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Passaic County Help for Rent, Energy Bills and Other Financial Assistance

Catholic Family & Community Services (CFCS) offers programs that offer the low to moderate income a variety of resources and services. They were created to aid families in crisis. There is a food pantry on-site offering a three day supply of emergency groceries and food. For those facing lockouts, evictions or shut off notices of their heating and utilities, there is financial assistance available to help pay rent, utility bills, and heating expenses. Paterson New Jersey. Call (973) 279-7100, or click here details on Catholic Charities Passaic County.

Center for Family Resources, which is based in Clifton, provides rent help, emergency food assistance (from a free food pantry on site), mortgage help, and utility bill assistance. Additional services include Head Start for children, or the center may have government grants for paying back rent from the Emergency Food and Shelter program. Call 973-472-8880, or click more financial aid from Center for Family Resources.

Paterson Task Force for Community Action, Inc. (973-279-2333) helps residents of Paterson, New Jersey. The programs they administer include:

  • Housing and renter assistance - They are a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) counseling agency. Get free foreclosure prevention counseling, help in dealing with landlord-tenant rights, and assistance in dealing with unfair or illegal landlord practices, and eviction. Additional eviction prevention and rent assistance programs.

  • Weatherization services - Get free help to save on utility and heating bills. Improvements can be made to your home, such as caulking, windows, and heating system updates and replacements.

  • Home Energy Assistance Program - Low income residents can get help paying for heating and utility bills, and emergency assistance to prevent a disconnection.

  • Food and Nutrition Program - Get free food and other assistance to help feed your family.

Center for Food Action – A number of resources are offered by the non-profit. For example, it provides security deposits, emergency free or low cost food, advocacy, rent, and limited utility bill assistance for qualified persons in need. There is also special holiday food assistance at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The location also participates in NJ Shares. the main office is at 145 Carletondale Rd, Ringwood, NJ, 07456, 201-529-2029, or read more information on Center for Food Action.

Passaic County Board of Social Services – The government agency offers social services and public assistance including Emergency Financial Assistance for paying rent and utilities. Other public aid includes TANF, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Special Medicaid for Blind/Disabled, NJ Kid Care, child support and paternity issues. Most of this is for very low income families or those living in poverty.

United Passaic Organization - Gas and electric bill assistance may be provided. Applicants must first apply to the federal government funded HEAP or Lifeline and cannot be on welfare. Their financial assistance program is targeted to persons who have exhausted all other available resources, are faced with short term financial difficulties, and people who cannot pay their monthly utility bills but have no other options. Applicants must also be faced with a shut off of their power.

Paterson Division of Housing, Community Development offers referrals and advocacy to employment programs, emergency rental assistance, free food, housing, legal help, and literacy programs. They can also relocate families from unsafe apartments or housing in the region. 125 Ellison Street, Paterson, New Jersey. 973-321-1212

Northwest New Jersey Community Action Partnership is a leading non-profit community action agency for the county. The organization, known as NORWESCAP for short, can arrange for emergency rental help, free food, and self-sufficiency. Services for children include meals from the Backpack Program, Head Start, and snacks. The agency will also processes applications for heating bill assistance. Find assistance programs from NORWESCAP.

Beyond Today is a non-profit that can provide guidance, referrals, and help in applying for programs such as NJ New Jersey SHARES. This is the state’s main heating and utility bill assistance program. Other resources can include water payment assistance from H2O Help to Others as well as the Verizon Lifeline program. Or get information on food stamps, Medicaid, and other government run programs. 175 Market St, Paterson, New Jersey, 07505. 973-569-9100

Family Intervention Services Inc. is another New Jersey based non-profit that provides a wide variety of assistance programs. They offer a family crisis program, family stabilization, community client, and other aid. 973-523-0089.

AME Zion Williams Chapel/Food Pantry & Clothing Assistance provides both clothing and food. The organization operates a food pantry that needy families in the community can turn to for help. This food distribution site is also a member of the Passaic County Emergency Food Coalition. They provide free food, clothes, and can refer people to other programs. 973-472-3256.

Love of Jesus Christ also operates an emergency food pantry for needy members of the local community. This food distribution site is also a full-fledged member of the Passaic County Emergency Food Coalition. 973-742-6718.

The local community action agency, NORWESCAP, also runs a food bank that provides aid in the relief of hunger by providing food and support to those in need. 908-454-7000.

Christian Fellowship Center is another Paterson NJ Food Bank. 973-742-4953.

CUMAC/ECHO provides up to 5 days of food and groceries to Passaic County and Paterson low income families. 973-742-5518.

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