1 of 6

Mailboxes at the

Coalition of Elizabeth

Gia Garcia OTS, Kyrsten Grabinsky OTS, Corrine Pineda OTS, Ana Torres OTS and Lauren Walker OTS

​

Kean University

2 of 6

Why is it Beneficial to Install Mailboxes?

​

  • Provides a “non-shelter” address to use for job and bank account applications

​

  • Homeless individuals can receive important documents
    • Food stamps, social security, driver’s license, and paychecks

​

  • Can target a larger population of homeless individuals who do not reside at the shelter

(Rossi, 2020)

3 of 6

Set Up Options

  • Mail pickup can be set up on a designated day of the week.

​

  • People can call in to find out if they have mail or not
    • Avoid crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic

​

  • The process of installing mailboxes will have to be collaborated with Mayor J. Christan Bollwage.

​

  • To communicate with Mayor Bollwage, he can be reached via email: webmaster@elizabethnj.org or by phone at (908) 820-4170.

​

4 of 6

The Impact of the Mailbox Program in Passaic, New Jersey

​

  • Mayor Lora of Passaic, NJ implemented a mailbox program in the city. A total of 21 mailboxes were installed at Dignity House for homeless individuals to collect their mail.

​

  • There has been positive feedback from this program. Individuals have reported receiving government documents to help file for employment and receive benefits such as food stamps.

​

  • For further questions on his program, Mayor Hector C. Lora can be reached via email at mayor@cityofpassaicnj.gov

(Fagan, 2020)

5 of 6

How can Implementing a Mailbox Program Aide the Homeless Population in Elizabeth, New Jersey?

  • According to the Monarch Housing Associates (2021b), in 2021 61.2% (334) of all homeless individuals of Union County were in Elizabeth, NJ

​

  • The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless provides many resources to a vast majority of this population, however there is a gap of resources such as providing a mailbox to individuals who are not temporarily residing at Hospitality House or seeking emergency shelter.

​

  • The mailbox program can help provide resources to this specific population with the aim to improve their quality of life and overall health and wellness.

(AOTA 2020; Monarch Housing Associates, 2021b)

​

6 of 6

Resources

American Occupational Therapy Association. (in press). Occupational therapy practice

framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74 (Supplement 2). Advance online publication.

​

Fagan, M. (2020, October 12). Passaic sets up mailboxes for homeless people, and it could be

life-changing. North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved November 5, 2021, from https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/passaic/passaic-city/2020/10/12/passaic-nj-homeless-people-gets-mailing-addresses/5870674002/.

​

Monarch Housing Associates. (2021, January 26)b. Union county 2021 point-in-time count of the

homeless. Monarch Housing. Retrieved from https://www.monarchhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/njcounts21/Union%20County%20PIT%20Report.pdf

​

Rossi, P. (2020, October 17). Homelessness and the 'postal paradox'. Medium. Retrieved from

https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/homelessness-and-the-postal-paradox-d8a8ef384c35

​

​