HIP Thanks Community for Support Of Annual Rent Party Fundraiser
To the Editor:
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Princeton community for their overwhelming support of Housing Initiatives of Princeton’s (HIP) annual Rent Party on Saturday, October 5. With your sustained help these past 22 years, we have had a transformational impact on the lives of thousands of families and individuals facing homelessness — and will continue to do so thanks to the success of this year’s Rent Party, themed “Light the Way Home.
Last year, we lit the way home for more than double the number of people we served over the previous year, as need continues to rise due to the ongoing housing shortage. HIP helped 318 adults and children last fiscal year by providing either eviction prevention funds to help keep them in their existing home or a security deposit to get them into their own housing.
We also provided transitional homes (we currently operate eight in Mercer County) to parents and children, and all the wrap-around services a family may need, such as career and financial counseling, pro bono legal services, child care, and more, to move from instability to permanent, affordable housing.
Ninety-four percent of those who’ve received eviction prevention funds in the past year are still in the homes we helped them to keep or secure. And 92 percent of families surveyed who’ve gone through our transitional homes are still in stable housing — some even own their own homes!
Our annual Rent Party is one of the primary ways that HIP raises funds to make this work possible. At this year’s party, much like at the original rent parties of 1920s Harlem, guests enjoyed a lively evening of food, music, a silent auction, and more — all while pooling their resources to help neighbors make their rent. We also honored local realtor Heidi A. Hartmann, for her anonymous generosity over the years and continued dedication to making Princeton more inclusive.
Thank you for celebrating with us and enabling us to build a brighter, more secure future for everyone in our community.