Community-Based Learning Initiative

• The Crisis Ministry is seeking input on study design, data collection, and analysis for tracking outcomes within its programs. This is a large and long-term project for a class or group and would likely require ongoing faculty participation.
• Using a relatively new tool, Crisis Ministry's homelessness prevention program has been working with landlords to reduce fees and avoid the courts system by serving tenants who have fallen behind on their rent with an "intention to evict" notice instead of moving directly to the eviction process. The program would like to learn more about whether this change has improved outcomes for its clients; additionally there are advocacy issues which may be researched that involve federal and state agency definitions and related approval for the provision of services.
• How is the Crisis Ministry's Emergency Assistance Program addressing the needs of its clients? Does a one-time payment allow people to regain some economic stability, or does it simply become another source of erratic, essential income? A comparison between those who did and those who did not receive services would also be beneficial.

Crisis Ministry's website

For more than 90 years, the Mount Carmel Guild has worked with local parishes, families, and children, to provide assistance to people in need. Over time, the “face” of people who need assistance has changed, along with the people helping the Guild to provide that assistance. Some potential areas of interest for working with this organization include: the changing demographics of Trenton overall, the church community at large, and the particular clients that visit the Guild; how information is shared about the organization and how people learn about its services; what types of food are most in need by the pantry (and in turn, by its clients); and how social service organizations like the Guild can continue to develop new relationships in a rapidly-changing community.

Mount Carmel Guild's website