About Anchor House
Anchor House is a nonprofit agency located in Trenton, New Jersey, offering safe housing, crisis intervention, community outreach, and supportive services to youth and young adults ages 12 to 24 who have runaway, are at risk of, or experiencing abuse, neglect, homelessness, or are aging out of the child welfare system. We provide a comprehensive and trauma-informed system of care to help our youth and their families prepare for productive and independent lives. All services are provided free of charge.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide youth and young adults who are experiencing abuse, neglect, homelessness, or are aging out of the child welfare system with comprehensive services that offer them and their families the support they need to succeed and thrive.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world where no youth or young adult experiences abuse, neglect, or homelessness and where everyone has a safe, stable home, the support they need to thrive, and a future filled with possibilities
Our Values
- Safety—We prioritize the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of all individuals within our community.
- Community—Our community is a diverse tapestry of voices, perspectives, and experiences that value collaboration and where asking for help and offering support is a natural and essential part of our collective journey.
- Trust—Trust forms the cornerstone of our relationships, built on transparency, integrity, and accountability.
- Self-Determination—We recognize the rights and needs of individuals to be free to make their own choices and decisions.
- Compassion—Compassion is at the heart of how we relate to one another. It is characterized by empathy, kindness, and a genuine desire to alleviate suffering and promote well-being.
- Inclusivity—Inclusivity is not just an ideal but a commitment to creating an environment where individuals feel a sense of belonging, where we can actively challenge bias, privilege, and discrimination, and where equitable opportunities are created for all.
Our History
Anchor House was founded in 1978 by a group of concerned citizens to help move youth and young adults who have runaway or are experiencing homelessness off the streets of Trenton and reunite them with their families. The “anchor” in Anchor House is a metaphor to represent a ship dropping its anchor in a safe place to rest and wait out the storm.
Today, as a response to critical needs in the community, Anchor House provides the only youth shelter, transitional living, and street outreach program targeting youth in Mercer County, and is one of two supportive housing programs in the county for young adults.
Anchor House offers a myriad of comprehensive, life-saving programs and services to more than 1,000 youth and their families each year. Our houses and outreach programs work with youth and families in need to begin the process of putting the family back together.
From emergency shelter to transitional and permanent housing, to providing food, clothing, and beyond, Anchor House works to ensure our young people have a safe home as well as supportive and educational services for a better future.
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