Lower-income ‘Parkers are eligible for family assistance
Energy bills, housing, and child care subsidies tapped
Jean Stockdale
Special to The Mirror

Who Is My Neighbor? Inc., a community agency based in Highland Park, has joined into an effort to find and assist low-income families, with certain kinds of federal assistance available between now and August 31st.

The funds provide financial help for four targeted areas:

• eviction prevention
• utility bill assistance
• relief from overcrowded/inappropriate living arrangements, and/or
• summer child care.

Funds are intended for families with incomes no greater than 125% of the federal poverty level. Eligibility rules are based on the number of persons in the household, compared to the annual income of the household. For example, a household of two people can qualify if they earn $17,500. or less per year. A household of three people can qualify if they earn $22,000. or less per year.

Qualified applicants need to provide proof of income, and also proof of residence in Middlesex or Somerset counties. Documents needed to establish income eligibility include social security card and recent pay stubs. Documents needed to establish residence eligibility may include a lease, utility bills addressed to the applicant, or a notarized letter swearing to specific information.

For eviction prevention funds, the applicant must have received an eviction notice. For utility bill assistance, the applicant must have received a shut-off notice. For a security deposit and short-term assistance with rent, an applicant seeking to move out of overcrowded/ inappropriate living arrangements should have a lease offer from the landlord of the place to which the person or family wants to move, and a way to continue paying rent there when the assistance ends.

For financial assistance with summer child care, various participating child care centers and summer day camps cover the age range from age 6 weeks on up to and including teens.

This outreach effort is headed by Somerset Community Action Partners as the lead agency, under the direction of its executive director, Isaac Dorsey. Highland Park’s Who Is My Neighbor? Inc. is one of three nonprofits tapped to assist in making the funds available to Middlesex County residents. The other non-profit facilitators are Second Baptist Church/Cathedral International in Perth Amboy, and Greater New Brunswick Day Care in New Brunswick.

Other collaborating partners in the outreach effort are First Baptist Community Development Corp, located in Somerset, along with the NJ Dept of Community Affairs, AT&T, NAACP, and the United Way.

People who think they may be qualified for this monetary assistance are urged to call Who Is My Neighbor? Inc. at 732.247-3700 to schedule an interview. Who Is My Neighbor ‘s office is located in the Reformed Church of Highland Park, at 19 South Second Ave. in Highland Park.