The Art of Wine & Food

The Place: Children’s Museum on the North Side, Thursday night.

Party with a Purpose: In case you need reassurance that there are good people in the world, take heart in the fact that more than 400 guests enjoyed an uplifting night to support HEARTH, an organizationfocused on helping families dealing with homelessness, poverty, drug abuse and mental health issues through transitional housing and other programs to get them back on their feet. “I started in 2013 with HEARTH after leaving an abusive relationship. My daughter was only 1 year old, and I had no family here, no one to help me,” said Josefina Brizuena, who utilized the transitional housing program to get herself through school and find a job. Ms. Brizuena, originally from Paraguay, has remarried and is an early education teacher at the Goddard School. Unfortunately, the state of Pennsylvania has discontinued supporting transitional housing programs, which leaves most shelters unable to provide long-term assistance to familiesfleeing trauma.

“We are now completely privately funded because we know transitional housing works to help women be successful,” said executive director Judy Eakin. The state department of human services voted in May 2016 to end funding for transitional housing, and redirected it to other programs such as rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing. “However, you need a lease in your name for rapid rehousing. Many of these women do not have good enough credit to get a lease because financial control is a component to many abusive relationships,” added Ms.Eakin.

Permanent supportive housing requires that you have a disability and does not help in cases of trauma. HEARTH is looking to make up the $420,000 gap left by this cut. “I was a young, single mother so I can’t help but identify with these women,” said volunteer Julie Flanagan. “But I was lucky that I had family support. I don’t know what I would have done without it.” Want to learn more about HEARTH and find ways to help? Visit: http://www.hearth-bp.org/. Together,#LetsMakeASEEN!

#SEEN: Event chair Jennifer Lawrence; board of directors Barb Smith, Donna Gaughan and Bonnie Mangold;Cynthia English; Brenda and Jerome Wells; Tara R. Maziarz; Patty Irr; Mike DiChiazza; Leslie Harrison; Joann Kubit; Tracey Mullinary; Jill Burgman; Jessica Szramowski; and Pat Romano.