April 24, 2025 — Newark, NJ ~ Project Live, Inc. is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Codey Fund for Mental Health, a distinguished organization whose mission is to ensure compassionate, quality mental health care is available to all and to break the stigma surrounding mental illness through education and public awareness.

This meaningful investment will further Project Live’s mission to provide safe, clean, and affordable housing paired with comprehensive, consumer-driven supportive services and employment opportunities for individuals living with mental illness. The funding will directly impact the lives of some of New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents helping them to not only find a place to live, but a place to heal, grow, and thrive.

“We are deeply grateful to the Codey Fund for Mental Health for standing beside us in our mission,” said Ross Croessmann, Executive Director of Project Live, Inc. “This grant will allow us to continue building pathways out of crisis and into stability for individuals who too often face systemic barriers to care and housing. Together, we are creating a future where mental health recovery is met with dignity, support, and real opportunity.”

For over four decades, Project Live has been at the forefront of behavioral health and housing in New Jersey, operating 24 properties and delivering services rooted in recovery, wellness, and inclusion. The organization remains committed to the belief that housing is healthcare and that no one should be left behind.

Project Live extends its sincere thanks to the Codey Fund for Mental Health for their leadership, generosity, and unwavering advocacy for mental health equity.

We are saddened and outraged about the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other instances of deadly attacks, racism and harassment against Black Americans. We join the calls from people of all backgrounds and communities for meaningful action and change to address the systemic and deep rooted discrimination and racial inequalities that communities of all colors continue to experience. We encourage you to raise your feelings, thoughts and concerns regarding these issues directly to your supervisors and Senior Management. As Diversity and Inclusion are core values of Project Live, these incidents raise the larger context of the importance and value of recognizing that we all have different viewpoints arising from different backgrounds, experiences and cultural upbringings that contribute to how we are impacted by incidents such as this. This is an opportune moment for dialogue and engagement of all of us at the agency on the impact of these incidents no matter what community we feel that we belong to. A hallmark of Inclusion is the understanding and empathy for others; we need to ensure that everyone feels that this is an important and supported aspect of Project Live’s culture. We are confident that together we can meaningfully navigate a path forward on the difficult and challenging issues arising from these incidents.

The novel coronavirus continues to be unprecedented and disruptive to all. Individuals with severe and persistent mental illness need us now more than ever! Project Live, Inc. has provided services to underserved populations in Essex County for over 40 years, and we take the safety of our consumers, employees and communities we work in very serious.

Due to the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, some non-essential employees will be working remotely. As some of our programs are 24 hours, these essential employees will be working to keep these facilities operational. Project Live, Inc. is taking the necessary steps to protect our residents, staff and visitors. At this time, we ask that you communicate via email or cell phone. In office voicemail will be checked remotely and with less frequency than usual. Project Live will continue its services across all programs and locations.

To ensure the safety for all, we have enacted the following guidelines in response to this pandemic:

– We have suspended all external visits until further notice – Employees are required to wash their hands every time they enter any agency building, including at the start of the work day, upon returning from any break, etc. and regularly throughout the day

– Avoid close contact with persons who are sick – Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue in the trash

– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

– Wash your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds

– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces at the start, during and at the end of the day – Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care

– Where feasible Project Live is working with key stakeholders to finalize telehealth opportunities in the event of increased distancing recommendations from local, state and federal health agencies

– Provisions of food, water, medication, cleaning supplies, soap, etc., have been ordered and added to our stockpile

– Student internship programs will be conducted remotely

For additional information on COVID-19, please use the following link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/

We would like thank our staff for the hard work they do always, and especially now.  You continue to commit yourselves in providing the underserved of our community a safe living environment. Project Live will continue to monitor guidance from health officials and appreciate your cooperation in keeping our facilities a safe space for all.

Once homeless, he now helps those still living on the streets

NEWARK — It was near midnight and Steven Taylor walked through Newark Penn Station with the familiarity of someone who knows all too well the feel and warmth of the walls and corners here. 

Taylor, 50, was once homeless. 

But on this night, Taylor approached those hidden beneath layers of clothes and bags, introducing himself as a case worker and asking if they’d fill out a survey for the state’s annual homeless count.

Some backed away, further retreating into their respective corners; others warily agreed.  

“Let me step into your office here,” Taylor told one gentleman, sliding two feet to his right to an imaginary space inside the station. He pulled out his clipboard and green leopard glasses

“Where they are, that’s their personal space,” Taylor said, an outreach worker for Project Live, Inc. “It’s a matter of courtesy and respect.”

Every year, nonprofit groups like Project Live fan out across municipalities in New Jersey to count the homeless, painting a picture of who is living on the streets and why. 

Last year, at least 8,941 were homeless in the state — 1,782 in Essex County. Final numbers for 2017 will be released in spring.

Counts are conducted annually during a 24-hour period by groups of case workers and volunteers who canvass train stations, airports, waterfronts and underpasses. 

The numbers are submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding purposes. They also give a “thumbnail sketch” of what the needs are in the city, said Ross Croessmann, executive director of Project Live in Newark, whose team set out Tuesday night from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. 

’I know what it’s like’

Taylor is unassuming and polite, often throwing his hands up in front of him to allay people’s fears. 

“You’re good,” he says to those who are skittish around him. He remembers what it was like to be on the other side. 

Taylor was homeless for 10 years until he received supportive housing and mental health treatment. Until then, he mostly slept on a bench outside police headquarters.

“I used to be ashamed to share my story but I learned the more I share it, the more it benefits those in the same situation, it encourages others,” he said. 

The team abides by a set of ground rules: if someone is sleeping let them be, if an individual does not want to participate, don’t insist. And most importantly: stick together. 

Croessmann says about 50 percent of homeless people have a disability, usually a substance abuse or mental health problem. 

The average homeless person is an African American male between the ages of 45-55 with substance abuse or mental health problem, he added. 

Alkeam Jones, 38, said he lost his warehouse job and has been homeless on and off for the last five years. All he wants is a job and financial stability.

“It is what it is,” he said. 

Finding a home

Croessmann says his organization and others are prioritizing finding homes for the homeless and setting them up with job training and employment.

“Our goal is to make not just a house but a home,” he said. “Everyone deserves to live with dignity.”   

But he says the annual counts are usually underreported: Volunteers can’t access abandoned homes and not everyone wants to do the survey. 

“A lot of people feel like I gave you my information before and I’m still out here, what have you done for me?” said Project Live outreach coordinator Debra Underwood, 62, of Paterson. “I try to be friendly.”

Wearing green and purple sneakers and silver hoop earrings, she coaxes homeless people to open up to her, treating them like an old friend. Underwood is seasoned: She’s been doing this since 2005. 

“We got something that can help you out,” she tells one homeless woman, as she hands over a bag of toiletries with a smile. 

Taylor, too, has been working the streets for the last 10 years as a caseworker.

“I remind myself of what I don’t want to go back to,” he said. When you’re in that situation, “you think homelessness is your spot in life.”  

But, he added, “No matter what they look like, smell like, act like, with the right treatment and opportunity, everybody has the potential to get back on their feet.”

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. 

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2017/01/once_homeless_he_now_helps_those_still_living_on_t.html

Our Benefit Dinner was held on Thursday October 18th at The Elan in Lodi NJ.  We are grateful for the hard work by the Fundraising Committee and to Tamara Remedios of Xplore Communications who created our promotional materials. 

Almost 200 people attended to celebrate PLI’s 33rd Anniversary, and to honor our friends and partners:  Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Deputy Mayor Adam Zipkin,   Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Magic Touch Maintenance employee Patrick Robinson, Longtime Agency Attorney Jeffrey Kuschner,  Architect Robert Silverman, and Monarch Housing Associates Consultant Asish Patel, Board Members Rev. Robert Cormier, Carlos Pratt and Nora Barrett,  Provident Bank President Christopher Martin, Agency Consultants Dr. Nancy Cahiwat and Dr. Dharamsi Shah, and a special award to our very own PATH Coordinator and 20 year employee Debra Underwood

Save the Date!

Thursday October 18, 2012

6:00 – 10:00 pm

“The Elan”   111 U.S. 46 West   Lodi, New Jersey

Gala Benefit Dinner

to Honor our Partners and Board Members   

and to Celebrate 33 Years of Service to the Mental Health Community of Newark and Essex County

We hope all of our funders, friends and supporters will share the evening.

Project Live celebrates 25th Anniversary at Robert Treat Hotel.

Honorees include:
Hon. Senator Richard and Mrs. Codey,
Mayor Sharpe James,
Ms. Theresa C. Wilson: Deputy Commissioner, NJ Department of Human Services,
Ms. Diane J. Johnson, Director: HUD Newark Office,
Mr. Alan G. Kaufman: Director, NJ Division of Mental Health Services,
Ms. Etta Denk: Vice President, Community Development, JP Morgan Chase
Ms. Margaret Benson, Consumer/PL Staff