Village of Dreams a Reality with support of community, businesses and church

Grand Opening of Eva’s Village Apartments
Photos are online!

On Friday December 10, 2010, Eva’s Village held the official Grand Opening for Eva’s Village Apartments. The fifty (50) unit permanent, affordable and supportive housing development on Prince Street in Paterson NJ, is always transforming not only the neighborhood but also the lives of the families that will live there.

The emcee for the program was Sister Gloria Perez, the Executive Director of Eva’s Village. The founder of Eva’s Village Msgr. Vincent E. Puma began the program with a blessing.
Other speakers included:
Lori Grifa, the Commissioner, NJ Department of Community Affairs,
Mark Santasieri, Senior Vice-President, TD Bank,
Deborah DeSantis, President, Corporation for Supportive Housing, and
Senator Robert Menendez
The ribbon was cut by David Ritter, President of Eva’s Village and Joseph Alpert, President of The Alpert Group, LLC, the project’s co-developer.
Monarch Housing Associates served as the housing consultant for Eva’s Village Apartments.
The other members of the development team and funders included:

• The Alpert Group, LLC
• Corporation for Supportive Housing
• Department of Community Affairs
• Enterprise Community Investment
• Housing and Urban Development
• HUD’s Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)
• Monarch Housing Associates
• NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
• Passaic County Department of Human Services
• Sharp Management, LLC
• TD Bank

Housing First success spelled out

Home for the Holidays

by Richard W. Brown
December 15, 2010
in Ending Homelessness,Housing First

Housing First Works!
Study Documents Cost Savings

To read the full story in the Trenton Times click here.

Monarch Housing has always been an advocate for Housing First. It is a proven strategy that ends homelessness.
But if we had ever had any doubts about the value of Housing First, those doubts would have evaporated as a result of a recent forum that the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness hosted – a roundtable discussion to assess the progress of the Mercer Housing First Demonstration Initiative in Trenton and Mercer County that has made significant progress in ending homelessness.
Gail Collins, one of the participants in the roundtable said:

“I couldn’t ask for a better holiday. I got the tree up. I got the house decorated. I’m listening to Christmas music. I was even able to purchase Christmas gifts.”

Ms. Collins, who spent years “shuffling between shelters, transitional housing and abandoned buildings, feeding her drug addiction” will celebrate this holiday with her children and grandchildren.
The Mercer Housing First Demonstration Initiative currently houses sixty (60) people who had an average of 6.3 years of homelessness prior to entering the program. The program has had a 95% retention rate.
Not only does Housing First end homelessness, it also saves money.
The “Cost-Benefit Analysis – Preliminary Report – December 8, 2010″ prepared by Kevin S. Irwin of the Community Health Program at Tufts University documents that Housing First spent $18,587 per tenant per year. After reducing the hospital overnights, mental health overnights and emergency room visits for that same population when they were on the streets, the Housing First program is saving $9,429 a year per tenant.
Over a year for the fifteen tenants in the study the Housing First Program Cost Savings for would be $141,435.
For the 60 tenants currently in Housing First the annual savings would be $565,740.
Monarch Housing has been involved with the Mercer Collaborative as well as Housing First initiatives in Passaic, Bergen and beginning this month in Camden.

OC among state's top 3 in providiing social services

The Asbury Park Press revealed Wednesday that Ocean County ranks among the top three NJ counties for the number of applications for food stamps, general assistance and temporary assistance in 2010.

The OC Freeholders have allocated $19 million for social services this year.

The full article can be found at http://www.app.com/article/20110126/NEWS/101260368/1070/NEWS02/More-in-Ocean-County-on-welfare-increase-in-food-stamp-applications

OC Social Services serving more, new customers

From the Ocean County Freeholders;

County Provides Help to Those in Need
1/26/2011

TOMS RIVER – With the continuing downturn in the economy and unemployment benefits running out, families that have never turned to the Ocean County Board of Social Services for assistance are doing so now.

"Ocean County ranks among the top three counties in the state of New Jersey for the number of applications for food stamps, general assistance and temporary assistance for needy families," said Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Board of Social Services. "More and more families and individuals are turning to us for help."

According to the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Family Development, Middlesex, Hudson and Ocean counties showed the highest percentage increase for individuals receiving general assistance since November 2009. Ocean County increased by 27.3 percent according to a November 2010 state report.

The state report also noted Ocean County having the highest increase in food stamp applications in the state, followed by Middlesex and Morris counties.

The number of persons receiving food stamps in Ocean County increased by 39 percent with more than 42,000 people receiving the assistance. That number includes 23,602 children.

In addition, the county saw a 13.8 percent increase in the number of families receiving temporary assistance for needy families from 2009 to 2010.

Mary Fran McFadden, director of the Ocean County Board of Social Services, noted that the decline in the housing market and the construction trades, in part, has resulted in more families seeking assistance from social services.

"When construction slowed down many of these families turned to unemployment. With unemployment benefits depleted, they often turn to us," she said.

"The statistics paint a difficult story for many of our residents," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. "We are continuing to work with agencies and businesses in an effort to stimulate the local economy so that employment opportunities increase and we can return individuals to work so these families will not have to rely on social services."

Little said that now, in particular, the programs and services administered by the Board are increasingly seen as a financial lifeline for many families who are affected by unemployment and loss of income.

"I commend the workers at the Board of Social Services," Little said. "They do an excellent job in assisting people access the help that is available. It's important our residents know they have a place to turn during these difficult times."

Little said that the Board of Social Services administers more than 70 programs to assist needy and under-privileged families and individuals living in Ocean County. More than $500 million in state and federal funds flow through the Board of Social Services for programs and services. In addition, Ocean County earmarked $19 million for assistance programs.

Ocean County seeks funding for TR Connection bus-homeless affected?

Ridership Hit 1 Million in 2010
1/26/2011

TOMS RIVER – The Toms River Connection bus is a familiar sight on Route 37, throughout the township and along the Route 35 barrier island as it transports hundreds of individuals daily to and from jobs, medical appointments and other activities.

Overseen by the Ocean County Transportation Department and funded in part by a federal grant, the Toms River Connection provided more than 122,000 passenger bus trips last year alone.

"This bus route is a success story and has fulfilled its goals of providing affordable transportation to promote access to jobs and socials services for our working residents who rely on public transportation," said Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the county's public transportation service known as Ocean Ride. "Today we are seeking board approval to apply for continued funding for this service."

According to Kathleen C. Edmond, director of Ocean Ride, the county is seeking $425,000 for federal fiscal year 2010 and an additional $425,000 for federal fiscal year 2011 as part of a competitive grant process involving NJ Transit, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and Federal Transit Administration.

"This bus route was started in February 2001 and has experienced steady growth with bus trips hovering around 44,000 in its first year," Edmond said. "Now in its 11th year of operation, we topped our one millionth ride in November 2010."

Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Workforce Investment Board, noted this bus route has provided numerous county residents with employment opportunities they may not have been able to access without the transportation.

"This bus route has been providing benefits to Ocean County residents since it was launched in 2001," Vicari said.

The route serves a variety of areas including the Ocean County Government complex in downtown Toms River, the Toms River Park and Ride on Water Street, here, the Ocean County Mall, the Ocean County Board of Social Services complex at 1027 Hooper Ave., here, which is also home to Ocean County's Department of Consumer Affairs, Veterans Service Bureau and Office of Senior Services. In addition, it stops at Community Medical Center, WalMart and the Toms River Business Park.

"The link begins on the barrier island and provides a transportation service for individuals living along Route 35 providing them a way to access the mainland," Edmond said.

Edmond noted that on June 6, 2010, a new vendor, Classic Tours began operation of the route, which operates on a schedule of seven days a week during the summer and six days a week during the remainder of the year.

"The new contractor operates upgraded transit vehicles at a lower contract cost," Edmond said. "The bid price reflected a cost savings of more than $19,000 a year."

The cost to ride the Toms River Connection is $1.50 and 75 cents for seniors, persons with disabilities and college students with ID.

Gov conditionally vetoes S1

Gov. Christie's Conditional Veto
 Gives Towns License to Exclude  
 

This afternoon, Governor Christie conditionally vetoed the housing legislation that was passed by the Legislature earlier this month.  In doing so, he called on the Legislature to adopt revised legislation that would allow municipalities to completely exclude lower-income households.  His proposed amendments would allow municipalities to determine their housing obligations and would reimpose growth share, a failed system that has been rejected twice by the courts as unconstitutional because it allowed municipalities to avoid their regional low- and moderate-income housing obligations.  
 

Kevin D. Walsh, Associate Director of Fair Share Housing Center, said, "If the governor's proposed amendments become law, New Jersey's housing policy will be set back four decades.  In New Jersey, most wealthy, job-rich towns do everything they can to keep out regular working folks who are bus drivers, waitresses, and public employees.  The governor has sided with wealthy towns that unreasonably prevent starter homes and apartments from being built.  The legislation he proposed violates the Mount Laurel doctrine, is bad for our economy, and would be rejected by the courts."
 

The governor's decision today puts him at odds with the business community, which called on him to sign the legislation he conditionally vetoed.  Walsh continued, "Governor Christie has rejected the demands of the business community and sided with discriminatory towns."

A press release from the Governor's Office explaining his reasoning can be found here:

https://1530940035611580461-a-fairsharehousing-org-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/fairsharehousing.org/fair-share-housing-center/miscellaneous/christieCV-1242011.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cpisga2a7EhLduaFptcDosYT-Gm6E8MkAL6iliEpld68l48WCHe1F0i66emecaN_f__9FG_SDPFXTedwLyQRk_Yd5lvppVbdEu6iYaMBR8UF6_zkB7ZqSm19iVwYmpi0GhOX3njbc-hoWldCxYAjAxZXx4WprzYZa09tkoARJpcu2BfQS9RRPxzeiYGWKIe5Jbdmg2ZQPG7vrK5YfePe_-Xjz63k3IU22d6E0uxRZCaLhAFPytR5EY7EKjY5IHiB26sAtQI&attredirects=0

A copy of his conditional veto can be found here: https://1530940035611580461-a-fairsharehousing-org-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/fairsharehousing.org/fair-share-housing-center/miscellaneous/christieCV-1242011.pdf?attachauth=ANoY7cpisga2a7EhLduaFptcDosYT-Gm6E8MkAL6iliEpld68l48WCHe1F0i66emecaN_f__9FG_SDPFXTedwLyQRk_Yd5lvppVbdEu6iYaMBR8UF6_zkB7ZqSm19iVwYmpi0GhOX3njbc-hoWldCxYAjAxZXx4WprzYZa09tkoARJpcu2BfQS9RRPxzeiYGWKIe5Jbdmg2ZQPG7vrK5YfePe_-Xjz63k3IU22d6E0uxRZCaLhAFPytR5EY7EKjY5IHiB26sAtQI&attredirects=0

"Fair Share Housing Center, founded in 1975, is based in Cherry Hill. It is the only public interest organization devoted entirely to defending the housing rights of New Jersey's poor through implementing the Mount Laurel doctrine, which requires that each municipality provide its fair share of affordable housing to low- and moderate-income people.  Visit us on the web at http://www.fairsharehousing.org/ ."

HUD Awards $1.4 Billion in Homeless Program Grants

HUD Awards $1.4 Billion in Homeless Program Grants

Posted to: MND NewsWire
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:47 PM

 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the award of $1.41 billion in renewal funding for 6,741 local homeless assistance programs.  The 12 month grants are part of the Obama Administration's Opening Doors strategy for ending homelessness and represent an increase of $40 million over awards made last year.  The Opening Doors strategy was detailed in a report, Opening Doors: a Federal Study for Ending Homelessness written by the Interagency Council on Homelessness representing 19 federal agencies last June and covered extensively by MND.
The Continuum of Care grants, as they are known, are designed to support a variety of services to get the homeless off the street, into transitional and ultimately permanent housing with the support needed to keep them housed.   Two-thirds of the grants are designed for transitional housing and one-third for support services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.  The programs are active in 3,800 cities and counties in every state.
A press teleconference regarding the awards was held Wednesday afternoon hosted by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Mercedes Marquez, assistant secretary for community planning and development and Barbara Poppe, executive director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The Secretary noted that the funds had arrived at a critical moment in a watershed year during which HUD had also allocated $1.5 billion in Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) Program funds.  HPRP is intended to prevent persons from falling into homelessness or to rapidly re-house them if they do.  To date, more than 750,000 persons have been assisted through that program.
"There is a tremendous need on our streets and in our shelters among those experiencing both long-term homelessness as well as families confronting a sudden economic crisis," said Donovan. "These grants are the life blood for thousands of local housing and service programs that are doing the heavy lifting to meet President Obama's goal of ending homelessness."
The bi-annual Let's Make Everyone Count campaign during which volunteers conduct a national one-night count of the homeless is scheduled for last week.  Donovan said that during the last count in January 2009 643,000 persons were found living on the streets or in shelters.  A follow-up found that over 2 million Americans were homeless at some point during the year and that they had the following characteristics:

• 78 percent of all sheltered homeless persons are adults;
•  61 percent are male;
• 62 percent are members of a minority group;
• 38 percent are 31-to-50 years old;  
• 64 percent are in one-person households, and
• 38 percent have a disability.

While the numbers of homeless have decreased since 2005, the number of homeless families has increased in each of the last two years, primarily as a result of the recession.
Donovan said that one program funded by the grants is Home First.  Contrary to the traditional model of treating homelessness where the individual must first get sober, undergo counseling or remain on medication before being placed in a home, Home First seeks to get the individual into stable housing then treat the underlying problem on the theory that it is nearly impossible to keep a patient healthy, sober, or medicated while they move from shelter to shelter.
Providing stable housing for the chronically homeless, Donovan said, virtually pays for itself.  The incidence of chronic homelessness has been reduced nearly 30 percent and the savings can be seen in reduced emergency room visits and hospital stays, fewer ambulance calls, and reduced jail time.   
There will be an announcement later in the year of new awards under the program.  As yet it has not been determined how much will be available for first time grants and grant applications are still being reviewed.  Donovan said, however, that his Department will continue to award new grants and renewal grants separately so as to be able to get renewal funds to those quickly to prevent any interruption in services.
Here is a breakdown of the projects and funds awarded on a state-by-state basis.

STATE	# OF PROJECTS	TOTAL $
Alaska	22	$3,420,701
Alabama	67	$14,768,595
Arkansas	28	$4,577,411
Arizona	105	$33,226,189
California	801	$227,603,786
Colorado	84	$18,633,536
Connecticut	133	$29,738,654
District of Columbia	65	$18,587,926
Delaware	17	$3,715,629
Florida	321	$71,389,061
Georgia	137	$25,411,127
Guam	7	$946,291
Hawaii	34	$10,235,739
Iowa	44	$7,593,468
Idaho	35	$3,474,632
Illinois	398	$83,032,822
Indiana	110	$13,851,121
Kansas	43	$6,565,885
Kentucky	94	$16,722,177
Louisiana	153	$26,272,896
Massachusetts	303	$57,821,629
Maryland	208	$44,231,502
Maine	46	$9,473,497
Michigan	269	$55,852,464
Minnesota	148	$20,198,148
Missouri	111	$24,000,914
Mississippi	26	$4,198,972
Montana	17	$2,449,956
North Carolina	130	$15,865,468
North Dakota	18	$1,665,449
Nebraska	27	$3,893,892
New Hampshire	51	$5,573,625
New Jersey	174	$22,373,892
New Mexico	36	$6,774,929
Nevada	28	$5,842,535
New York	654	$165,609,614
Ohio	263	$66,249,583
Oklahoma	53	$6,107,328
Oregon	101	$18,190,255
Pennsylvania	373	$63,438,250
Puerto Rico	36	$11,068,344
Rhode Island	44	$4,758,967
South Carolina	51	$6,784,796
South Dakota	6	$1,032,122
Tennessee	122	$16,951,903
Texas	216	$59,941,137
Utah	39	$4,206,606
Virginia	139	$20,154,557
Virgin Islands	1	$168,352
Vermont	24	$3,682,702
Washington	199	$37,735,249
Wisconsin	92	$21,003,847
West Virginia	34	$3,999,995
Wyoming	4	$338,517
TOTAL	6741	$1,411,406,642

View Article: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/01192011_hud_homelessness.asp

Court orders Christie Administration to End Delay on COAH

Court orders Christie Administration to End Delay on COAH

Requires Sworn Certifications on Progress from DCA Commissioner; Will Consider Whether to Appoint Special Master

New Jersey - January 19, 2011 - The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court has ordered the Christie Administration to stop delaying new COAH rules for municipal obligations for low- and moderate-income homes. The Court is requiring a sworn certification from DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa every two weeks on progress towards new rules, with the first certification due on January 28, 2011. The Court also said that it would consider appointing a special master to oversee the agency depending on the content of the first report.  

"The Christie Administration has flagrantly defied the decision of the Appellate Division requiring an end to the decade-long delay in implementing the state's housing laws," Fair Share Housing Center Staff Attorney Kevin D. Walsh said. "The Court's order will help ensure that New Jersey's wealthiest municipalities cannot use burdensome regulations to exclude starter homes - at a time when such regulations are impeding economic recovery by preventing both non-profit and for-profit builders from meeting the demands of the market."

The order, which is available here, comes after the Christie Administration openly admitted to the Court that it would not meet a court-imposed deadline of March 8, 2011 for implementation of new rules for the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). The Court in an October 8, 2010 decision invalidated COAH's prior rules as unconstitutionally giving too much discretion to municipal regulation. The Christie Administration, in a January 10 filing with the Court, said that it was not working on the rules and would not meet the deadline, even though the Court had already explicitly denied COAH permission to delay adopting the rules, a decision that COAH has now appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

"New Jersey can't afford the Christie Administration's foot-dragging on this critical issue," Walsh said. "Thousands of working families, people with special needs, and lower-income seniors and New Jersey's business community are anxiously awaiting sound and constitutional regulations."

The decision comes against the backdrop of legislation recently passed by both houses of the Legislature, S-1/A-3447, which would abolish COAH and replace it with a new state housing policy. However, unless and until Gov. Christie signs that legislation, COAH remains current law and is bound to continue its work by court order.
 

The briefs filed in the matter are available here (FSHC) and here (COAH).
 

Fair Share Housing Center, founded in 1975, is based in Cherry Hill. It is the only public interest organization devoted entirely to defending the housing rights of New Jersey's poor through implementing the Mount Laurel doctrine, which requires that each municipality provide its fair share of affordable housing to low- and moderate-income people.  Visit us on the web at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=8rlbltcab&et=1104269536207&s=132&e=001KCIG9nnfyY2Y_VmursrJyPLBiMehUPrsTwQ2Gxk21AcGGLHpBgrMfHDCjBuKQ3jleRA9b6M_nYHr38K-MHIS_quzjJAnTGofufQ9Aphg9uvGvgp7zQhYLREAMW0JdIF7.

Contact:   

Kevin D. Walsh - 856-665-5444  

NJ Fair Housing: Christie's Inaction on Housing Threatens NJ Economy

Gov. Christie's Inaction on Housing Threatens NJ Economy

As reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer today, the creation of jobs and construction of homes are jeopardized in New Jersey by Gov. Christie's inaction on removing regulatory barriers to development of starter homes.  The article points out that in the Governor's State of the State speech last week he spoke of "finding the path to growth" in New Jersey, but yet has failed to make progress on a number of policies important on economic stimulus, including housing reform.

As the Inquirer article reports, NAIOP New Jersey Chapter, New Jersey Business & Industry Association, International Council of Shopping Centers, New Jersey Builders Association and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce have all signed a public letter to Governor Christie.  While the letter praises the Governor for his efforts to make New Jersey "more business friendly and a place that will incentivize investment"; it also implores him to sign S1/A3447 as a "workable affordable housing policy" needed to "accelerate economic growth". The letter mentions support for the bill's elimination of the Council on Affordable Housing, elimination of the 2.5 percent commercial development fee, and clear municipal obligations.

The letter describes a workable  affordable housing policy as one that will " a) provide those who desperately need affordable housing with the opportunity to find such housing; b) create a system that allow municipalities to more appropriately manage growth, including both market rate and affordable housing; c) create realistic and attainable affordable housing goals that allow development community to work hand in hand with local governments. . ."

We share the business community's desire for a workable housing policy that will help the economy rebound. While we believe that the municipal obligations in S1/A3447 are too low, we agree that the bill does provide a workable and predictable framework to get homes built. If Gov. Christie does not move forward with the legislation, he has an alternative route to get the economy moving and homes built: complying with the Appellate Division's order to expeditiously develop new COAH rules. As we reported yesterday, the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court has ordered the Christie Administration to provide progress reports every two weeks beginning on January 28 on the drafting of new COAH rules to meet the court-imposed deadline of March 8, 2011, after the  Administration publicly stated that they will not meet the deadline.  These new rules would return to the predictable, well-known system in place in the 1980s and 1990s in New Jersey which created nearly 60,000 homes affordable to low- and moderate-income people.

The foot- dragging by the Administration has a detrimental domino effect.   Municipalities are reluctant to provide opportunities for needed starter homes because they are waiting for potential changes in obligation with the third round COAH rules or new housing legislation.  Builders are stuck not knowing if their projects will move forward, and working families, low-income seniors and those with special needs are missing out on housing opportunities.

The "path to growth" Gov. Christie seeks for New Jersey cannot occur without a workable and constitutional resolution of the state's housing policy that will provide predictability for the business community and municipalities and meet the market demand for starter homes throughout the state.

Fair Share Housing Center, founded in 1975, is based in Cherry Hill. It is the only public interest organization devoted entirely to defending the housing rights of New Jersey's poor through implementing the Mount Laurel doctrine, which requires that each municipality provide its fair share of affordable housing to low- and moderate-income people.  Visit us on the web at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=8rlbltcab&et=1104275758884&s=132&e=001dmkvmv_4EEABHiybxD6f1_dOjVFqW_-2XyPCHf7L8Cx4r57PD8KPOQg5rLUfXircvSCkPSbwslxh40WHreOq9hiL-_zTPfnSKIcp5_fPeJoYKI9NWoeYYzsf-_sq1fpW.

Is NJ housing racist? Your thoughts?

Asbury Park Press editorial supports homeless remedies

The Asbury Park Press printed an editorial Jan. 16 that supports finding ways to resolve the homeless situation in Ocean County and takes the county to task for not moving to remedy the problem in a timely manner.

The editorial can be found at: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011101160334

Library offers free, professional classes online

Ocean County Library has subscribed to Universal Class for Libraries, an online educational service that offers more than 500 different classes covering topics that are of interest to everybody. 

Classes range from fundraising, accounting, budgeting, Excel spreadsheets, Quicken, credit report and repair, nutrition, wellness, computer skills, writing, photography, painting, career coaching and training, conflict resolution, contract law, PowerPoint, job search skills, cooking, crafts and hobbies, social work and so many more.

The classes are free if you have an Ocean County Library card. (The library also has agreements with the Monmouth County Library and Burlington County Library. Contact OCL for information to enable you to access the classes.) 

Access to Universal Class is available 24/7.

To explore Universal Class go to OCL’s Web page (www.theoceancountylibrary.org) and click on the Universal Class’s icon along the right hand side of the page.  You will be able to examine the 500 classes that are offered and can register for any of them.

A person can register for up to five classes at a time and can add others once classes are completed.

Classes can be as few as six lessons long to more than 30 lessons and are taught by a real, live person who you may contact via E-mail.  Lessons include required reading assignments and a test before one can move on to the next lesson.  Class completion can stretch to as long as six months.

These are non-credit courses and are provided for your personal enrichment. These courses are not intended to be a substitute for any state, government, licensing, or educational requirements.

Any more questions?  Contact the library at question@theoceancountylibrary.org  or telephone the library reference department at (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514.

(Hey, for a limited time only you can go directly to Universal Class by clicking on http://oceancountynj.universalclass.com/barcode-login.htm?enter+code ) 

OC Freeholder press release re. senior services

Jan. 13, 2011

SENIOR PROGRAMS READY FOR 2011

PROGRAMS RANGING from meals-on-wheels to caregivers services will continue to be provided by the Ocean County Department of Senior Services in 2011.

"Our seniors deserve these comprehensive and diverse services to ensure that they can enjoy the best possible quality of life," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari.

Services including outreach to the homebound elderly, volunteer friendly visitors, telephone reassurances, health screening and education are all included in the contracts scheduled to be approved by the Board during its January 19 meeting.

The 36 competitive contracts total more than $2.3 million.
The Meals-on-Wheels and Congregate meal programs are expected to deliver more than 317,600 meals to senior citizens in the New Year, Vicari said.

The nutrition program awards to Community Services, Inc. were approved earlier and the Kosher Home Delivered Meals are among the contracts up for approval on January 19.

"These meals are often a lifeline for the frail and disabled, bringing not only nutritional value but also social contact," Vicari said. "About 60% of home delivered meals clients are at high nutritional risk."

Other contracts include transportation, legal services, caregiver services, care management, benefits screening, chore services and a host of others.

"More than a quarter of Ocean County's population is over the age of 60, including more than 75,000 people aged 75 and older," Vicari said. "Providing beneficial programs and services for the older adult population continues to be a priority for the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders."

The Office of Senior Services serves as a clearinghouse, teaming up seniors with programs that can help make a difference in their daily lives, Vicari said.

The office will oversee a total of 52 contracts with 22 governmental and non-profit agencies in 2011 totaling over $5.3 million.

This year, 536,411 units of service will be provided to 35,379 persons.

Access to information and assistance is a major focus for the Office of Senior Services, said D. Jane Maloney, director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services.

"Our seniors need to know they can come to us and we can match them up with the appropriate services," Maloney said. "Over 12,000 individuals called or visited us in 2010 and our Outreach sites plan to provide this assistance to over 18,000 individuals in 2011."

For further information regarding services call Office of Senior Services at 732-929-2091 or 1-800-668-4899.

NAEH releases "The State of the Homeless in America"

The National Alliance to End Homelessness has published "The State of Homelessness in America," a comprehensive examination that not only reveals national and state level homeless counts, but also delves into economic indicators and demographic drivers – taking an in-depth look at risk factors for homelessness. These findings project a disquieting picture of what the lagging pace of the economic recovery could bring about: increases in homelessness and heightened risk of homelessness for more and more Americans.

As the new Congress and the Administration consider steps to revitalize the American economy with jobs, extension of benefits, and access to health care, it would be prudent to take note of these increased risk factors and incorporate homeless interventions into their recovery strategy.

To read more and to access the full report use this link: 

http://monarchhousing.org/2011/01/12/the-state-of-homelessness-in-america/

Please share this report with all interested parties.

Richard W. Brown, Chief Executive Officer
Monarch Housing Associates
29 Alden Street, Suite 1B
Cranford, NJ 07016-2156
908-272-5363 ext. 225
908-382-6309 (Fax)
mailto:rbrown@monarchhousing.org

Service groups to host forum on the homeless

Kiwanis, Rotary clubs and others to host forum on the homeless

JACKSON -  The Kiwanis Club of Jackson, along with the Central Ocean Rotary Club, the Shore Community Land Trust and several local church groups, will host a forum about Ocean County’s homeless Monday Jan. 31 at 6:30  p.m. at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St.

The forum will address the problem of the county’s homeless, discuss solutions, offer action plans and establish a network for future discussion and action.

The two-hour forum will provide an overview of homelessness in Ocean County.  It will include presentations by people who currently are or have recently been homeless.

The forum will also examine successful strategies that have been implemented in other areas of the country and have achieved long-term solutions to individual and family homelessness.  An interactive discussion will follow. 

Building upon that discussion the forum will conclude with a presentation of action plans and the formation of a network of organizations and individuals to support actions that alleviate the needs of the homeless.  Its goal is to involve community service organizations, churches, non-profit groups, local legislators, student groups, business leaders and others to achieve a lasting resolution to the problem of homelessness.

Prior to the forum several groups that work with the homeless will host tables to distribute information about their organizations, answer questions and present to the public opportunities to volunteer their assistance.

The forum is free and open to the public.  For more information please contact Larry Meegan at larrym52@aol.com. 

Bergen Record supports Homelessness Trust Fund

The Bergen Record, Jan. 6, 2011

FEES have a bad reputation, and deservedly so. From user fees on gift cards to "convenience" fees for movie tickets, forking over money for no apparent reason is exasperating.
One fee, however, is worth every penny, and we urge all New Jersey counties to adopt it.
The County Homelessness Trust Fund Act, which went into effect in 2009, allows participating counties to put a $3 surcharge on basic transactions like recording mortgages, deeds and other documents with the county clerk. The money is used for homeless services the county has deemed necessary, including rental assistance vouchers, mental health counseling and rehabbing affordable housing.
Counties do not have to participate, but they should. Eight are already, including Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Union. Bergen County has raised $255,556 since Feb. 1, 2010, when it started the program. Passaic County has raised $121,110 since Jan. 1, 2010. All from a fee that costs less than a grande latte or a roast beef sandwich.
Before counties can charge the $3, they must develop a plan for how the money can reduce homelessness and the need for emergency care, hospitalization, foster care and other social services within their borders. It encourages officials to take a comprehensive look at county services and figure out the problems that need fixing. A good exercise.
It is astonishing that some counties are opting not to take part. The county administrator in Essex said the fee "could have a chilling effect on the housing market, which, for us, is very critical." The director of Morris County's Department of Human Services said, "The freeholders are concerned about adding additional charges, particularly to real estate transactions." A Sussex County freeholder said, "People want to give on their own … they don't want the government to force them to do it. Taxpayers have had it with all these fees."
These are flimsy excuses. We can imagine no scenario in which a couple decide not to buy the $400,000 home of their dreams because they will have to pay an additional $3 to register the deed. Compared with all the other closing costs, it isn't even a blip. Nor do we hold much truck with the thought that taxpayers will see an extra three bucks as big government digging into their pockets.
Homelessness costs society. We pay for it one way or another, whether through higher health insurance rates to cover emergency room visits or higher taxes to cover jail costs. And it isn't just financial. We pay for it through the lost potential of homeless children with uneven schooling, the lost production of homeless workers who have to skip work and the lost security of a once-healthy neighborhood whose residents have been kicked out by the banks.
In the face of all that, skip the latte and pay the fee.

Service groups to host forum on the homeless

JACKSON -  The Kiwanis Club of Jackson, along with the Central Ocean Rotary Club, the Shore Community Land Trust and several local church groups, will host a forum about Ocean County’s homeless Monday Jan. 31 at 6:30  p.m. at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St.

The forum will address the problem of the county’s homeless, discuss solutions, offer action plans and establish a network for future discussion and action.

The two-hour forum will provide an overview of homelessness in Ocean County.  It will include presentations by people who currently are or have recently been homeless.

The forum will also examine successful strategies that have been implemented in other areas of the country and have achieved long-term solutions to individual and family homelessness.  An interactive discussion will follow. 

Building upon that discussion the forum will conclude with a presentation of action plans and the formation of a network of organizations and individuals to support actions that alleviate the needs of the homeless.  Its goal is to involve community service organizations, churches, non-profit groups, local legislators, student groups, business leaders and others to achieve a lasting resolution to the problem of homelessness.

Prior to the forum several groups that work with the homeless will host tables to distribute information about their organizations, answer questions and present to the public opportunities to volunteer their assistance.

The forum is free and open to the public.  For more information please contact Larry Meegan at larrym52@aol.com.