Dear Editor:
I wanted to take a moment to highlight some goals that the Hoboken Housing Authority has achieved this quarter, and, more importantly, express our sincere gratitude to all of our partners who have joined us in our transformation and sustainability journey. Our goal was to build as many bridges as possible with new community stakeholders who believe in our mission to cultivate family self-sufficiency, provide quality living and to nurture a healthier lifestyle for all residents.
We were fortunate to host State Sen. Brian Stack’s mobile senate office for the first time in Hoboken. His visit accomplished our goal of having our elected state leaders inform our residents of the many state services available to them. While in Hoboken, Senator Stack promoted state resources available in the areas of job training, grants, scholarships, social service programs and funding for new programs. It was with great pleasure that we saw Senator Stack help families with special needs; families that required help beyond what the housing authority could provide.
Our strategic partnership with the Hoboken Police Department under the leadership of Chief Falco established the city’s first housing police bureau, which has been working effectively. The added value of the community policing program is that we can now offer a youth outreach program that will allow our children to work closely with police officers. The Hudson County Jaycees’ passion and commitment for housing authority families was evident as the group donated turkeys to our tenants in the days before Thanksgiving. Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, Freeholder Anthony Romano and Councilman Tim Occhipinti, Jubilee trustee Mike Novak also contributed to the turkey drive for Andrew Jackson and Harrison Gardens residents.
“Our back to school, green is cool project” was a big hit with committed organizations like the Quality of Life Coalition, our Save the Youth Academy and North Hudson Sewerage Authority made this dream a reality in teaching children about a greener environment. Our partnership with HOPES Inc. continues to produce great results for seniors, the Jubilee established the WESTSIDE Women and its Newsletter written and produced by HHA moms.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s initiative in the Connect by Hertz car-sharing program available to all Hoboken residents has also sparked an interest in our own residents to reduce cars on the street. The Hoboken Synagogue displayed its mission to support healthy living during a Mitzvah Day celebration hosted by Commissioner Jake Stuiver at the Mama Johnson Field. The Volunteer-based Hoboken Grace Church provided our children with clinics and recreational activities, as well as, now a mentoring program.
We have been blessed with these community leaders and strategic partners who recognize the benefit of giving and educating our families so they may have an opportunity to succeed and one day give back.
Carmelo G. Garcia,
Executive Director,
Hoboken Housing Authority