Coming Home is committed to preventing and ending homelessness in Middlesex County by fostering collaborations and public-private partnerships among all stakeholders to ensure that people have a stable place to call home and connections to community resources to provide them the choices and opportunities to pursue healthy lifestyles.
Executive Director
Melissa brings more than twenty years of experience serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness, with a background that spans street outreach, transitional and permanent supportive housing development and management, nonprofit leadership, and cross-sector collaboration. As Executive Director of Coming Home of Middlesex County, she applies this deep expertise to strengthen the community’s collective response to homelessness and to drive practical, mission-focused solutions.
Throughout her career, Melissa has built programs and partnerships that expand opportunities for people facing homelessness and housing instability. She has led complex initiatives, secured and managed significant funding, and worked closely with public agencies, local, state, and federal government partners, nonprofit organizations, funders, community stakeholders, and individuals with lived experience. Her leadership centers on collaboration-bringing people and systems together to create coordinated, sustainable efforts that make a measurable difference.
Melissa is passionate about advancing solutions that are both practical and transformative. She looks forward to building on Coming Home’s strong foundation and guiding the organization into its next chapter of growth, partnership, and impact, ensuring that more individuals and families in Middlesex County have access to safe, stable and affordable housing.
She holds a BA in Anthropology from Rutgers University and an MAT from Monmouth University.
Director of System Programs
Jenna joined Coming Home in September 2024, after being a Data Analyst, Superuser, and Special Projects Manager for a global logistics provider. She served as Co-Chair of the Social Responsibility Committee, which fosters volunteering and fundraising for local community nonprofits. This, as well as her volunteer work for such agencies as AmeriCorps, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, and Medical Reserve Corps, evinces her social service mindedness which, in conjunction with her data analytical ability, made her the perfect candidate for the Director of System Programs at Coming Home.
Jenna graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelors Degree in Public Health, specializing in Anthropology and the History of Science & Technology. She studied Health and Homelessness in the classroom and by volunteering at the Oasis Code Blue Shelter & Baltimore Rescue Mission Clinic. She completed her Practicum in Community Health by interning at Project PLASE (People Lacking Ample Shelter & Employment) Transitional Housing, where she implemented a Computer Literacy Program, funded by the Baltimore Health Equity Impact Grant she received from the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute.
Chief Operation Officer
Meriam Shenoda joined Coming Home in October 2012 after having spent approximately one month volunteering at the organization. As Senior Director of Operations, Meriam assists with the administrative and fiscal operations of all programs, as well as the fiscal management of the organization. Her organizational and publishing skills also makes her indispensable in our fundraising and issuance of publications, including our Annual Reports. Meriam has over 14 years of employment experience, working for international organizations, providing public relations and general office management services in multi-cultural environments. She is also engaged in several ministries sponsored by, and affiliated with, the Coptic Orthodox Church, serving poor families and assisting young couples with financial needs. Meriam has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce & Accounting from the University of Alexandria, Egypt.
Chief Housing Development Officer
Frances joined Coming Home in July 2016 as Assistant Director of Programs. She brings over 20 years of professional experience in the affordable housing industry, between non-profit housing providers and large mortgage finance and banking institutions. She primarily worked to assist low-income families become first generation homeowners, and financially-troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure. She graduated from Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences with a B.A. in English and History, and from Rutgers Graduate School with a M.A. in Political Science, United Nations and Global Policy, with a concentration in Human Rights and International Law.
Frances has 3 children, and is a long-time resident of New Brunswick, NJ.
Case Manager Supervisor
Migdalia is a dedicated social services professional with more than twenty years’ experience serving populations considered to be economically disadvantaged. She joined Coming Home in July 2020. Her most recent experience was more than fifteen years at Goodwill Industries of New York & Northern New Jersey, Inc. where she was employed as a Resource Coordinator and Case Manager. She was often referred to as “the go-to person” by Goodwill staff when referred a large number of the Back-To-Works’ 2,500 clients for resources ranging from domestic violence shelters, temporary housing, food pantries and health care agencies, including medical insurance. She was instrumental in bringing mobile communication companies to the Goodwill program sites to assist clients in signing up for free mobile phones, which is essential for conducting job searches. Her work ethic epitomized the motto of the Goodwill Industries “to provide a helping hand rather than a hand out to folks truly in need.”
Migdalia received a certification in domestic violence training from Safe Horizons, training in the assessment of disadvantaged clients’ medical, housing, and economic needs; training in social service navigation from the Better Business Bureau, and training in various forms of remediation involving marital and legal issues by IMCR. She also worked at several New York City jails where she coordinated client discharge planning, including the provision of all necessary support for ex-offenders to join society and become self-sufficient. She is driven by a passion to help people and we are happy to have her join the Coming Home team.
Social Service Navigator - SHI
System Access Navigator
Kayla McCellon joined Coming Home in September 2021 as a Case Manager and Social Services Navigator. She initially worked in the Diversion program and is now using her considerable skills to assist with the system’s enhanced Coordinated Entry/Assessment process and coordinating the multiple agency case conferencing initiative. Kayla is outreaching persons not yet connected to our system of help through community partners in multiple towns in the County. She also maintains a relationship with the Chancery Division of Middlesex County Superior Court where she provides guidance and resources for those going through the foreclosure process.
Kayla currently attends Rutgers University New Brunswick as she is pursuing her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. She has a knowledge and passion for working with those who have faced or are facing traumatic experiences. She is also involved with research on the topic of diversity, racial dynamics, and non-traditional family structures.
Lead Access Navigator
Cassandra has been with Coming Home since 2016 serving in different capacities. She started as an Access Navigator, filled the role of processing applications for State vouchers, provided case management for the Covid Vulnerable population and is now Lead Access Navigator. As such, she oversees the return calls from 211 callers and their appropriate initial referral for assistance and coordinates the activities of our new physical sites providing access to the system of help. Cassandra has many years' experience working in the community with homeless clients as well as providing social services to individuals in need. She is a New Brunswick native & has volunteered at local agencies serving Middlesex County families. Currently, Cassandra resides in Edison with her daughter.
Access Navigator
Chris joined Coming Home in September 2024 as an Access Navigator, bringing with him a wealth of experience in community organizing. Prior to this role, Chris worked with Catholic Charities, where he was involved in advocating for, and supporting, vulnerable populations. His passion for social justice and his commitment to helping those in need, especially within the homeless community, are at the core of his work. As a native of New Brunswick, Chris has a deep-rooted connection to the city and a personal drive to make it a better place for everyone. He understands the unique challenges faced by the local community and works tirelessly to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness are met with compassion, resources, and opportunities for a better future. With a background in advocacy and a deep love for his hometown, Chris is dedicated to creating lasting, positive change in New Brunswick, striving to build a more inclusive and supportive community for all.
System Data Analyst
Sruthi Balu joined Coming Home in March 2026 as a System Data Analyst. She analyzes homeless services data, generates key insights, and presents findings through data visualizations to inform broader audiences. Her skills support Coming Home and the County in making data-driven decisions to address homelessness. Sruthi has always been passionate about working in fields that benefit society and sees reducing homelessness in Middlesex County as a meaningful opportunity to do so. She earned her Master’s in Data Science from Rutgers University in December 2025, after completing her bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in India in May 2022.
Case Manager
Toneta West
Administrative Assistant
Nimisha Pandit joined Coming Home in September of 2025, after having worked as an Executive Administrative Assistant for more than 2 decades at an IT consulting company. The expertise she brings to Coming Home will help in maintaining records, keeping track of payments and financials including reconciliation of bank statements, and supporting members of the team to reach their goals to help homeless families. Nimisha says that she is excited by this “new journey for me to learn and grow in a new area of expertise.” Nimisha has a bachelor’s degree in child psychology from the University of SNDT, Mumbai India.
Executive Director Emeritus
Eileen was the Executive Director of Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc. for 15 years. Her 20 years of professional experience as a health care attorney and business woman, providing legal, business and policy analysis services to public, as well as private, entities, that she brought to this role, served her well and enabled her to grow and develop the organization from the idea that it was when she assumed the role in April 2011. She holds a B.A. in Psychology; a Masters in Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute of Politics; a J.D. from Rutgers’ School of Law and a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. She retired in August 2026 to focus a bit more inwardly to family, friends and community and leaves the organization in the capable hands of existing staff and the new Executive Director, in whom she has the utmost confidence.
Community Solutions
Chairperson
Treasurer
RWJBarnabas Health
Middlesex County
Commissioner Director
New Brunswick
Designee: Keith Jones
Perth Amboy
Designee: Dianne Roman
Middlesex County Housing, Community Development. & Social Services
Middlesex County
Office of Human Services
Consultant
Consultant
Petra Best Realty
United Way of Central Jersey
DEVCO
Coming Home co-leads the County’s Housing Continuum of Care Committee (CoC), which coordinates planning and management of services funded by HUD, and works in concert with CoC member agencies. We also foster collaboration and partnerships with the leadership of the County’s 25 municipalities, health care entities and affordable housing developers.
