their conversation to an OPR who then reads the conversation to a standard telephone user. Spanish translation is also available. 
Relay Conference Captioning (RCC)
Enables individuals to participate in meetings, phone calls, videoconferences and multi-party conference calls using live, real-time text streamed to a computer connected to the Internet. 
Captioned Telephones (CapTel), Web CapTel, Wireless CapTel
Allows users to listen, speak directly to the caller, and read captions of the caller's response either through a captioned telephone device (Cap Tel), via a computer with internet access (Web Cap Tel), or wirelessly using a mobile device. Spanish translation is available. 
For additional information, contact the NJ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 609-588- 2648 or visit www.njrelay.com