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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
Brother-To-Brother Mentoring: is a
male volunteer based mentoring program for young men between the ages of
10-18. During this past program year PY 28 100 youth were expected to be
served, however the program exceeded its expectation and served 130 young
men. The program objectives are: to be a mentor to the youth (many who
come from single female head of household homes), develop academic
discipline; teach personal hygiene care, computer training, leadership
skills and sports etiquette. Participants are encouraged to stay in school,
graduate college, pursue achievement and become good citizens. Highlights
of program year included, going to the Whitney Young College Classic at
Giant Stadium, learning the seven principles of Kwanzaa and the exchanging
of gifts, participating in Black History Month, Senior Citizen Month and a
banquet honoring members of the East Orange community.
Dental Clinic Services of the Department of Health & Human Services provides free comprehensive, quality dental care to school age children, prenatal patients and to some low-income adults. During this past program year 3,023 school age children were served. The
Dental Clinic distributes education materials, toothbrushes, dental floss
and toothpaste to public schools, charter schools and other community
projects. Dental screenings are done in public schools from October thru
May. The aim of the Dental Clinic staff is to promote awareness, knowledge
and positive attitudes that result in responsive behavior with respect to
dental health. East Orange Community Development Summer Corporation provided 35 inner city youth of low to moderate income, between the ages of 6-12 the opportunity to attend summer day camp. The program provided cultural, social and recreational experiences. Activities included field trips, breakfast & lunch, arts, crafts, swimming and other program. East Orange CDC Tenant Services served 75 tenants of low to moderate income who reside in East Orange. The tenants are given basic resource counseling through lectures on tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, informed of changed and new building code violations, ordinances and state laws that ensure proper property maintenance. Tenants are helped in organizing tenant associations and are assisted in interfacing with the Department of Property Maintenance and Rent Leveling. East Orange Police Explorers Post #541 served 52 youth between the ages of 14 thru 20 during the 28th Program Year 2002-2003. The youth have an interest in pursing a law enforcement career. The youth are instructed in traffic detail, marching drills, firing range practice, firearm safety, building searches, crime scene investigating, and fingerprinting. Highlights of the program year included attending the National 2002 Conference in Arizona in July 2002, participating in “The Cub Family Circus” which was held at Sussex County Fairgrounds. Post Explorers assisted with traffic, parking and other security duties at the event for the week-end and distributed Christmas baskets to the needy and homeless.
Isaiah House Homeless Prevention Assistance
a social service agency that
supports working families in East Orange of low to moderate income and
senior citizen residents when they find themselves in a crisis situation.
The program provides emergency shelter needs, rental arrears and relocation
assistance, and help with utility bills. During Program Year 28,
(2002-2003), 17 residents were served.
Library Skills for the Mentally Handicapped & Developmentally Disabled: To teach the mentally and physically challenged members of the community to use the library as an educational/recreational resource independently, and to increase the literacy level of this population. This would break the barriers of social isolation and enable them to become active participants who are able to use the Library’s resources. The program services approximately 200 participants a week. The LSMH staffs teach procedures, skills and techniques to clients to help them understand book-borrowing policies, social appropriate behavior when using the library, while identifying literacy levels of each individual participating. Mental Health Counseling for Youth/Teens: Provides supportive counseling, anger management and grief management to high school students between the ages of 14-19 who attend Campus High and Campus 9. The services are extended to the parents and faculty to aid in the therapeutic process. This past program year reflected an increase in referrals requesting a need to address the issues of sexual identity. Over the past program year 40 students were served. Neighborhood Cultural/Special Activities: This project supports activities in local neighborhoods sponsored by neighborhood organizations designed to respond to the needs and interests of the neighborhood. The activities are recreational, cultural and educational in nature. Highlights of this past program year 2002-2003 included Family Day held in each of the five wards serving over 500 residents. The program benefits low to moderate residents living in low to moderate residential neighborhoods. Police Athletic League: The PAL “TRY” Program is designed to provide an alternative to the dangers of the streets and to break the cycle of incarceration with the goal that positive lifestyles are pursued. The program includes educational workshops and seminars, social activities, and business development skills. During the past year 2002-2003 the “TRY” Program had 1,165 registrants. Over 80% of the participants were low-income inner city “at risk” youths. Highlights included Career Basket Dinner & Toy Giveaway, McGruff – the Crime Dog Program, the Muppet Show for Youth, recreational programs and community service. Project HOPE – Homeless Children At Risk Special Assistance Program: Project HOPE seeks to provide services and instruction for homeless, displaced students and students “at risk” of homelessness. Services include multiple academic and recreational activities four days per week, three hours per day exclusive of holidays and school closings. During the month of July activities are held for five days a week, four hours a day. This project served 40 children this past program year, with as many as 58 participating in various projects. Highlights included performing at City of East Orange “From Where I Sit” Program, Black History Month educational projects, making puppets depicting their favorite characters. Recreation – POP Warner Teams: The Department of Recreation provides organized sports activities, which includes three football teams (Falcons, Rams and Oilers), after school programs, Family Night Out, farmers market, parades and other community programs to the residents of East Orange. This project served 1,520 during this past program year. The youth are to benefit through social enrichment, education enhancement and recreational development.
Senior Citizens Outreach Program:
This outreach program is designed to
provide the older population of the City with educational, recreational and
cultural opportunities to ultimately improve their quality of life. This
project served over 15,000 senior citizens during FY 2002-2003. Assistance
with entitlement applications, social service referrals, daily
transportation service, monthly food stamp certification, photo ID’s and
recreation activities are provided. Weekly activities include exercise,
swing dance class, bowling, arts and crafts. Highlights of special programs
were attending the Black Issues Conference, Senior Holiday Party and a
Cruise up the Hudson. Systa’s 4 Systa’s: During FY 2002-2003, 41 young women were serviced through this project. This initiative targets females in alternative school settings, juvenile justice system or state custody, displaying risk behavior of low to moderate households. Employing risk diversions and preventive methods, the goal is to assist participants in identifying their options, make informed decisions and accept the consequences of their actions.
Workforce in Transition/Division of Employment & Training: Represents a
comprehensive holistic employment, training and placement program which will
work in conjunction with the
private sector, educational systems, community
based organizations, and faith-based organizations to serve low to moderate
income residents of East Orange. During this past program year, 400
clients were serviced. The East Orange Works Skills Center is a new
component added to the program. The Center gives new businesses, retailers
and potential employees a central contract point with private and public
agencies and employers to provide job training, initiate business and
community support for workforce issues and other community needs central to
building a quality workforce. Youth 2000 Education/Division of Employment: The program is designed to assist East Orange high school students in identifying career directions and they are shown how to acquire the additional education and/or technical training needed for success in their chosen career field. Employers are asked to pledge job opportunities. It is presumed that by working together the benefits of completing high school will be reinforced, the dropout rate reduced, increased high school enrollment, improve the number of college bound youth and promote work readiness. The program is designed to serve 100 low income youths between the ages of 16-24 who may experience potential barriers to employment, however 810 youth were served. Branch Library Renovations: Renovations at the three branches continued this past program year, with an emphasis on removing barriers to access serving individuals with physical disabilities. A computer library is being installed at the Ampere branch. The computer room included new electrical wiring for the computers, glass enclosure with door and new flooring.
Street Improvements:
The Public Works Department had an ongoing street
improvement program this past year. The project is designed to improve and
upgrade intersections, roadways, handicap ramps and sidewalks. The goal is
to make the sidewalks of East Orange safer, more attractive, and acceptable
to the residents and to extend the useful life of the infrastructure. City
and State (DCA) funds were used initially in the project, CDBG funds were
allocated and obligated to improve the following streets: Amherst,
Ashland, Birchwood, Carnegie, Hawthorne, Hollywood, Lenox, Linden, Shepard,
S. Maple, Oak, S. Clinton, Sussex S. Arlington, S. Burnett and Elmwood
Avenue.
4th Avenue Mall Redesign: This project was postponed and the funds were transferred into Demolition. Demolition: The Department of Property Maintenance and Revitalization carried out an active demolition program throughout the year utilizing City, State and CDBG funds. The initial demolition projects were paid with City and State (DCA) funding. The CDBG funds that were allocated are obligated, and the following properties were scheduled for demolition before November 2003: 155 N. Walnut Street, 32 & 37 N. Clinton St., 133 N. Maple Ave., 413, 417 Park Ave., 35 Oraton Pl., 63 N.15th St., 140 N. Grove St., 109 N. 19th St., 157 N. 15th St., 78 N. 18th St., 84 N. Munn Ave., 9 Eaton Pl., 11 N. 18th St. and 180 N. 19th Street. Princeton Street Neighborhood Demolition: This project was postponed and the funds were transferred into Demolition. |
