2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practice: Section 3 Activities

Housing Authority Raises Compliance Goal for Section-3 Requirements

Jersey City. The Jersey City Housing Authority uses aggressive benchmarks to comply with HUD requirements regarding employment of Section 3 residents. The housing authority raised the goal related to hiring of low- and very-low income workers from 30 percent of new hires to 30 percent of total hours worked for positions generated by HUD financial assistance. In order to help businesses achieve the goal and prepare residents for employment, the housing authority collaborated with a local painters/plasterers’ union to train candidates. Thirteen residents have completed the training, 16 have obtained jobs under Section 3-covered contracts, and employment is pending for another 50 on a HOPE VI project. Businesses hiring low- and very-low income residents have received $2 million in contracts. Other New Jersey housing authorities have used the authority’s Employment and Contracting Opportunity Plan (EOC) as a model.

Contact: Robert Rigby, Phone: (201) 547-6600
Tracking Number: 299
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)

Best Practice: Vacancy Consolidation Program

The Vacancy Consolidation Program Streamlining New Jersey Housing Authority

Jersey City. The Vacancy Consolidation Program was developed in conjunction with the New Jersey Housing Authority’s HOPE VI Revitalization Program to facilitate more cost-effective management, maintenance and security at the Authority’s housing developments. To accomplish this, residents in partially-occupied buildings must be relocated. The second objective is to successfully relocate residents by encouraging families to move to more fully-occupied buildings and/or less racially- and economically- impacted neighborhoods that offer better housing, education and employment opportunities. The third objective is to recruit landlords to participate in the authority’s Section 8 program. The program’s other focus is to link with the state’s regional opportunity counseling program to ensure that Section 8 recipients obtain comprehensive counseling. In conjunction with the Vacancy Consolidation Program, the authority developed and implemented the Good Neighbor Initiative program. It determines if applicants are eligible for the state’s program and assesses the responsibility level of applicants in paying their household bills. The authority allocated 65 Section 8 vouchers in the first year of the program and has recruited 12 new landlords for its Section 8 program.

Contact: Marie Mayo, Phone: (201) 547-6600
Tracking Number: 281
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)

Best Practice: New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Home Ownership for Permanency Program

Partnership Creates Innovative Project to Reduce Number of Special Needs Children in Foster Care

Trenton. The Home Ownership for Permanency Project creates affordable home ownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income potential adoptive families and relative caregivers to reduce the number of special needs children in foster care. Under the Home Ownership for Permanency Project, the New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) provides homebuyer mortgages at below market interest rates of 1 to 4 percent, with 100 percent financing if needed for those faced with inadequate or unaffordable housing. This $4 million project addresses the needs of lower income adoptive families and was created through a partnership of the NJHMFA and the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Youth and Family Services. The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission provided half of the program funding through a $2 million matching grant.

Contact: Gregory Adkins, Phone: (609) 278-7457
Tracking Number: 2694
Winning Category: Program (Housing - Single Family)

Best Practice: Regional Opportunity Counseling Program

Housing Counseling Program Helps Low-Income Families Relocate

East Orange. The Regional Housing Opportunity Counseling Program promotes strategies that help low-income residents use Section 8 vouchers to choose neighborhoods that offer better housing, education and employment opportunities. Multiple public- and private-sector agencies pool resources and work collaboratively to provide resident/landlord/community education, outreach, counseling, and support services. The program works to expand landlord participation and increase the diversity of neighborhoods where Section 8 recipients reside; encourage low-income families to move to low-poverty areas offering high quality housing; identify and address barriers to mobility; and provide in-depth counseling to participating families. Thirty-seven participating families have relocated to areas less economically and racially segregated; and another 80 are waiting to relocate once housing is available. More than 100 new landlords have agreed to participate in the Section 8 program. The National Federation of Housing Counselors recognized the program at its 1999 conference.

Contact: Fran Lawton, Phone: (973) 266-8692
Tracking Number: 295
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)

Best Practice: Interstate Realty Management-Family Neighborhood Networks Centers

Centers Work Together to Provide Employment Resources for Residents

Marlton. The Interstate Realty Management (IRM)-Family of Neighborhood Networks consists of 12 Neighborhood Network Computer Training Centers that offer comprehensive job training and self-sufficiency programs. Although the centers are located in different geographic areas, they communicate with each other through video conferencing. IRM's Life Skills Training program provides hands-on training in resume writing, job application completion, job interviewing, and life and career planning. Other important topics covered include positive working attitudes, conflict resolution skills, punctuality and attendance, and dressing for success. Several centers also have on-site "employment clothing banks." Each member of the Family of Neighborhood Networks offers a broad-based curriculum that includes job readiness, life skills, basic computer literacy, data entry, Microsoft Office 2000, adult basic education, GED training and life skills training. In addition to having state-of-the-art hardware and software, each center is well designed and maintained, providing an atmosphere that enhances the learning process. Over 200 graduates of the program have obtained employment.

Contact: Jackie Jones, Phone: (856) 596-0500
Tracking Number: 2630
Winning Category: Program (Housing - Multifamily)

Best Practice: Section 3 Activities—Employment and Contracting Opportunities

Housing Authority Sets High Standard for the Employment of Section 3 Residents

Newark. The Newark Housing Authority went beyond the call of duty to comply with HUD requirements regarding the employment of Section 3 residents. Rather than 30 percent of new hires as required, the Authority proposed that 30 percent of total hours worked be targeted to low- and very-low income individuals for positions generated by HUD financial assistance. More than 290 housing authority residents, representing 32 percent of the workforce, have obtained employment. The authority’s goal for businesses employing Section 3 residents is 30 percent of the total construction cost. Partnering with a nonprofit organization to train job candidates, 36 residents have received training and 25 subsequently obtained jobs. The housing authority and the New Jersey Fair Housing Office staff have helped other housing authorities and tenant organizations to replicate these standards.

Contact: Charles A. Bell, Phone: (973) 242-6738
Tracking Number: 279
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)

Best Practice: Riverview Towers Neighborhood Networks WINGS Program

Program Helps Residents Achieve Self-Sufficiency

Patterson. The Riverview Towers Neighborhood Networks Center offers the WINGS program, a multi-faceted project that includes use of an on-site computer learning center, GED and ESL programs, and a variety of other services to increase residents’ job skills and reduce welfare dependency. WINGS is a holistic program designed to foster individual dignity, promote self-sufficiency, and create a sense of community among the residents of Riverview Towers. More than 50 residents have graduated from the program’s beginning or intermediate level classes. WINGS is being implemented through the Workforce Development Department at Berkeley College, with the assistance of local community organizations, corporations, schools, and government agencies. The Department of Labor has designated WINGS as an official One Stop for the State of New Jersey. Department of Labor staff helps evaluate participants and aids them in getting jobs. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation helps evaluate learning disabilities among participants.

Contact: Dean Santa, Phone: (973) 790-4600
Tracking Number: 3287
Winning Category: Geographical

New Jersey HMFA Low Income Housing Tax Credit Prioritization for HUD McKinney Act Programs

Changes in the Selection Criteria in New Jersey’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program has created a set-aside for programs that use HOPE VI funds

Trenton. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency responded creatively to the need for additional resources to expand the impact of HOPE VI projects by changing the selection criteria in New Jersey’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The change creates a set-aside for programs that use HOPE VI funds, thus encouraging private developers and investors in fierce competition for the tax credits to support projects incorporating HOPE VI funding and community revitalization strategies. The careful oversight of HOPE VI projects also provides extra assurance that projects are in compliance with income, occupancy, and other requirements of the Tax Credit Program. The changed selection criteria have already resulted in developer applications for two additional multi-family projects with a total development cost of over $17 million.

Contact: Gregory Adkins, Phone: (609) 278-7457
Tracking Number: 2779
Winning Category: Geographical

Best Practice: Brother to Brother: Isaiah House Residential Program for Adolescent Boys

Homeless Inner City Males find Hope, Help from Brothers with Brothers

East Orange. Now in its fourth year of operation the Isaiah House's Residential Program for Adolescent Boys entitled, Brothers with Brothers, supports 14 homeless inner city males ages 15 to 19 with housing, 3 meals per day supported by full social, emotional, and recreational services for up to 4 years. Perhaps the most unique aspects of the new facility are not the design or the architecture but rather the program model for young men. Traditionally Isaiah House has been the shelter and provider of services for families thus creating and becoming family for these young men. By providing the essential emotional components of a family that is caring, understanding, support a sense of belonging and responsibility in a safe, attractive and secure physical environment, these young men are able to develop into fully functional, self supporting and contributing citizens of the community. The Brothers with Brother program includes eight, two person units, plus an apartment for a live in advisor. At the heart of the project design is a genuine athletic team approach. There are 2 young men or teammates to a room, a separate lounge/day room, a TV room and an indoor gym/recreational area with weights, punching bags and other health conscious and body building, self building equipment. Study areas are provided on the same floor. In these classrooms and the computer lab the young men are encouraged to pursue their studies with the help of mentors and community volunteers. In addition to living in a drug and alcohol free environment the young men in this program receive round the clock supervision, medical and dental care, mental health services and 24 hour security. To augment recreation and physical activity, each resident is provided with a full membership at the East Orange YMCA located on the adjacent block, within easy walking distance. These young men are encouraged to participate in the life of the agency with meaningful paid jobs. Numerous possibilities for skills and responsibility training present themselves in the Isaiah House 24 hour operation. A requirement of the program is to attend school or job training program.

This program is now licensed by the NJ Division of Youth & Family Services as a Residential Child Care Facility and has been widely accepted as a program for homeless youth. The program averages two youth per year that graduate high school on target and are accepted into 4 year colleges.

Contact: Ms. Glenda Kirkland, Phone: (973) 678-5882 Ext.3003
Tracking Number: 643
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)

Best Practice: The Family Self-Sufficiency Program

Helping Families Achieve Economic Independence

Newark. The Newark Housing Authority’s Family Self-Sufficiency Program is a program that coordinates the use of housing assistance under the HUD’s Section 8 rental certificate and voucher programs along with public and private resources to help eligible families achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. The program helps families achieve independence and self-sufficiency through a multi-prong approach that incorporates educational, social and economic development and training. To participate, families must sign the five-year Contract of Participation that outlines the individual families’ short and long-term goals for independence. The program was made possible with the support of local organizations such as the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Essex County and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service. As a result of the program, half of the participants have become homeowners with sizable escrow accounts.

Contact: Harry Robinson, Phone: (973) 430-2212
Tracking Number: 3207
Winning Category: Program (Public and Indian Housing)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011