By Sunayana Prabhu
RED BANK – In a world defined by borders, the idea of home continues to evolve and elude many. For some, it is a place; for others, it is a person. But what feels like home over a lifetime may also morph into items or emotions – a chipped teacup, a sepiatoned photograph or sunlight at 5 p.m. For Nancy, it’s a rainbow and a tree.
A resident of HABcore’s Coffey Residence, Nancy’s idea of home inspired “Safe Haven of Belonging and Beauty,” a mural unveiled Thursday, June 26, which transforms Coffey’s dining hall into a vibrant reflection of hope and “hiraeth” – a Welsh word that translates to a deep longing for something, especially one’s home. It runs deeper than just homesickness, perhaps a painful yearning for a bygone era or a nostalgic longing for a homeland that no longer exists, felt by the residents who’ve experienced homelessness.
Artists, nonprofit leaders and borough council members gathered to unveil the mural at the South Pearl Street residence – a congregate living home owned and operated by the nonprofit.
The mural is a collaborative work created with and for the residents of the Coffey Residence. It is a joint effort between HABcore, which provides housing to people experiencing homelessness, and Monmouth Arts, the official arts agency for Monmouth County.
The project was realized through the Monmouth Arts Creative Expressions Arts and Wellness Program, a countywide initiative that uses the arts to address mental health challenges among youth, adults and seniors. The program pairs professional artists with mental health experts to provide free workshops and creative sessions in community settings.
“It was like art therapy, and we asked them (the residents) what they would like to see,” said Jude Harzer, a public school art teacher and practicing artist affiliated with Monmouth Arts who designed and painted the mural.
Over several weeks, Harzer collaborated with residents on their idea of a home, with inputs from Devan Brash, Monmouth Arts’ creative expressions manager, and Hannah Jaffe, a mental health professional. They have been conducting regular art sessions with HABcore residents since early 2024.
“At first, I tried to rec- reate their sketches – rainbows, flowers – they were so childlike and pure, so I merged them into something whimsical, like a children’s book illustration,” Harzer said, translating the imagery of what home means to the Coffey residents into a vibrant, “uplifting” composition.
“All of this evolved from what the residents wanted if they wanted to create a home,” Harzer said.
At the heart of the mural is a person sitting under a tree, drawn from the real-life experience of Nancy, a 77-year-old resident who experienced homelessness at age 75.
“I love the rainbow, the tree, and the man sitting underneath it. It’s like his home. He finds peace there,” Nancy said at the unveiling.
Michelle Moore, site manager at Coffey Residence, said Nancy “was found underneath a tree sleeping for almost a year” until a nearby police department notified HABcore volunteers who enrolled her into HABcore’s program.
HABcore provides permanent housing and supportive services to approximately 800 families, veterans and individuals with special needs. The organization operates two boarding homes, Coffey Residence in Red Bank, which houses 21 formerly homeless individuals with disabilities, and Laurel House in Asbury Park, which houses 30.
Despite the sometimes dark experiences of its residents, the mural in Coffey’s dining hall is bright “because there’s a happy ending,” Moore said.
Monmouth Arts executive director Teresa Staub said the partnership with HABcore has brought meaningful change.
“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership. This is certainly not the end. We look forward to seeing the program grow and bring even more joy to the residents and the rest of the community,” Staub said.
“This is a permanent piece and will always be a reminder that together, as a community, when organizations – nonprofits – come together and work together, we can only succeed from that,” said Cathy Pugliese-Sivo, chair of HABcore’s board of trustees and a Monmouth Arts board member, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Since 2021, Monmouth Arts’ Creative Expressions Program has been supported by funding from Impact 100 Jersey Coast, the Mary Owen Borden Foundation, Monmouth Park Charity Fund, and others. A Monmouth County Community Block Grant funded the Coffey Residence mural and other aspects of the program in 2025.
Monmouth Arts showcased the work of HABcore residents in a July 2024 gallery exhibition at its Red Bank community space. A second mural is scheduled for creation later this year at HABcore’s Laurel House in Asbury Park.
“Arts are essential,” said Harzer, “despite our socio-economic status. Everyone is entitled to beauty, comfort and safety.”
The article originally appeared in the July 3 – July 9, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
