FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, December 16, 2015

New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Logo 


Volonteers serving a food to homeless and poor people.

 WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Charles A. Richman today announced the DCA’s commitment to Family Promise of Hunterdon County (Family Promise) through the award of a $300,000 grant through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. The announcement was made during a holiday visit as part of the Christie Administration’s fifth annual "Season of Service where Commissioner Richman and DCA staff dined with Family Promise clients to better understand their ongoing needs and housing concerns. 

The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program provides financial assistance to households that are at or below 30% of Area Median Income and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. The program is funded with federal funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and State matching funds from the DCA Homelessness Prevention Program. 

"It was heartwarming to meet with the families who directly benefit from the resources the Department provides," Commissioner Richman said about today’s visit with Family Promise clients. "Governor Christie and this Administration remain committed to serving New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents, and Family Promise is doing just that by responding to the homeless population in Hunterdon County."

Family Promise is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end homelessness by mobilizing the community to guide homeless families and individuals to self-sufficiency and permanent housing, with compassionate care, services and professional support. As the only homeless shelter in Hunterdon County, Family Promise works with a county-wide network of 48 congregations, 14 host sites and 33 support congregations, which serve as shelters for homeless women, couples and families with children. The host sites and their support congregations contribute more than 1,000 volunteers, food and sometimes monetary support. Each church houses guests for a week, after which time the guests are moved by van to another host site.

The "Season of Service" initiative was started to encourage volunteering, highlight service opportunities in the state, and call attention to those New Jerseyans who are already volunteering in their communities. It started the day before Thanksgiving 2011 when Governor Christie, First Lady Mary Pat Christie and three of their four children volunteered at the Ladle of Love soup kitchen at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Burlington City. Since then members of the Governor’s cabinet have volunteered their time and will continue to do so throughout the month of December.

To volunteer with Family Promise or to learn more about the organization, visit http://familypromisehc.org/ or call (908) 782-2490 for more information.

CONTACT:
Tammori Petty
or Emike Omogbai
(609) 292-6055