Building Support for Sustainable Community Capital
Mark Roseland, "Toward Sustainable Communities"
Building Human Capital
The Annnie E. Casey Foundation says, "Most families have networks they rely on to find work, locate funds to reach family goals, and meet basic needs. Every nonprofit and church has a cadre of supporters that provides some form of funding, in-kind supports, volunteer labor, and members. However, not everyone has access to resources that provide family supporting jobs, vibrant organizations, or other indicators of a healthy community."
Human Capital is the product of all our local resources combined with the ability of everyone in the community to access them.
Building Human Capital means building networks that give local residents
- A sense of belonging
- Feelings of high morale
- Trust
- Goal consensus—many voices in making decisions
- Reciprocity—favors are done with confidence of favors being returned
- Network cohesion—sharing between organizations, agencies, neighbors
Here are a few of the local and nearby resources that help create, repair and improve Sustainable Human Capital....
Allies, Inc.
Allies is the Hamilton-based New Jersey arm of a national service organization for people with special needs. Here's how Allies describes iteslf:
In 1999, we founded Allies with the purpose of finding the absolute best homes and providing the highest quality support services to enhance not only the physical, but the social and emotional lives of people with special needs as well. We, at Allies, support the whole person. We provide pathways to independence by finding the right experience for each person.
In less than a decade, Allies has grown from two volunteers to a vibrant organization of over 750 employees that are devoted to helping people with special needs achieve their dreams. We have built a strong network of programs and services that provide people with disabilities the support they need to achieve independent and full lives.
Anchor House is a Trenton-based organization that serves all of Mercer County, including Hamilton. Here's some information from Anchor House's website:
Anchor House provides food, emergency housing, clothing, - and hope - for hundreds of runaway and homeless teens every year - offering a beacon of survival for youth throughout the Mercer County area.
Our houses and outreach programs work with youth and families in need to begin the process of mending the broken links and putting the family back together.
When reunification is not possible, we make sure the youth moves to a safe place. We provide a safe haven for babies and children who must be removed from their homes, and encourage volunteers to become foster parents to children who cannot return to their families.
If an older youth is homeless, we offer a safe place to live and the opportunity to learn the skills needed to start a stable, independent adult life. We reach out to the community to prevent runaway episodes and homelessness and to get youth off the streets when they have left home.
Change Bromley
Change Bromley is the website of the Bromley Civic Association, is one of Hamilton's oldest, continuously active neighborhood associations. Here is how the Bromley Civic Association describes itself:
Comprised mainly of local residents and business owners, the Bromley Civic Association is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the continued improvement of the Bromley Community. Our purpose is to encourage a happy, safe, sustainable and quality neighborhood, as well as protect the interest of the current residents and land owners. Some of the issues that we tackle are: prevention of urban blight, crime (public safety), lack of recreation and housing concerns. Some of the ways we support our neighborhood is by encouraging improvements, in recreational activities and educational opportunities, in addition to communicating opportunities that exist for home owners.
The Family Guidance Center focuses on the needs of families in situations that produce severe emotional distress. Here is how the Family Guidance Center describes itself:
Family Guidance Center has a new vitality and a comprehensive new approach. Our emphasis is on creating positive changes in behavior within a short period of time. In fact, often as few as 6 to 8 sessions will restore healthy functioning for an individual, couple or family.
Our degreed and licensed therapists will consult with clients to design a plan for changing and coping that makes a real difference. We then "coach" our clients to help them to meet the goals agreed upon.
We use a variety of therapeutic approaches - including holistic, cognitive, and systemic family, whatever is best for the particular client(s). Services can be provided in both English and Spanish.
Since our founding in 1902, Family Guidance Center has been a valuable asset to the community. We stress cost effective, real world solutions.
Our specific mission is to help clients solve problems such as depression, fear, anxiety, stress, separation and divorce, grief and loss, abuse, addictions, work, health and domestic difficulties.
Mercer County Children's Medical Daycare
Mercer County Children’s Medical Daycare provides a comprehensive mix of healthcare, childcare, education, and social services under one roof. The mission of the center is to provide medically fragile children between the ages of birth to 4 with a continuum of medical care prescribed by their doctors in a stimulating daycare environment.
New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women
New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women is a statewide association that provides leadership, support and resources on the prevention of violence against women in New Jersey through advocacy, training, public awareness and research.
The Coalition has an emergency hotline open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 800 572-SAFE (7233).
Here are some for people who cannot drive, walk, or take ordinary public transportation...
Eligible Mercer County residents can use TRADE through: 
Mercer County TRADE
Mercer County TRADE (Transportation Resources to Aid the Disadvantaged and Elderly) provides transportation services to Mercer County Residents who are:
Greater Mercer TMA (originally known as the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association) is a non profit, public private partnership dedicated to reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility in and around Mercer County. Established in 1984, our association consists of large and small employers, local governments, authorities and state agencies who share a commitment to providing transportation choices that are good for commuters, good for business and good for the environment.
Greater Mercer TMA
Greater Mercer RideProvide is a community based non profit service for people 65 and over, and visually-impaired adults of any age in Mercer County, New Jersey. Ride Provide helps members maintain their independence and reduces isolation by providing a dignified transportation option. Ride Provide uses both volunteer and paid drivers to provide door to door transportation, in the comfort of a private vehicle, seven days a week throughout our service area (subject to driver availability). Ride Provide is available for those who no longer feel safe behind the wheel, yet need a dependable transportation alternative. Greater Mercer Ride Provide is a program of the 
Greater Mercer RideProvide
Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (GMTMA).
