When over fifty families moved into Beyond Shelter’s newest apartment complex, Broadway Village II on Broadway and 52nd street in June, 2006, Temple Isaiah partnered with Beyond Shelter to welcome them. Approximately 25 families had been completely homeless, and 15 were coming from Skid Row. Two families had lost their homes in Katrina. One family was a single mother whose son had Downs Syndrome and they were drowning in medical bills. Another had taken in their nieces and nephews after the children’s parents were killed in a car accident. Most of the families came with nothing.

In an initiative we called “Home Sweet Hope,” Temple Isaiah coordinators were matched with Broadway Village families and welcomed them to their new homes with giant boxes filled with supplies. We supplied brand new kitchenware, bedding appropriate for boys or girls depending on the families, and everything for a bathroom from bathmat to shower curtain.

We also arranged for 100 mattresses to be delivered in time for the move-in. One of our bar mitzvah students assembled a complete library for Beyond Shelter and initiated a reading program. Another student helped arrange a furniture drive and we drove to members’ houses in rented trucks picking up couches, tables and chairs. Other students have arranged to bring sports supplies.