An increase in HUD entitlement grants has allowed each councilperson to shuffle $25,000 into a city program of their choice, most choosing an organization within their ward.
“The mayor was looking to make sure that the needs in all wards were being addressed, and encouraged each councilperson to recommend projects,” said Darice Toon-Bell, director of the Division of Community Development.
The money will be used for projects such as the Starlite Heights Community Center in the Heights. Councilman Bill Gaughan felt that the community center, which serves 3,000 children per month, should have an air conditioner for the summer months. If money is left over, the money could be used to install new windows, refurbish the restrooms, and build a new playground behind the community center, he said. “I put all my eggs in one basket.”
Other councilpeople split the money into various groups. Ward B Councilwoman Mary Donnelly divided the $25,000 equally between Women Rising (formerly the YWCA), Project Home, which provides services to women with children, and Art Genesis, a development program for children.
Seeking new programs for her community, Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson sought out a program that exists in a few inner cities. She took the advice of a friend and recruited an organization called Gentleman by Choice. The organization prepares young males for college from eighth grade through high school. “I felt development of some children was more important than recreation,” Richardson said. “It builds character.”
Councilman Peter Brennan decided to use his $25,000 share for a citywide cause, giving it to an animal shelter-in-progress located in an old two-story building behind the Liberty Science Center. The shelter needs money for renovation costs. “Seeing how the animal shelter needed emergency appropriations, I decided to give it to them,” Brennan said. He added that he did not use it for his ward specifically, “because the projects that asked for money in Greenville got their money.” Next year, however, he would like to sit down with Ward A organizations and decide on a neighborhood project that could use some extra funding.
Receiving $14.9 million in HUD entitlement grants, a $375,000 increase from last year, the Division of Community Development has assembled an updated list of grant recipients in Jersey City. According to Darice Toon-Bell, director Division of Community Development, 85 percent of the programs that received grants were renewed funding, and the rest of the programs on this year’s list were newcomers.
Organizations like the Boys and Girls Club have routinely received money each year. However, the Filipine-American Friendship Association, the American Institute of Social Justice, and the Leadership Foundation were among the new city-based organizations funded by the HUD entitlement grants this year.
The entitlement grants that the city receives from HUD each year are based on a five-year plan it put together in April 2000. On its list of priorities, the division repeatedly focused on affordable housing.
“During all of our planning meetings, the number one issue for everyone is affordable housing,” Toon-Bell said. “It’s very clear to us that it is a big need.”
With this in mind, the division earmarked $3.2 million of this year’s entitlement money for the Home Investment Partnership grant. “We’re going to offer tenant-based rental assistance for low-income families,” Toon-Bell said. “We would offer a subsidy to low-income person to make it possible for them to afford rent for low-income units. It’s a new project that we’re just preparing to design.”
Almost entirely funded through federal and state grants, the Division of Community Development provides grant oversight and technical assistance when the money has been channeled into the various programs and services. “We work with the organizations we provide funding to, to ensure that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing,” Toon-Bell said.