Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP)

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Our History

Because a homeless woman in the late 1990’s repeatedly sought refuge at Trinity Church in Princeton, hearts were touched and a movement was begun that led to the birth of Housing Initiatives of Princeton (HIP). Trinity Church Associate Rector Kit Sherrill launched the task force that ultimately identified a critical need for transitional housing in Princeton.

In 2001, under the leadership of Rev. Christine (Chrissy) Knight and the late Rev. Margaret (Peggy) Prescott, co-Outreach ministers at Trinity Church, Housing Initiatives of Princeton was organized as a 501(c) (3) non-profit under the auspices of *Princeton Outreach Projects, Inc. Rev. Prescott was HIP’s founding chair. She and the new organization’s Board began to lay the ground work to assist local working families facing homelessness and set as its goals to:

• Raise awareness, through education and advocacy, of the challenges facing the working poor in Princeton
• Provide a long-term transitional housing program for homeless and near homeless working families in Princeton

11 Mercer Street becomes Prescott House

Fall 2002, under the leadership of Trinity Church’s Rector, The Rev. Leslie Smith, Housing Initiatives of Princeton’s Chair, Rev. Peggy Prescott and co-Outreach Minister, Rev. Chrissy Knight discussions began with the vestry of Trinity Church regarding the use of a Trinity owned house located at 11 Mercer Street, Princeton.

Spring 2003, Trinity’s vestry approved the renovation of the two-family house and its lease to Housing Initiatives of Princeton for transitional housing use.

May 2004, renovations were completed to 11 Mercer Street’s first floor apartment and HIP’s first family moved in. The apartment was dedicated in memory of Ms. Tu-Anh Pham, who died in the World Trade Center bombing on September 11, 2001.

May 2005, renovations to the second floor apartment were completed and HIP’s second family moved in. At that time, the house was dedicated as Prescott House in honor of HIP’s founding chair, Rev. Peggy Prescott.

The renovation of the 11 Mercer Street house was a model community project; board members, congregation members, individuals and businesses, and friends of Tu-Anh Pham provided in-kind donations, financial contributions and sweat equity to transform the old house into a home!

Ongoing, HIP works diligently with clients providing supportive services to assist their efforts toward greater self-sufficiency and helping them to find permanent affordable housing

Princeton Outreach Projects, Inc. was founded in 1992 by Trinity Church and Nassau Presbyterian Church. It has four programs that serve and empower the lives of thousands of people each year in Trenton and Princeton; they are: The Crisis Ministry of Trenton and Princeton, Trenton After School Program, Trenton Children’s Chorus and Housing Initiatives of Princeton.