A MESSAGE FROM SETH KAPER-DALE, CEO, RCHP-AHC

Dear RCHP-AHC Family,

It’s our 20th Anniversary as an agency! In May of 2006 the Reformed Church of Highland Park voted to allow the creation of a housing corporation called RCHP-AHC and then immediately voted to ‘sell’ for $10 the entire airspace above the administrative wing of the church. This led to the creation of Irayna Court, 7 apartments for young women aging out of foster care. RCHP-AHC was off and running.  

For the first 10 years of our existence, our focus was on building housing and/or buying and refurbishing homes. We were averaging more than 1 new home/year. We have, in 20 years, added 26 buildings to the world of affordable housing in NJ.  

The second ten years of our existence we started leaning into what we call our “lease/sublease” programming, and this allowed us to help the homeless, and the working poor, to access apartments that they otherwise couldn’t qualify for. We emphasize renting homes on the ‘low end of market rate,’ and work with families to live into being able to fully pay rent (or to receive housing assistance they are eligible for). This program dramatically increased our ability to house refugees, victims of trafficking, re-entering citizens, asylum seekers and those with chronic health conditions. We have, at our high point, been renting nearly 300 units. We are, currently, around 200 units.  

This year is our most challenging year for the lease/sublease program......

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FEATURE STORY

All Saints Apartments – Daryl S. Shares His Story 

On Veteran’s Day in 2010, RCHP-AHC, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the converted All Saints Church, on the corner of Magnolia Street and S. 3rd Avenue in Highland Park, to an apartment building for homeless veterans. 

Daryl Steinback, now aged 65, moved into All Saints in 2014. He had owned a trailer home in a trailer park in Toms River but fell behind on his payments and lost his home. He stayed at Lyons VA Medical Center for six months and in 2014 was shortlisted as a possible tenant for a studio apartment at All Saints. “I was happy when I got the call that they had chosen me!” 

Born and raised in West Covina, CA, Daryl enlisted in the Army at age 19 and served a total of 18 years in active duty and the Army Reserve. He was deployed to Kuwait during the Gulf War for Desert Storm and ended his tour of duty after two years; understandably, Daryl doesn't want to revisit those memories. Upon returning home, he got a job as a security guard. 

Prior to Kuwait, Daryl was stationed in Germany and Korea. He talked about getting out and about while in Germany..........

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UPDATES & HAPPENINGS

Beautiful Artwork Features Global Grace Health Clinic! 

Displayed through March 31, so see it before it disappears! - A message from Dr. Norma: 

"Windows of Understanding: We See Through Hate” was founded in 2017 and highlights local organizations. The art installations focus on social justice issues and community building. This year the theme was mobilizing change. Imagine how proud I was to learn that our Global Grace Health Mobile clinic was chosen for a window! The window ( a huge installation at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center) represents the stained glass at the Reformed Church Highland Park, our clinic home (blue, purple and light blue crosses) Community Medical (represented by the red crosses) and then photos of us providing medical, assisting the most vulnerable among us. Light and Love shining through! Go see it at 11 Livingston Ave in New Brunswick."

CAN! - Outreach to the Greater Community 

CAN! Program Director, Bella Gerstmann, recently visited the Allentown (NJ) Presbyterian Church to give an overview of the organization, the clients they serve, and how community groups like churches can support families separated by ICE. Possibilities include adapting existing community services to be more accessible to these families - like adding a delivery component to food pantries. Another way is by "adopting" families — working directly with families in need to find out their ongoing needs and trying to meet them, whether this be by providing transportation, dropping off groceries, or raising money for financial assistance. 

The Allentown Presbyterian church was very eager to try both options, and is in the process of scheduling further planning meetings to start advocating for local families separated by ICE.  

If you know of any organizations or individuals that would like to get involved with aiding families affected by ICE detention, reach out to bella@rchp-ahc.org

New Book with Chapter by Pastor Seth!  

Elizabeth Detention Center: A Social History of Immigration Detention in New Jersey and the United States - Through a longitudinal, site-specific study unique in its kind, this volume unites the voices and perspectives of formerly detained migrants, scholars, journalists, lawyers, and social and faith movement leaders. 

Available for Pre-Order at Rutgers University Press and Amazon. Look for a July release date!

AHC Celebrates 20 years! 

We recently gathered some of the amazing staff from several of the organizations under the AHC umbrella for this group photo. Our staff works extremely hard to serve clients who face so many challenges – this gathering was a rare occasion! Many thanks go to Audrey Lane and Sam Friedman (who is now on staff part time as our videographer – congrats, Sam!) for taking this photo. 

Stay tuned for upcoming events and videos to celebrate our anniversary, as well as document the work we do and the clients we serve!

PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY

CAN! Valentine’s Day Celebration Recap 

Comunidades para Americanos Nuevos! (CAN!) hosted an event to show love and support to clients, primarily mothers, who spent Valentine’s Day without their partners due to detention separation. Guests and supporters showed their generosity with monetary donations, gift cards, hygiene items, and everyday essentials. 

Program Director, Bella Gerstmann, gave the welcome and overview of CAN’s mission and efforts. Special guest, Erio David Rosario Perales, gave a presentation on the NJ Consortium for Immigrant Children, an org that offers legal assistance for unaccompanied children and/or children who entered the US without a parent or guardian. The event also included a dance performance by the Spanish Honors Society from Highland Park High School (see video here), celebrating Latinx culture. 

Thanks to all who gave so generously – your donations mean so much to the recipient families!

New CAN Video! 

This video highlights the challenges of families torn apart by ICE detention, particularly mothers whose husbands are in custody and having to deal with the absence of their loved one, who was also the primary wage earner. 

The video also touches on the many ways CAN! has been assisting these women in meeting their daily needs while they recover from the trauma of family separation. Details on ways you can help are also included.  Thank you!

IN THE NEWS

US justice department halts funding for human-trafficking survivors – Guardian article helps move the needle on release of funds 

This article, published on December 22nd, was a critical piece to the government actually putting out Requests for Proposals, on December 31st, so as to avoid being sued. These funds have been key to Jean Stockdale's Still Waters program for the past 6 years. We will ask for 1 million to help house victims of human trafficking over the next three years. We have received 1.4 over the past 6.  

PROGRAM UPDATES & HIGHLIGHTS

Accompany Now! - Click on this link to check out the current newsletter!

Featured Highlights:  

*Community Support & Donor Appreciation  

*Community Outreach  

*The Impact of Family Separation on Our Community

Never miss an issue of the Accompany Now newsletter by signing up here 

AHC Legal Services

Jamie DiNicola and staff + volunteers continue to run legal clinics to provide services for clients who are self-applying for asylum and/or re-applying for work permits (EADs). These services are vital for our clients who need to remain in the U.S. We are so grateful to the Legal Services team for putting in long hours and going above and beyond!

Global Grace Cafe

MEALS TO GO – Global Grace Cafe Makes Dinnertime Easier! 

GG Cafe is trying something new! Each week, delicious international “to go” meals will be offered for pickup at 19 S. 2nd Avenue in Highland Park 

They can be preordered from Thursday - Sunday and picked up in the café on the following Wednesday from 11am - 2pm 

Let us help you make the evening a little less stressful and a whole lot tastier!  Questions? Contact GGCafe@rchp-ahc.org

Place your order online at the Global Grace Marketplace and Café website. https://global-grace-marketplace-cafe.square.site/

GG Cafe is located in the Reformed Church of Highland Park, 19 S. 2nd Avenue. Open Monday – Friday, 11:30am – 1:30pm for lunch.

The Upcycle Store – Pre-loved furniture and houseware that won’t break your budget! 

The birds are singing and Spring is here! Time to start thinking about breathing new life into your home decor. The Upcycle continues to generate revenue for direct client assistance for I-RISE clients. What a blessing in these challenging times! Feel free to swing by for your furniture and houseware needs at discount prices. 

We also welcome your donations of furniture and household goods. Please use the contact info below to make sure we can take your items. Thank you for your continued generosity!

Questions? Contact upcycleshop@interfaithrise.org  We’re located at 127 Raritan Avenue in Highland Park. Hours of operation: 10am – 6pm Tuesday - Saturday.

Please LIKE and FOLLOW us! 

GG Farms Spring Farm Shares for 2026 Starts This Week – Beginning on March 27th! 

8 weeks of organic spring greens and vegetables: lettuce, spinach, radishes and carrots. Pick-ups on Fridays at GG Marketplace. 

Order online at Global Grace Marketplace 

Spring Soil Prep at GG Farms! 

Spring is here and it’s time for soil prep. Join Ashar and your fellow community members on Saturdays from 9am – 12 noon to get the farm prep season started.

GG Farms is located at 12 College Farm Road. 

For more info, contact Ashar, Director of GG Farms at GGFarms@interfaithrise.org

Global Grace Health - We are thrilled to have received a four-year grant from the NJ Dept of Health for much of GG Health’s operations. While it doesn’t fund everything, this is great news! Additionally, salaries are more secure for Dr. Norma, Sarat and Andrea for part-time operations, so they can continue to do the important work of addressing healthcare and food insecurity for our most vulnerable neighbors.  

If you’d like to volunteer and/or provide supplies for homeless encampment visits, contact Dr. Bowe’s assistant Sarat at sarat.gghealth@rchp-ahc.org

Global Grace Marketplace - At GG Marketplace, beauty and functionality go hand-in-hand. Spring is here and GG Marketplace has all kinds of items to enhance the breeze through open windows. Check out our artisanal incense in this decorative case that has all you need for making your room an oasis of calmness.

Stop by 208 Raritan Avenue in Highland Park or Shop online

Interfaith-RISE

Refugee Support Services 

I-RISE offers services to many immigrant populations who have been in the U.S. for 5 years or less, including Cuban/Haitian Entrants, Asylees, Refugees, and Special Immigrant Visa holders. If you know someone who might be eligible, please refer them to our website for more information in multiple languages. 

Please feel free to share this flyer with your community networks.

I-RISE Recycled Woodshop 

Tim McNeilly, Woodshop Manager, recently built this custom ordered table and bench from recycled wood. The beauty and functionality speak for itself – stunning craftsmanship! Interested in having something custom built? Contact tim@interfaithrise.org  to see what’s possible! 

If you’d like to volunteer for the Woodshop, contact Tim.

Re-Entry Housing - The RCHP-AHC Reentry Housing Program provides stable, structured, and supportive housing for individuals returning to the community after incarceration. Our mission is rooted in a simple belief: stable housing is the strongest predictor of successful reintegration and reduced recidivism. 

In total, the program provided housing stability to 41 returning citizens across grant cycles in 2025, in addition to 20 family members whose stability was directly supported through placements. We are proud of Trysh Vargas and other staff who continue to make this one of NJ’s most successful housing models for reentry.

Neighbors Housing Neighbors  

We feel extremely fortunate to have recently received two grants: a Homelessness Diversion grant for Cumberland County, and a statewide grant for Special Populations (Homeless). The NHN program serves all AHC populations: refugees, immigrants, asylees, victims of trafficking, families disrupted by detention, reentry, etc. It’s about serving very needy people—regardless of what other ‘classification’ they bring to the table.

Still Waters Anti-Trafficking  

Jean Stockdale’s (who sadly passed away last year) first-ever client was a man by the name of George, who tragically was detained last year by ICE and ended up spending 15 months in a PA detention center. Without warning or explanation, George was released in early March. He has been a treasured part of RCHP for many years, and we are beyond grateful to have him back! 

RCHP-AHC has made it through the governmental changes and reductions of early 2025 and we are as strong as ever! Help us keep meeting the most pressing needs of NJ's most vulnerable communities. 100% of donations from the public will go to Direct Client Assistance. Thank you!