On February 12, 2020, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both Democrats) announced $1,776,000 in federal funding to support NeighborWorks America organizations that revitalize neighborhoods, restore and preserve affordable housing and help create jobs in communities all across New Jersey.
“I applaud NeighborWorks America for their efforts in empowering New Jersey residents by providing affordable housing and building strong communities,” said Sen. Menendez. “When our families have quality housing, our neighborhoods are strong and our state is prosperous.”
The following organizations were awarded grants:
- $562,500 – New Jersey Community Capital (New Brunswick, Middlesex);
- $349,000 – Affordable Housing Alliance, Inc. (Neptune, Monmouth);
- $264,500 – Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc. (Orange, Essex);
- $227,000 – St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society (Camden);
- $187,500 – Housing Partnership for Morris County (Dover, Morris); and.
- $185,500 – La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc. (Newark, Essex).
“All New Jersey families, regardless of their socioeconomic background, deserve the dignity of safe and affordable housing,” said Sen. Booker. “Proven federal programs like NeighborhoodWorks America help lift up some of our most vulnerable populations, strengthen our neighborhoods, and spur economic development.”
Just six days later, on February 18, 2020, Menendez and Booker were at it again. That’s when they announced the awarding of a combined $144,750,828 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development to support the revitalization of New Jersey communities in a different manner.
“As a former mayor, I have seen firsthand the impact successful federal programs like this have on addressing the most pressing housing issues in our communities,” said Sen. Booker. “Federal investments like this not only help address the affordable housing crisis in New Jersey, but they also bolster our economic growth and strengthen our neighborhoods.”
The funding announced came from four different grants designed to revitalize struggling neighborhoods and expand access to affordable housing. They are: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), the HOME program and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA).
“When we invest in our communities, we improve the quality of life for residents across the state of New Jersey, regardless of their zip code,” said Sen. Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development. “This critical funding will move us forward as a state, and allow for economic development, job opportunities and safe and affordable housing for families.”
NeighborWorks America is a public nonprofit organization, established by Congress in 1978 as the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. It supports and enhances a network of nearly 250 local and regional nonprofit partner NeighborWorks organizations that bring together residents, private-sector business leaders and representatives of local government to create communities of opportunity.
For 40 years, NeighborWorks America has supported local solutions to community revitalization and affordable housing in urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico by providing NeighborWorks organizations financial and grant support, training, technical assistance, organizational assessments, technology tools and other services.
Photo of homes in Cape May, New Jersey by David Mark from Pixabay.