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Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Awards Project Freedom $1.6 Million for Gibbsboro

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Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Awards 36 Million for 42 Affordable Housing Initiatives

Projects will create, rehabilitate or preserve nearly 2,900 affordable housing units

New York, NY –  José R. González, president and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, announced that the Bank has awarded $36.9 million in subsidies to fund 42 affordable housing initiatives throughout New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. These awards are funded through the Bank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP), and will result in the creation or rehabilitation of 2,890 affordable housing units, including 2,002 units dedicated to very low-income housing. The awards will not only help provide housing, but also drive community development: it is anticipated that more than $600 million will be leveraged in housing investment from the development of these initiatives.

One of the 42 awards is going to Project Freedom Inc. for its Freedom Village at Gibbsboro initiative for 72 wheelchair-accessible affordable apartments with one-, two-, and, three-bedrooms.

“Our Affordable Housing Program is central to our mission to advance housing opportunity and local community development,” said Mr. González. “Affordable housing is the work of many hands, and it has been our privilege to support this work through the AHP for more than 25 years. The grants we announce today – the second-highest annual award amount since we began making AHP grants – will allow us to join with our members to make contributions to communities across our District that are both significant and lasting.”

The $36.9 million in grants represent a portion of the AHP funds that are drawn from the Bank’s earnings. As mandated by Congress, the Bank forgoes 10 percent of its earnings each year to support these neighborhood housing and economic development initiatives.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York’s AHP provides member-lenders with direct subsidies which are passed on to income-qualified households through sponsoring local community-based organizations. AHP financing is combined with other funding sources to create housing for moderate-, low- and very low-income families. Program awardees receive this funding through a competitive application process. Each competing project must be sponsored by a financial organization that is a member of the Bank in partnership with a community-based sponsoring organization.

The AHP was created by Congress in 1989, and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks have awarded more than $5.4 billion in AHP funds since the first awards were granted in 1990. At the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, the AHP has supported 1,530 projects with more than $580 million in grants, helping to create or preserve nearly 70,000 units of affordable housing and generating an estimated $10 billion in total development costs. 

“My Two Cents” – December 2017

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Tim Doherty, Executive Director

Well Christmas is right around the corner and for many of us, it revolves around the tasks of shopping for that special gift.  Shopping for family and friends, can really get expensive, however many times giving doesn’t require money.  It can be as simple as making a phone call to our Mom or Dad or a friend, to just wish them a Merry Christmas and to say “ how are you”. Giving is really what Christmas is all about, and it is something that we can all do. 

Recently, I hooked up with an old high school classmate, who is recently disabled and who uses a wheelchair full time.   Prior to becoming disabled, Ed was a policeman, a building contractor and a private investigator.  A man of many talents.  Ed also has a love of animals and nature, and has chosen to use his Facebook and blog pages to advertise pet adoptions in this area.  Ed will include photos of these animals on his postings, with a little description of each pet.  Getting out the word is how Ed has managed to save many of these stray animals.  Not only is Ed providing a great service to the local animal shelter, it is very satisfying for him knowing that he is contributing something back to society.

My other friend, Mike, who is not disabled, is always involved in some community activity.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday, he organized our church in the delivery of turkey meals to over 170 local folks, replacing the Meals on Wheels that day.  For years, he and his two boys would collect food donations to bring to the local shelter, and he has always taught his kids that it was better to give than to receive. 

I once heard it said that the most precious thing that we possess is our time.  Spending our time to comfort someone or just to talk with our friend, who may be down, is something that really costs us nothing, but can be so important to those who we comfort.  Even not saying a word, at times, but just being there for that person, can mean so much to them, especially in their time of need.

For Christians, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus, someone who cares very much for others.

So, when you spend your Christmas this year, take time to reach out to someone you haven’t  spoken to in a while, and let them know that you are interested in how they are doing.  You never know, you might stumble upon a new friend, someone who you would be glad to know, and who would be glad to know you.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

 

Gala Celebrates 20 Years of Celebrating

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Nearly 200 supporters came together last week to celebrate Project Freedom’s 2oth Annual Dinner Gala.  Some highlights ad photos:

Robbinsville Mayor David Fried accepts the Julia Ronan Angel Awrd

 

The Gala featured Mayor David Fried of Robbinsville with the Julia “June” Ronan Angel Award in recognition of Mayor Fried’s “Pay it Forward Initiative.”  Mayor Fried has has transformed his yearly State of the Township Report into a fundraising event that raises money to help someone in need.  Created in 2015, the funds raised at the event went to address a specific need in the community of Robbinsville. 

 

 

Tim Doherty presents the Freedom Bell Award to West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh

The Freedom Bell Award  was  presented to Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh of West Windsor his steadfast support for a Project Freedom community within West Windsor since 2006.  Under his leadership, an appropriate site was identified for our project, arrangements were made to purchase this site, and $250,000 was contributed to help pay for the engineering and architectural costs so that project could be approved by the planning board.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Manzo accepting the Robin Heim Award

The Robin G. Heim Award  was given to Lawrence Tenant  William Manzo.  The Robin G. Heim Award was created in 1990 to honor his spirit and desire for self-improvement and empowerment demonstrated by a young man who had multiple disabilities.  Last summer Bill Manzo started his 19th year as a 911 operator for the New Jersey State Police. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie Hooker accepts the Wensley Award with Norman Smith, Tim Doherty, Tara (Wensley) Cattani, and Dara Johnston looking on.

The Stephen Wensley Award  went to  Westampton Tenant Jaime Hooker for her community service.  The Stephen Wensley Award was created to honor the memory of an unsung hero who would have served his community without recognition because it was the right thing to do.  Jamie Hooker volunteers as a mental health peer counselor with an agency for people with Cerebral Palsy.  She works on projects that advocate for improved healthcare for adults and woman.

 

 

 

 

 

Sammi DeMaris with Tim Doherty

Project Freedom Inc. Employee of the Year  went to Sammi DeMaris, the Social Services Coordinator of Freedom Village at Woodstown.  Located in Salem County, Sammi has managed Project Freedom’s southernmost site since 2009 with a very minimum amount of support from Project Freedom’s  central office. 

The National Equity Fund, Inc. and V. J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc., were this year’s Event Sponsors of the Gala.

The Angel Sponsors this year were First Commerce Bank, Joseph F. McKernan Jr. RA Architects & Associates, Nottingham Insurance, and TD Bank.  

Bank of America was this year’s Patriot Sponsor.

This year’s Freedom Sponsors were: Dumont & Watson, P.C., NJM Insurance Group, Northfield Bank, Novogradac & Company LLP, and PS&S, LLC.

 

From Norman’s Desk – November 2017

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Norman A. Smith, Associate Executive Director

This year will be the twelfth time in my life that I cast a vote for the governor of NJ.  I remember back in 1973 being forced to vote two weeks ahead of time by absentee ballot because my polling place was not accessible.  I remember in 1992 being challenged at the poll because of disability, and I remember the empowerment I felt by calling a state hotline while at the poll to “fix” the situation to my satisfaction.

Times have changed for people with disabilities in terms of voting ease.  Now most polling places and polling booths are accessible. Voting early by mail is encouraged for everyone in many states.  Yes, there are still barriers to voting—especially in other states, but there is no excuse for any person with a disability not to vote.

Yet last year I read an article from the Arizona Capital  Times about people with disabilities voting, and it cited a report from the Research Alliance for Accessible Voting.  The report said that people with disabilities voted at a lower rate than their able-bodied peers in the 2012 election.  The rate was 56.9% in the able community vs 48.1% for people with disabilities. Our vote was 12% less than people who were able-bodied, and we wonder why some elected off do not pay attention to us!

The article also contained a quote from Phil Pangrazio, a person with a disability and the CEO of an Arizona-based center for independent living.  Pangrazio said:

“With barely half of our community overall voting in any given election, it is critical that we each take our civic right – and our duty – seriously. Not voting may just be one of the most selfish and irresponsible acts a citizen could commit.”

I agree with Pangrazio—especially with what is happening in Washington and Trenton these days.

One of my heroes in the Disability Movement was Justin Dart.  He is credited by many as the force behind the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Dart’s take on people with disabilities voting was simple and succinct: “Vote as if your life dependent on it…because it does!”

          Voting is a right that every citizen of this great country should exercise.  People have died to gain that right. People have died to protect that right. People have died to exercise that right.  We need to honor their ultimate sacrifice by voting, and there is no excuse for people with disabilities not to vote.

“My Two Cents” November 2017

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Tim Doherty, Executive Director

Well, we are one week away from our Angel Award Dinner, and staff are busy pulling all the last minute details together.  Thanks to Board member Karol Moss for heading up this committee and for providing the leadership for this event once again.

At this year’s Gala, we are honoring two Mercer County mayor’s–

Robbinsville Mayor David Fried, with our June Ronan Angel Award, and West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh with our Freedom Bell Award.  Both are elected officials for their respective towns. 

As we have done in years past, our Angel Award remembers June Ronan, Norman’s cousin who was instrumental in establishing Project Freedom in the early days.  We honor others in her name, like Mayor Fried, for his support for Project Freedom programs and for people with disabilities.  What is most unique about what Mayor Fried has done, is that he has transformed his yearly State of the Township Report into a fundraising event that raises money to help someone in need.  Created in 2015, the Mayor calls this program, “Pay It Forward”, in which the funds raised at the event, go to provide some specific need in the community of Robbinsville. 

In years past, he has raised money to purchase a wheelchair accessible van for our Robbinsville tenant Trey Shepherd, as well as making renovations to the home of Debbie Dauer, a Sharon School teacher who has  ALS.  Over the past three years, his program has raised over $100,000 for individuals connected to  Robbinsville that were in need.  A very creative way to present the Township Report and help someone in the process. 

Likewise, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh has continued his steadfast support for a Project Freedom    community within West Windsor, since 2006.  Under his leadership, an appropriate site was     identified for our project, arrangements were made to purchase this site for our community and     $250,000 was contributed to help pay for the engineering and architectural costs so that we could get our project approved by the planning board.  In the world of Township politics, these are almost super human accomplishments.  Thanks to Mayor Hsueh, our West Windsor construction will start sometime in early March 2018.

Our other honorees are two Project Freedom tenants who have both achieved their independence despite some difficult challenges—Jaime Hooker and Bill Manzo.  Both are great examples of people who don‘t give up, but rather contribute back to society.

And finally, our Employee of the Year Award this year goes to our Woodstown Social Service     Coordinator, Sammi DeMaris.  Located in Salem County, Sammi has managed our furthermost site since 2009, with a very minimum amount of support from our central office.  It is very gratifying for me, as the boss, to know that our communities are in good hands and having Sammi in Woodstown is most reassuring.

So, our Angel Award Dinner is slated for November 11 and there is still time to call for tickets ( 609 ) 278-0075.  Hope to see you there.

 

 

 

From Norman’s Desk – October 2017

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New Jersey will be holding its Seventh Annual Disability Pride Parade and Celebration in Trenton this month.  The event is organized by the Alliance Center for Independent Living based in Edison, and I’m proud to have been a part of the parade since the beginning.

I have told this story many times, and the underlying philosophy remains important to emphasize each year.   I have recruited people with disabilities to march in past parades. One year my neighbor sarcastically asked me: “Are you proud of that stutter of yours?”  Since I’m always reminding him that he cannot see too well and that he is dangerous in a power-chair, his well-aimed barb is routine banter between people comfortable with their disabilities.  His comment, however, started me thinking about the incongruity of pride and disability.

It is incongruous to take pride in not being able to do something.  There must have been some onlookers at the parade in the past asking: What are these “broken-down people” with crutches and in wheelchairs doing marching around proclaiming their pride?  How can they be proud when they can’t do anything for themselves?

Well, that is the point.  Society’s view of people with disabilities can be so negative, so weakening, so smothering of spirit that overcoming that negativity can be empowering and something to be proud about.

As people with disabilities, we put up with so much crap imposed upon us by society, the government, the system, and the people in our lives that it is a wonder that any of us have the energy and initiative to be independent, productive, or active.   

But we are independent, productive, active, and we need to own it and show our pride in what we do!

This applies to every person with a disability no matter what their situation.  Our lives are a precarious “high-wire acts” of low income with under-funded supports that keep us more dependent than independent.  One false step drops us into the abyss of institutional living to be trapped and robbed of personal initiative, independence, and dignity.

Yet every day we get up to perform on the “high wire” defying negative attitudes, preconceptions, prejudices, and fears.  Some do it with drudgery.  Some do it with gusto.  Most people with disabilities live our lives somewhere in between.  We do it every single day.

This is why we should have pride.  This is why we need to display our pride publicly and loudly. This is why we celebrate our pride in ourselves and our community. 

 

Norman A. Smith,  Associate Executive Director – ProjectFreedom1@aol.com

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