Special Needs

Social and Human Services | Homeless/Potential Homeless | Seniors/ Disabled

SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES

The overall goals of the Division of Community Action are to make a significant impact on the lives of the disenfranchised population of Essex County by providing a broad array of social and human services that promote self-sufficiency and economic independence; to create ways to help prevent evictions, homelessness, and provide positive intervention through the provision of counseling and referral services when homelessness occurs; to reduce heating and cooling cost via the promotion of weatherization services in the homes of the poor, disabled, and elderly in Essex County; to enhance the quality of life among eligible refugees/entrants through job preparedness, counseling and placement.

Benjamin Amos, III - Assistant Director
15 South Clinton Street, 3rd Floor
East Orange, NJ 07019
Hours of Service: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
(973) 395-8350
Fax (973) 395-8433

HOMELESS/ POTENTIAL HOMELESS

Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc. (NESF)
983 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 643-5727
Fax 973) 643-2842

NESF is one of a few non-profit and non-secretarian social service agencies in the country delivering comprehensive emergency services to families in crisis. It provides emergency assistance to working families, the unemployed, destitute, homeless, elderly, handicapped, victims of crime, and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Qualified individuals and families may receive temporary assistance for rent/mortgage, public utilities, child care, transportation, shelter, food, prescriptions, information and referrals to other service provider agencies.

Rental assistance for non-elderly disabled families in support of designated housing allocation plans is available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: HOUSING ASSISTANCE ELEMENT
This element of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs administers a number of programs that address the housing needs of the homeless and potential homeless and provides housing assistance to eligible households. With the exception of the Homelessness Prevention Program, all programs are funded by HUD.

For further information on any of the following programs, call or write to:
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Division of Housing and Community Resources
Housing Assistance Element
P.O. Box 806
Trenton, NJ 08625-0806
(609) 633-6303
Fax (609) 633-8084

NJ Citizen Action has a listing of homeless shelters throughout New Jersey.

SENIORS / FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES

NJ EASE (New Jersey Easy Access, Single Entry) is an initiative of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, in partnership with county governments, to provide a new and easy way for senior citizens and their families to learn about and obtain needed services.The goal of NJ EASE is to create a consumer-focused statewide system that aids access to services for seniors and promotes informed personal choice, dignity and the use of high quality and cost-effective services. Need information on senior services? Call toll-free (877) 222-3737.

The AARP has a good brochure on reverse mortgages that can be ordered at (800) 424-3410 or viewed at www.aarp.org. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which backs most reverse mortgages, has materials that can be ordered by calling (800) 217-6970 or viewed by Clicking Here.

Also try the Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. Materials can be ordered by calling (866) 264-4466.

The mission of the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services is to improve the quality of life, and to support the independence and dignity of New Jersey's older residents.

NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
(609) 292-7837 or the toll-free Hotline (800) 367-6543

Housing For People With Disablities - visit www.makoa.org/housing.htm.