Client Services

Client Services

A part of Newark Housing Authority’s mission is to invest in its families in order to promote economic self-sufficiency and build healthier communities. The objectives and goals of the Client Services  are to provide the means, opportunities and supportive services necessary to achieve that mission. The Client Services seeks to form linkage agreements with service providers that will provide our resident population with education, training, counseling, employment opportunities and medical attention.

Through a network of community partners and a referral process, services are made readily accessible to our residents. NHA offers a number of programs through partnerships to help meet the needs of its residents and help them achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. Some of these programs prepare them to join the workforce through basic adult education and/or skills training, or through seminars and workshops on how to better manage household finances. Other programs provide counseling services to help residents meet challenges. Please take a tour of this information and familiarize yourself with our menu of services. We are certain that you will find something for everyone.

Client Services: Family Self-Sufficiency

NHA's Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program helps reduce the dependency of low-income families on TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), federal, state, and/or local subsidies. To date, many families have graduated from FSS - embarking on rewarding careers in a range of fields. FSS graduates have used their savings for down payments on homes, to pay for schooling, to purchase cars, to pay off debt and more.

How the Program Works

FSS is open to Housing Choice Voucher Program participants who are in good standing and have a genuine desire to change. Under the program, the head of household works with a case manager to establish goals and develop a personalized action plan to meet those goals. Services are tailored to the participant's needs and include: skills assessment, GED preparation, career planning, computer literacy and skills training, money management workshops, child care referrals and credit repair workshops.

One of the most attractive components of the program is a savings program. As FSS participants reach their goals, and their earned income increases, NHA deposits an amount matching the increase into an escrow account. Once FSS participants achieve all of their established goals, including maintaining full-time employment, they receive all of the money in the account, plus interest. Participation in the FSS Program is voluntary, but strongly recommended for NHA public housing residents. Once a participant is accepted into the FSS program, he/she must sign a Contract of Participation and together with NHA staff, will develop an Individual Training and Service Plan (ITSP).

The term of the Contract of Participation is up to five (5) years, or until the participant reaches his/her goals. During that time, participants must accomplish the goals identified by their ITSP. Participants are advised to complete an educational program (degree or job training), and seek and maintain a job.

Completion of the FSS Program is a great way to create a better life for you and your family.

Benefits of the FSS program include:

• Personal counseling
• Career counseling
• Educational counseling
• Educational seminars/workshops (e.g., nutrition, parenting skills, GED preparation, ESL, money management and obtaining the proper basic skills and education needed to enter the workplace through NHA's Workforce Learning Link program).
• Networking
• Job Preparation assistance
• Assistance with educational institution and financial aid applications
• Assistance with defaulted student loan situations
• Assistance with credit repair
• Group activities
• FSS Escrow accounts
• Homeownership counseling
• Referral services

Client Services: Senior Programs

Case Management

Newark Housing Authority’s social service staff coordinates and sponsors an Annual Health Fair, educational monthly workshops/events, which may include topics relating to health care, financial education, consumer fraud, and digital literacy. Educational monthly workshops are also provided on-site at our Senior and Disabled sites by different local agencies and providers.  The social service staff is available to assist our senior and young disabled residents.  Services include but are not limited to the following:

• Providing general case management which includes intake, home visits, assessment and education
• Identifying client’s needs and coordinating or referring clients to service providers in the local community for medical transportation, mental health, home health aide services, child & elder abuse/neglect and substance abuse
• Working closely with property managers providing supportive services so residents can remain lease compliant and manage their household needs
• Completing documentation for resident, such as:
  • Medicaid Application
  • Heap Application
  • SNAP (Food Stamps)
  • Home Health Aide

Social Security Outreach

This annual outreach program, provided by the Social Security Administration in collaboration with the New Jersey Medicaid office, provides information to our residents pertaining to eligibility and concerns regarding entitlements.

Crime Prevention and Fire Safety Program

The City of Newark's Police and Fire Department visit senior sites annually to lead workshops regarding general safety tips and fire prevention.

Health & Wellness

On-Site Medical Clinics

The medical clinics provide health care services to our residents. The clinics are open Monday-Friday at the following locations:

• Beth Israel Medical Center at James C. White Manor, 516 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ

On-Site Activities

Many of our senior sites have been renovated in the past year. We have paid special attention to our community rooms, where residents can participate in arts and crafts programs and regular bingo games.

A number of these lounges now have billiard tables, fireplaces and widescreen televisions.

Shopping Trips

Transportation is being provided by the City of Newark Senior Services.

Residents should contact the City of Newark Senior Services to request transportation

Client Services: Tenant Organizations

Tenant Associations

Each tenant association is an independent non-profit corporation. They are guided by by-laws and site specific house rules. There are 24 public housing tenant association at the various NHA properties that are funded by Annual Contribution Contract set-aside funds. The amount of funding is $25.00 for each occupied unit subject to pro-ration.

The tenant associations are required by their by-laws, Funding Agreement (FA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to hold nine (9) meetings per year if they are Senior/Mix Population Development or Family Development. Scattered Site Developments are required to hold six (6) meetings per year. At these meetings, members report information received from the Resident Advisory Board’s (RAB) monthly meeting and compile management concerns received from the residents of their communities. These Issues and Concerns are reported to the RAB and entered into the record for NHA Management to address in writing. The TA’s are required to submit monthly reports i.e. financial treasurer’s report on their monthly spending and their minutes of their monthly meetings with their residents.

The Client Services Division Tenant Affairs Unit interacts directly with duly elected tenant association officers to promote and encourage residents’ active involvement in all aspects of NHA’s mission and operation.

Resident Advisory Board

The Reform Act of 1998, (also known as the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act or QHWRA), requires each public housing authority with over 250 units to establish a Resident Advisory Board (RAB) that reflects and represents the residents assisted by the public housing agency. NHA’s RAB consists of each duly elected TA’s recognized by NHA. In accordance with 24 CFR Part 903 – Public Housing Agency Plans section 903.13 Resident Advisory Board and what is its role in development of the Annual Plan. The role of the RAB is to assist and make recommendations regarding the development of the PHA plan, and any significant amendment or modification to the PHA plan.

The RAB meets eleven months of the year (off during the month of August) on the Fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm. The meetings are open to the public however; the procedure for speaking at a RAB meeting is limited to the representative of a duly elected and recognized tenant association.

Collaboration between the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, NHA and the Tenant Associations

The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America, distributes food, provides education and training, develops programs to help hungry people throughout the state, and engages all sectors of society in this mission.

Since their incorporation in 1982, they have grown in both the size and scope of operation. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by the network of partner charities. With the help of so many caring individuals, corporations, foundations, houses of worship, schools and community groups, they have distributed some 600 million pounds of food valued at roughly one billion dollars.

In calibration with NHA and the Tenant Associations, the Community Food Bank of New Jersey is servicing several of our Tenant Associations throughout the city. The TA’s receiving commodities are as follows:

Stephen Crane Elderly NJ2-22 D
Baxter Terrace Elderly NJ2-22B
James C. White Manor NJ2-25
Seth Boyden Elderly NJ2-21E
Kretchmer Homes Elderly NJ2-21A
Bradley Court NJ2-14
Pennington Court NJ2-2