Following the accident that left him unconscious for five days and unable to recognize his family, Donovan was unable to return to work as an operating engineer at Newark Liberty International Airport. Soon the father and veteran found himself homeless.
“I had everything once, a house, family, backyard pool and a good job,” he said. “But I lost everything and ended up homeless.”
Yet Donovan never gave up. With the help of his sister and a family friend, he was referred to and became a member of CAU, which operates a Home First: Financial Stability Program through which the agency serves as the member’s representative with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Through the program, CAU first becomes the member’s Representative Payee with the SSA. Upon receiving the participant’s benefits each month, CAU pays their rent and utilities directly to their landlord and utility provider and makes the remaining funds available to them for personal use. CAU staff also work with the participant to create a budget plan that provides financial stability.
In addition, CAU staff provide guidance to the participant on how to obtain and maintain other county and state benefits, including Section 8, food stamps, low-income housing and more.
“The Home First Program is open to anyone in the community who needs this type of assistance but it is especially helpful for the homeless,” said Samir Abdul, senior accountant at CAU and program administrator. “The program authorizes us to serve as their representative with the Social Security Administration, including providing bookkeeping reports that are necessary for them to maintain benefits.
“Equally important, this program allows us to help people who are homeless due to no cause of their own to achieve financial stability and turn around their lives. That’s very rewarding for us.”
“I do not know what would happen to me if CAU hadn’t become part of my life,” Donovan said. “I am very thankful to CAU and my entitlement specialist, Yanna Espinal.”
Community Access Unlimited (CAU) is a statewide nonprofit providing support programs and services to adults with disabilities as well as youth served under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enable them to live independently in the community, providing supports in areas including housing, vocational skills and life-skills training, education, advocacy and recreation.
About Community Access Unlimited
Community Access Unlimited (CAU), celebrating its 38th year in 2017, supports people with special needs in achieving real lives in the community. CAU provides support and gives voice to adults and youth who traditionally have little support and no voice in society. CAU helps people with housing, life skills, employment, money management, socialization and civic activities. CAU also supports opportunities for advocacy through training in assertiveness, decision-making and civil right. CAU currently serves more than 6,000 individuals and families, with the number served growing each year. For more information about CAU and its services, contact us by phone at 908.354.3040, online at www.caunj.org or by mail at 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202.
(above) Richard Donovan picks up donated furniture for his new apartment.
