Passaic County Faith-Based and Non-Profit Conference

On Tuesday, May 10, 2011 over 120 Faith-Based and Non-Profit organizations were in attendance as Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson spoke at the Passaic County Faith-Based and Non-Profit Conference at Passaic County College in Wayne, NJ. Ms. Johnson talked about HUD programs that empower faith-based and non-profit organizations to provide jobs and services for their communities. She also provided each organization with an enhanced version of HUD's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships packet including the Toolkit on Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness for Faith-based and Community Organizations. Her presentation package included information on working with HUD; Contracting with HUD, Becoming a HUD approved 203(k) Consultant, Nonprofit Approval Information for Participation in Single Family Programs, Housing Counseling Approval, and how to obtain funding to build Section 202 and 811 housing.

HUD was joined in the opening plenary session titled "Outlook for Funding Non-Profits Now and in the Future" by representatives from New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, Valley National Bank, and Atlantic Stewardship Bank. Senior Management Analyst Carleton Lewis provided one-on-one responses for participants with questions about the HUD programs.

HUD Newark Field Office Director Diane Johnson, Valley National Bank First Vice President and Community Reinvestment Act Officer Michael Fields, Atlantic Stewardship Bank Senior Vice President John Hain, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Supported Housing and Special Needs Loan Manager Yurgi Wolde, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Community Development Ombudsman Bruce Blumenthal.

Participants in the Passaic County College auditorium

After the opening plenary session the Faith-Based and Non-Profit organizations participated in workshops on Leadership, Proposal Writing, Program Implementation-Building for Sustainability, Resource Sharing in Difficult Times, Fundraising, and the Impact of Social Issues on Non-Profit Constituents. Passaic County is greatly affected by the current economy, the loss of businesses, and high foreclosure rates. The conference is a result of the County's Workforce Investment Board Director Charles Featherson's efforts to facilitate collaboration with and between faith-based, community-based, non-profit organizations and the One-Stop Career Center.

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