FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 14, 2014

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $50,000 TO SUPPORT NAACP FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM

 ‘Hand Over Hand Program’ Helps Families Manage Their Financial Future



TRENTON, N.J. - DCA Commissioner, Richard E. Constable, III, today announced that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) awarded a $50,000 grant to the NJ State Conference of the NAACP to implement the "Hand Over Hand" Financial Literacy program. The DCA is funding the pilot portion of this project with Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds from the US Department of Health and Human Services. CSBG grants provide core funding to local agencies to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities and to empower families to become self-sufficient.

"Financial literacy is very important to the Christie Administration," said DCA Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III. "We are committed to helping the most vulnerable in our communities and are pleased to be able to partner with the NAACP on the implementation of this program."

The NJ State Conference of the NAACP’s "Hand Over Hand" program will enable families to maximize their capacity to manage their financial future through planning, saving and investing wisely. This program will provide comprehensive financial literacy trainings to families at or below 125% of the federal poverty limit.  This grant will provide training for six Master Trainers, who will in turn train two Community Trainers in each of the NAACP’s 46 units throughout New Jersey.

"First and foremost, we are truly appreciative of the State of New Jersey and the Department of Community Affairs partnering with us to provide this grant for our financial literacy and training program for communities throughout the state," said Richard T. Smith, President of the NAACP New Jersey State Conference. "In this day and age, we all need to work together for the betterment of our community and the citizens we serve."

Since its inception in 1964, Community Services Block Grant funds have been utilized to help low-income individuals move towards self-sufficiency. The programs receiving CSBG funds provide services in the areas of employment, education, income, housing, emergency services, nutrition, linkages, self-sufficiency and health.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit agencies, housing authorities, municipalities, counties and neighborhood organizations with 501[c]3 status who serve low-income persons.

The NAACP New Jersey State Conference ensures the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. For more information, visit http://njnaacp.org/.

The DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources is committed to building neighborhoods and to providing financial and technical assistance to municipalities, community action agencies and other nonprofit organizations for community and economic development projects that improve the quality of life for low-income, disabled and disadvantaged residents.

For more information, visit http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/.