More than 4,000 residents depended on the Emergency Food and Shelter and Immigration Assistance programs of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation last year, and the center has prepared for expansion by moving to an even larger site in Guttenberg.
North Hudson CAC is a non-profit organization providing health and human services to residents in Hudson County, often on a sliding cost scale for those who are needy.
In 2010, 851 residents of communities in northern Hudson County relied on the Emergency Food and Shelter service, which includes providing residents with emergency food vouchers, emergency rent payments to prevent eviction, and temporary motel shelter if homeless. In 2010, 11 homeless families were also assisted through this program.
“The basic necessity of life is to have a place to live.” – Christopher F. Irizarry
____________
“The basic necessity of life is to have a place to live,” said North Hudson CAC President/CEO Christopher F. Irizarry. “Our main mission of the organization is to eliminate poverty, try to find a place for a person to live, and try to make sure they don’t end up on the street.”
Finding Funding
Due to funding stipulations, only residents of Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, West New York, Weehawken, Kearny, Harrison, and East Newark may apply for help, said North Hudson Community Action Program Director Rosemary J. Lavagnino.
Lavagnino said there are no residency requirements for immigration services.
For both programs, the North Hudson CAC receives $132,000 from New Jersey, $313,000 from Hudson County, and $494,000 from the federal government.
More space
Lavagnino said that every year the aim is to service more residents and now being at the new Guttenberg site at 7007 Polk St. will help them accomplish that. At 1,700 square feet, it is three and a half times larger than the former space.
She also said that the former site, located at 5301 Broadway Ave., West New York, once contained these two programs in addition to mental health, while the old West New York site will be solely dedicated to the latter, increasing its space as well.
With greater space comes the ability to see more people in need, Lavagnino said.
“When somebody comes in spilling their heart out to you, you don’t want anyone hearing them,” she said.
At the Guttenberg site, all case managers now have their own work areas, which will create more privacy for residents in need.
Increasing programs
Irizarry said they want to improve their services through grant applications. Grant approvals would allow them to train residents on computers, and provide free tax services for residents who are not citizens.
He said that this would be for residents who may not have a social security number, but if they pay their taxes and then become U.S. citizens, they would have established themselves legally already, he said.
Residents in need
Anyone interested in learning about receiving assistance from the Guttenberg office may call (201) 210-0333. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lavagnino said that shelter and food help depends on proof of income levels, unless a family is homeless due to a fire, since their documentation was likely destroyed.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.