United Community Corporation (UCC) has announced its commitment to combat homelessness by allocating over $750,000 to New Jersey shelter programs. This generous funding, which totals $770,500, is part of a strategic effort to enhance shelter services, promote community involvement, and provide essential capital resources to address homelessness across the state.
The UCC, a beacon for those facing economic challenges, will distribute the grant to 12 deserving organizations across multiple counties including Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, Sussex, and Warren. This move comes in response to the critical need for expanded shelter services, underscored by a troubling rise in homelessness – a count on a single night in 2023 reported over 10,000 homeless individuals in New Jersey, marking an increase from the previous year.
This infusion of funds is sourced from the BRIDGES/Community and Culture program, alongside the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Office of Homelessness Prevention (OHP). UCC’s Executive Director, Craig Mainor, underscores the importance of this effort: “We aim to instill hope and dignity while forging a path to a brighter future for those on the brink of homelessness. By uplifting individuals in crisis, we not only support them but also bolster the health and vitality of our communities.”
The commitment of the UCC goes beyond financial support. The agency is hands-on in its approach, operating an emergency shelter on Fulton St. in Newark, and offering services at Newark’s HOPE Village I, with plans to extend its outreach to HOPE Village II. These innovative facilities utilize converted shipping containers to create safe, code-compliant modular housing solutions, equipped with dorm-style rooms, private shower facilities, and more.
Mainor speaks to the transformative potential of the grant: “The funds we’ve received are more than a monetary contribution – they represent an investment in our communities’ future. We’re not just offering charity; we’re ensuring these funds are channeled to where they can ignite real change, transitioning individuals from uncertainty to stability, from the harshness of the streets to the comfort of a warm bed.”
With such significant financial backing and a hands-on approach, UCC is setting a commendable example in the fight against homelessness, offering not just shelter, but a stepping stone to a more secure and hopeful life for New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens.
For a clearer picture of the ongoing situation and the positive impact of UCC’s work, follow their progress and efforts to address the homelessness crisis in New Jersey.
UCC will disburse OHP-BRIDGES Community and Cultural 2023 grant funds to the following organizations:
| Name | County | Amount Allocated |
| Housing Authority of Bergen County | Bergen | $85,500 |
| Catholic Charities – Archdiocese of Newark | Essex | $55,000 |
| Family Promise of Essex | Essex | $47,500 |
| YMCA – Greater Newark | Essex | $60,500 |
| Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation | Hudson | $65,000 |
| Hoboken Shelter | Hudson | $65,000 |
| Catholic Charities – Archdiocese of Newark | Hudson | $55,500 |
| Eva’s Village | Passaic | $70,500 |
| Paterson Task Force | Passaic | $65,000 |
| Samaritan Inn | Sussex | $63,500 |
| Family Promise – Sussex | Sussex | $52,000 |
| Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County | Warren | $85,500 |
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