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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

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Home > Community Development > Community Profiles > Trenton-Ewing, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) > Community Organizations

Community Profile: Trenton-Ewing, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Community Organizations

This section provides information about affordable housing, social service, economic development, and community revitalization organizations in the area whose interests, activities, and initiatives improve the housing conditions and employment opportunities of residents. These groups represent potential partners for bankers seeking to more fully address the credit needs of each region's low- and moderate-income people and communities.

The information in this section was obtained directly from the websites of the community organizations.

• Better Community Housing of Trenton, Inc.
• Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment
• Corporation for Supportive Housing New Jersey Program (CSH)
• HomeFront
• Isles Incorporated
• Love Thy Neighbor Community Development & Opportunity Corporation
• Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
• Princeton Community Housing
• Project Freedom, Inc.
• Regional Business Assistance Corporation (RBAC)
• Trenton Area Habitat for Humanity
• Trenton Business and Technology Center (TBTC)
• Ujima Ministries
• Volunteers of America Delaware Valley

Better Community Housing of Trenton, Inc.

Mission

The mission of Better Community Housing of Trenton (BCHT) is to provide the opportunity for homeownership and decent housing to very low- to moderate-income families and to teach the skills needed to maintain a house.

Year of Origin

1972

Core Programs

• Seeks volunteers to construct houses
• Involves volunteers who are professionals
• Seeks donations and discounts from appropriate vendors

Service Area

Diocese of Trenton

Contact Information

Better Community Housing of Trenton, Inc.
Martin House
802 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08606
Phone: 609-989-8143
Fax: 609-989-0933
Website: http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/justice/martinhouse.asp 

Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment

Mission

The Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment is a statewide group of planning, environmental, and housing organizations that recognize the interdependency of urban, suburban, and rural communities. Identifying those areas in which environmental, planning, and housing goals intersect, the coalition - working with its members and other advocates from around the state - crafts multi-faceted solutions that would create a New Jersey with abundant open spaces, a clean environment, healthy cities, and reasonable housing opportunities for all its citizens. By finding common ground on issues that affect every community in the state, the coalition is building a unique partnership for a just and sustainable New Jersey.

Year of Origin

N/A

Core Programs

• Serves affordable housing, environmental, planning, community development, land use and other public policy organizations seeking to support each other’s goals and learn more about each other’s issues
• Seeks to educate New Jersey policymakers and the public at large about the interconnectedness between the environment and affordable housing
• Highlights how public policy affects affordable housing and environmental goals
• Offers a voice to those wishing to promote and participate in a dialogue over critical issues facing the state

Service Area

New Jersey

Contact Information

Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment
145 West Hanover Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08618
Phone: 609-278-5656
E-mail: info@cahenj.org
Website: http://www.cahenj.org/ 

Corporation for Supportive Housing New Jersey Program (CSH)

Mission

CSH helps communities create permanent housing with services to prevent and end homelessness.

Year of Origin

1997

Core Programs

• Provides high-quality advice and development expertise
• Makes loans and grants to supportive housing sponsors
• Strengthens the supportive housing industry
• Reforms public policy to make it easier to create and operate supportive housing

Service Area

New Jersey

Contact Information

Corporation for Supportive Housing
162 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
E-mail: nj@csh.org
Website: http://www.csh.org/ 

HomeFront

Mission

HomeFront's mission is to end homelessness in Mercer County, NJ, by harnessing the caring, resources, and know-how of the community. HomeFront helps families become self-sufficient. It gives people the skills and opportunities to ensure adequate incomes and to increase the availability of adequate affordable housing. HomeFront helps homeless families advocate for themselves individually and collectively.

Year of Origin

1990

Core Programs

• Case management for clients seeking housing
• On-site food pantry and transitional and permanent housing facilities
• Programs for homeless kids

Service Area

Mercer County, NJ

Contact Information

HomeFront
1880 Princeton Ave
Lawrenceville NJ 08648
Phone: 609-989-9417
Fax: 609-989-9423
E-mail: homefront@homefrontnj.org
Website: http://www.homefrontnj.org/ 

Isles Incorporated

Mission

Founded in 1981, Isles, Inc., is a nationally recognized nonprofit community development and environmental organization whose mission is to foster more self-reliant families in healthy, sustainable communities. Unlike organizations with more conventional responses to urban problems, e.g., single-service programs for housing, environment, or health, Isles operates a vast array of activities that recognize the interdependence of physical, economic, health, and social development strategies to address the problems of distressed communities.

Each year, Isles directly reaches more than 10,000 central New Jersey residents with its programs for at-risk youth job training, affordable housing development, financial literacy training, homeownership counseling, community gardening, environmental health and education, community organizing, and regional planning. Isles broadens its impact by developing easily replicated programs, assisting other community groups and institutions, and advocating for improved public policy.

Year of Origin

1981

Core Programs

• At-risk youth job training
• Affordable housing development
• Financial literacy training
• Homeownership counseling
• Community gardening
• Environmental health and education
• Community organizing
• Regional planning

Service Area

Central New Jersey

Contact Information

Isles Incorporated
10 Wood Street
Trenton, NJ 08618
Phone: 609-341-4700
Fax: 609-393-9153
E-mail: info@isles.org
Website: http://www.isles.org/ 

Love Thy Neighbor Community Development & Opportunity Corporation

Mission

Love Thy Neighbor Community Development & Opportunity Corporation is committed to comprehensive community development and strives to build thriving neighborhoods by creating opportunities for positive social and economic change.

Year of Origin

N/A

Core Programs

• School safety program
• A.E.I.O.U. - Athletes Excelling In the Classroom, On the Field U Win
• DNA - Dad Needs Assistance
• Seed, Feed and Grow
• Youth scholarships
• Mercer County Youth Football program
• Homeownership education & credit counseling
• Financial literacy
• Love Thy Neighbor leaders

Service Area

N/A

Contact Information

Love Thy Neighbor Community Development & Opportunity Corporation
PO Box 279
Trenton, NJ 08602
Phone: 609-989-0290
Fax: 609-989-0292
E-mail: contactus@ltncdc.org
Website: http://www.ltncdc.org/ 

Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey

Mission

The mission of the Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey is to serve those in New Jersey who are in need or have limited choices.

Year of Origin

1904

Core Programs

• Community outreach
• Special needs housing
• Affordable family housing
• Affordable senior housing
• Retirement living

Service Area

Mercer County, NJ

Contact Information

Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
6 Terri Lane, Suite 300
Burlington, NJ 08016
Phone: 609-386-7171
E-mail: info@lsmnj.org
Website: http://www.lsmnj.org/ 

Princeton Community Housing

Mission

Princeton Community Housing, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that supports the growth, development, and management of affordable housing in the Princeton area. The organization believes that housing is a basic right available to all individuals and that every community should contain housing for all citizens of all economic levels.

The organization serves as a resource for the well-being of the community and its families and identifies what it can do to improve and expand the supply of housing open to all regardless of race, place of origin, sex, or family make-up. Through advocacy efforts pertaining to affordable housing, Princeton Community Housing strives to encourage and provide timely planned and affirmative support and responses to issues.

Through the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of housing facilities serving low- and moderate-income individuals and families in need of affordable housing, Princeton Community Housing attempts in every way possible to ensure the continued availability of open housing in the Princeton area.

Year of Origin

N/A

Core Programs

• Elm Court
• Harriet Bryan House
• Griggs Farm

Service Area

Princeton, NJ

Contact Information

K. M. Light Real Estate
245 Nassau Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Phone: 609-924-3822
Fax: 609-924-3827
Website: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/pch/Index.htm 

Project Freedom, Inc.

Mission

Project Freedom is dedicated to developing, supporting, and advocating opportunities for independent living for persons with disabilities.

Year of Origin

1984

Core Programs

• Developer of accessible, affordable housing
• Advocacy
• Community activities
• Group excursions
• Training programs
• Transportation

Service Area

N/A

Contact Information

Project Freedom, Inc.
223 Hutchinson Rd
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
Phone: 609-448-2998
E-mail: projectfreedom1@aol.com
Website: http://www.projectfreedom.org/index_flash.html 

Regional Business Assistance Corporation (RBAC)

Mission

Regional Business Assistance Corporation (RBAC) was formed in 1981 to provide loans to small-business owners in the city of Trenton. Through the years RBAC has expanded and now offers its services to New Jersey businesses statewide. RBAC’s mission is to provide loan capital and business mentoring to small-business owners who cannot access more conventional bank financing. By financing and mentoring small businesses across New Jersey, RBAC ultimately aims to create jobs and foster communitywide economic development.

Year of Origin

1981

Core Programs

• Providing loan capital to small businesses in New Jersey that cannot access conventional bank financing
• Providing business mentoring to small businesses in New Jersey

Service Area

New Jersey

Contact Information

Regional Business Assistance Corporation
247 East Front Street
Trenton, NJ 08611
Phone: 609-396-2595
Fax: 609-396-2598
Toll Free: 866-396-2595
E-mail: info@rbacloan.com
Website: http://rbacloan.com/ 

Trenton Area Habitat for Humanity

Mission

Trenton Area Habitat for Humanity presents the opportunity for people of compassion to provide the capital and skills needed to renovate or build simple, decent homes for those who are without adequate housing at an affordable price.

Habitat is a nonprofit ecumenical housing ministry working in partnership with low-income households to improve the housing in which they live. It is committed to working with people by using the principles of Habitat for Humanity International.

Year of Origin

1986

Core Programs

East Trenton Center:

• Food distribution
• Overflow shelter
• After school program
• Summer activities program
• Clothing distribution program
• Narcotics Anonymous program

Service Area

Trenton Area Habitat serves Mercer County and specifically Trenton, Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, Lawrence and Lawrenceville, Hopewell, Pennington, Ewing, and smaller towns in between. Habitat has built houses in Trenton and Princeton Township.

Contact Information

Trenton Area Habitat for Humanity
601 North Clinton Ave
Trenton, NJ
E-mail: habitat_info@habitatnj.org
Website: http://www.habitatnj.org/ 

Trenton Business and Technology Center (TBTC)

Mission

TBTC’s mission is to foster business incubation for start-up businesses in technology-related fields.

Year of Origin

1985

Core Programs

• One-to-one counseling
• Business plan review
• Access to marketing consultation
• Loan package assistance
• Help with sales strategies
• Access to government loan and procurement programs
• Computer learning center
• Low-cost training programs

Service Area

New Jersey

Contact Information

Trenton Business and Technology Center
36 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609-396-8801
Fax: 609-396-8603
E-mail: info@trentonbusiness.org
Website: http://www.trentonbusiness.org/ 

Ujima Ministries

Mission

For more than a decade, Ujima Ministries has been dedicated to enriching the lives of the people of the Greater Trenton area. Ujima Ministries’ social services are nonsectarian, assisting the poor and disenfranchised, regardless of race, creed, or ethnic origin. Ujima Ministries began as a youth outreach that sought to be the embodiment of the African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.”

Year of Origin

1991

Core Programs

• The Life Success apprenticeship program
• The family mentoring program
• The Ujima housing initiative
• The master’s market
• The Mercy Connection
• A Fresh New Look Christian Learning Center

Service Area

Greater Trenton area

Contact Information

Ujima Ministries
1001 Pennington Road
P.O. Box 7217
Ewing, New Jersey 08628
Phone: 609-882-0788
Fax: 609-882-6545
Website: http://www.ujimaministries.org/ 

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley

Mission

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit faith-based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement.

Year of Origin

1896

Core Programs

• Corrections
• Family violence prevention program
• Domestic violence
• Ready4Work
• Housing & supportive services
• Elderly
• Children & youth services
• Behavioral health

Service Area

Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware Metropolitan Area

Contact Information

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley
235 White Horse Pike
Collingswood, NJ 08107
Phone: 856-854-4660
Fax: 856-854-0651
E-mail: info@voadv.org
Website: http://www.voadv.org/ 

• Last updated: Thursday, February 22, 2007