SEED Corp. receives $3.05M in federal housing grants

Funds will help organization provide supportive housing across North Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EAST ORANGE (Feb. 21, 2009) -- Homeless individuals and families in northern New Jersey stand to benefit from a set of federal housing grants announced Thursday.

Start Easy Eagle Development Corp. received $3,050,878 in grants from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for new supportive housing projects in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Sussex counties. With the state receiving a total $11,207,118 in funding for new projects, this means that SEED Corp. received more than 27 percent of all of the new-project funding in the state. The new projects will serve a total of 36 homeless individuals.

"Homelessness is an overwhelming and distressing situation to be faced with," said Donna DelValle, executive director of the agency. "For families that have lost their homes because of the recession, and for people who need a little extra help because of life challenges or disabilities, a little intervention is all that's needed to put them back in a home and restore their dignity."

Founded in 2006 by Advance Housing Inc., SEED Corp. is dedicated to increasing affordable housing in local communities. The organization works with municipalities and other agencies to provide supportive housing to people with special needs, including the homeless, and the physically and mentally disabled.

Based at 333 Dodd St. in East Orange, SEED Corp. works with governmental bodies, municipalities, other developers and nonprofit organizations to develop affordable and supportive housing. SEED Corp. also works with developers to ensure that state and municipal efforts comply with their obligations to the Council on Affordable Housing.

In supportive housing arrangements, SEED Corp. and its partner social service organizations provide comprehensive services to residents of affordable housing so that they can successfully live independently in the community. Such services can include help with budgeting to more extensive social services, depending on the specific needs of the person or family and can range on time frame from short-term help to long-term assistance.

For more information, call DelValle at (973) 678-1600.

On the web
www.seedcorp.org
www.hudhre.info