Jobless Urged to look to NJ Helps for Assistance
 New Jerseyians have experienced the loss of 6.9 million payroll jobs since the start of the current economic downturn. The result has been that fully one third of the jobless have been unemployed for over six months. In fact, the average duration of unemployment has reached 25 weeks, the longest ever recorded.
While, unemployment insurance has been expanded to up to 79 weeks, 32,000 New Jersey residents were notified on September 1, 2009 that their unemployment benefits have run out. That number is expected to double by the end of the year.
Though the prospects are frightening, there is help available. The first place to turn is NJ Helps.
The online service is provided by the NJ Department of Human Services to assist with a range of issues from preventing eviction to utility assistance to low cost medical care. NJ Helps is free to use and walks through basic eligibility criteria online to enable residents to formulate a customized list of programs and services for assistance that is specific to their situation.
NJ Helps provides details about where to go to get the help as well as what documents are required to secure help. NJ Helps also makes it possible to apply for some programs - like food stamps - online.
To use NJ Helps visit http://www.nj211.org/layoff094.cfm.
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NJ 2-1-1 Has a New Look!
 The NJ 2-1-1 website has undergone a complete makeover and is even more user friendly then before. Whether you are searching for help or represent an agency providing help, NJ 2-1-1 gives you easy access to a database rich of resources as well as web pages by topic that have essential information, contact numbers and web addresses. Now, everyone can have the tools they need to find answers - at their fingertips.
The new site design reflects 2-1-1 customer feedback.
"We found that the number one reason people visited the site was to search for resources," says Laura Marx, Executive Director of NJ 2-1-1. "So we redesigned the site to fit the customer's need."
The new site uses a "Google like" search, which is featured front and center to make it easier and more familiar for online users to connect to health and human services, government programs and local community resources. The web tool is powered by Community Catalog, a web based asset management platform created by Rhiza Labs.
"The changes are great," said Beth Maguire from Bayshore Community Health Services in Homdel. "The information is very well organized and categorized which is especially helpful to those who are already stressed and need quick access to resources."
The home page also prominently displays "The Latest News for You." Just one click connects individuals to information on current topics of importance. For example, with the flu season upon us the section is featuring Swine flu information and resources. In addition, the NJ Department of Labor has informed thousands of residents that their unemployment benefits have or will end by December. There is information for the unemployed as well as resources for help in these hard times.
Agencies can also access an abundance of information with a click on the section labeled "Resources for Agency Professionals." It is the place to turn for the latest community resources and initiatives that make work with clients most effective.
"One of the greatest challenges to connecting people with the resources they need is navigating the wealth of services available in New Jersey," says Marx. "The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership is proud to provide an innovative resource for New Jersey residents to find the help they need, quickly and easily."
Take a tour visit www.nj211.org - today.
NJ Alert System Enabled
 On September 3, 2009, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the Regional Operations Intelligence Center announced the launch of NJ Alert, the state's new mass text and email emergency notification system. The system is free and voluntary to NJ residents and allows State Emergency Officials to send email or text messages to cell phones or email enabled devices in the event of an emergency.
According to Colonel Rick Fuentes, the Superintendent of the NJ State Police and Director of NJOEM, NJ Alert allows for the timely delivery of emergency messages directly to the public. "NJ Alert will help direct public action in the event of a large scale emergency whether we are dealing with a hurricane or act of terrorism. Our goal is to utilize the latest technology to protect lives and property."
The system will also be used to connect members to the Human Emergency Grid. The Grid is a collaborative effort in which volunteers from the general public can provide professional expertise to assist first responders during an emergency. For example, information provided by volunteers could create a list of people proficient in sign language to help communicate emergency information to the hearing impaired.
According to NJ Alert creator Robert Statica, PhD, "Our service is not limited to public security information, but was uniquely designed as a group communication system for anyone - government, schools, corporations and even personal users can utilize the service for disaster recovery, family preparedness or any notification need."
To sign up for NJ Alert, visit www.njalert.gov or the NJOEM website at www.ready.nj.gov and click the NJ Alert icon. Information is also available at the NJ 2-1-1 website at www.NJ211.org.
FYI Spotlight: NJ SHARES
 NJ SHARES is the New Jersey Statewide Heating and Referral for Energy Service. The organization provides assistance for residents who fall behind on energy bills because of a temporary financial crisis. Help is provided to people who are not eligible for other types of public assistance and have a history of good-faith payments for their utilities.
Last year, NJ SHARES provided $7 million in assistance to over 12,000 households. Still, over 15,000 families were turned away because the need for help exceeded the resources that were available; a consequence of the worsening economy. Already this year, 17,000 households have received more than $10.5 million in assistance.
NJ SHARES receives its funding from a combination of sources including individual contributors, corporations, and utility customers. The seven major investor-owned utility companies contribute toward administrative costs and provide funds to match customer contributions. And, the State of New Jersey earmarks up to 75 percent of unclaimed utility deposits as a special fund which is then turned over to New Jersey SHARES for grants to eligible households.
Applications for help are accepted through a network of 190 community based and government agencies operating in over 237 locations state wide. To find an intake location, call 2-1-1 or visit www.njshares.org.
Last month, NJ SHARES teamed up with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and Verizon, NJ to promote National Telephone Discount Lifeline Awareness Week throughout the state. The event, held September 14 through 20 nationwide, was sponsored by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
The purpose of the awareness week was to gain attention for the federal Lifeline and Link-Up programs, which help low-income people get low, or no-cost, telephone service. In New Jersey, Verizon partners with NJ SHARES to administer the Communication Lifeline and Link-Up America programs.
The programs offer families discounts on their telephone bills and reductions in the installation fees for those who cannot afford to pay the connection charges. The aim is to help senior citizens, low-income families, the disabled and other vulnerable populations to stay connected with family or caregivers.
NJ SHARES is also a partner of United Water. The UW CARES program operates in 9 states, of which New Jersey is one. Under its program, eligible United Water customers can receive assistance with payment of their water bill.
For more information about NJ
Shares and other utility assistance opportunities, please download a copy of
our 2009-2010 Energy Assistance Guide at http://www.nj211.org/energy/index.cfm |
