Jersey City Episcopal

As early as 1980, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, which covers the northern and northwestern portions of New Jersey (covering six counties), has been engaged in the development of affordable housing in Jersey City, within its faith-based commitment to meet the housing and social service needs of the impoverished and marginalized in Hudson County. Our member Episcopal churches have provided outreach to the poor for over 150 years.

The first tangible project completed in Jersey City by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark was a 44-unit Grace Van Vorst Housing Development, begun during the tenure of the Rev. William Albert at Grace Van Vorst Episcopal Church over 30 years ago in the Downtown section of Jersey City. During the 1980's and 1990's, the Diocese of Newark continued to sponsor affordable housing development. Father Sabune's church was located across the street from an abandoned, boarded-up elementary school, which had become a dangerous neighborhood eyesore and center for drug dealing and other illegal activity. Renamed Resurrection House, the erstwhile School #18 was rehabilitated and converted into 28 low income apartments.

In the mid 1990s, Jersey City Episcopal Housing, Inc., as the organization was then known, undertook the Mid City Project, a scattered site low income rental housing development. Over $11.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits were utilized to build 88 rental units in the Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette sections of Jersey City.

By 1997 it was evident that there was a need for full time professional staff to carry out the mission of Jersey City Episcopal Housing. To that end, the churches in Jersey City and Hudson County as well as participants from throughout the Diocese came together and, in June of that year changed its name to Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation (JCECDC), and hired its first Executive Director. Operating from offices located at Christ Hospital, JCECDC began its ministry with an operating budget of $100,000.

In July 1998, JCECDC acquired Corpus Christi Ministries Housing, Inc., a Jersey City-based nonprofit housing and social service provider for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. By the end of that year, JCECDC had rehabilitated a six-unit apartment building in the Heights section of Jersey City, enabling CCMH to serve families living with HIV/AIDS.

In 1999, with funds provided via the 21 st Century Cities Demonstration Welfare-to-Work grant, JCECDC was able to institute Opportunity Partners , an intensive and holistic job readiness and training program that moves TANF and General Assistance recipients from dependence to self-sufficiency. In 2004 these services were transferred to the County's One-Stop Career Centers. JCECDC remained committed to work force initiatives and was the lead agency in the development of the Jersey City Customer Service Skills Center that opened in September 2004. This Center is designed to recruit; train and place individuals in long term sustainable customer contact careers based upon employer needs and is part of the National Retail Federation skills center network.

The provision of supportive housing and associated services is at the core of JCECDC's mission. With recently activated contracts and new funding from a variety of government and private funding sources, we are now among the City's largest service providers and housing developers for special needs populations. We have the capacity and resource base to have an immediate and longstanding impact in moving homeless persons and families along a seamless continuum of care and progress into permanent supportive housing and self-sufficiency. Recent initiatives include:

In 2002, JCECDC implemented the Division of Mental Health Services (DMHS) Housing Initiative, which houses 10 formerly homeless individuals with mental illness in permanent supportive housing scattered throughout Jersey City with intensive supportive services. JCECDC recognizes mental illness will often take individuals through cycles of sickness and good health. Therefore, the delivery of consistent and coordinated supportive services is critical to the on-going success in maintaining housing within the community.

In 2003, JCECDC initiated the Shelter Plus Care Program that provides rental assistance for individuals and living in scatter site apartments throughout Jersey City. JCECDC has working relationships with five local landlords who agree to lease their apartments to this population with Shelter Plus Care vouchers. This program provides a solid non-development model of housing, offering permanent supportive housing and related services to individuals and families within the community.

Also in 2003, JCECDC initiated a new Program to address the problem of homelessness in our community. The Hudson C.A.S.A. Program targets homeless and recently-homeless individuals and/or families residing in Jersey City's transitional housing facilities and the JCECDC's voucher programs. The intent of Hudson Creating Alliances to Shelter All ( Hudson CASA) is to assist homeless individuals and families to secure permanent homes through a comprehensive and integrated program of home-finding services, rental assistance, supportive services and workforce development opportunities.

In January of 2005, JCECDC began administering the Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Program for 50 tenant-based housing vouchers to persons with disabilities with a priority for homeless persons and persons with ties to Hudson and Essex County.

By 2005, JCECDC developed approximately 200 units of affordable rental housing and in 2004 completed its first home ownership project with the Eugenia Suthern Homes located at 80-82 Storms Avenue. From 2004-2006, JCECDC has established a pipeline of 46 units of affordable housing with commitments and/or land in place to be completed by year end 2008 which equates to a total real estate investment of $7 million in Jersey City neighborhoods in just 3 years.

JCECDC in partnership with the City of Jersey City has expanded home ownership opportunities for low to moderate income buyers with commitments totaling $1.1 Million from the Jersey City HOME Investment Partnership Programbetween 2004 and 2006 to build twelve two family homes. This includes $300,000 committed to the Grant/Myrtle Homes Project in 2004, $305,000 committed to the Greenville Home Phase I Project in 2005 and $506,000 committed to the Greenville Homes Phase II project in 2006. The Agency is also working diligently to expand its supportive housing portfolio and secured a $1.5 Million allocation from United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Supportive Housing Program in 2005. This allocation will provide funding for construction, operations and supportive services at the Old Bergen Road Project and the All Saints Project. More recently, the Agency has expanded its business line by providing consulting services to non-profit organizations interested in real estate development. In 2005, C-line Community Outreach Services, Inc. engaged JCECDC as the Project Manager for development a 6 unit mixed use (residential and commercial) project located at 120-122 Monticello Avenue.

Overall, JCECDC continues to aggressively expand its housing program with a goal of developing 100 units of affordable housing between 2005 and 2010. JCECDC also offers a first time home buyer educational programs that serve approximately 100 households annually, sales and marketing services, and community planning.

JCECDC has also worked diligently to position itself as a key player in rebuilding the housing infrastructure of its target neighborhoods through community planning initiatives. In May 2002, a collaborative comprised of the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation, New Jersey City University and Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation were awarded $750,000 ($250,000 annually over three years) from the Bank Of America Community Renaissance Initiative (CRI). Read more... In partnership with New Jersey City University, JCECDC has sponsored the designation of the West Side Redevelopment Plan which was adopted by City Council in 2005.

In nine years, the agency has experienced and continues to experience rapid growth. The staff of one has grown to exceed 30 full-time staff, and the $100,000 budget now exceeds $2 million. JCECDC now serves an estimated 2,000 persons each year with a housing portfolio of 200 rental units appraised at over $30 million.