Education and Health Centers of America, Inc. (EHCA) is thrilled to announce the development of a new Emergency Rapid Re-Housing Assistance Program (ERRA) in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC), Office of Community Engagement and Reintegration Initiatives, through FY24 NJLEAD grant funding. This innovative program aims to address the pressing issue of housing insecurity faced by individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community. ERRA is designed to provide immediate, emergency, short-term housing assistance, with a focus on the first 90 days of release, ensuring that program participants have a safe and stable place to live while they work towards long-term, sustainable housing and other reintegration goals. In addition to temporary, short-term, emergency housing assistance, ERAA provides reentry case management and housing navigation services. By offering this critical emergency housing support, we hope to reduce the risk of recidivism and strengthen successful reintegration opportunities for returning citizens in the Newark Metro Area, consisting of Essex, Morris, Hudson, and Union counties in New Jersey.
Our approach includes comprehensive services such as pre-release and post-release case management, housing navigation, connecting individuals with existing federal, state, county, and community-based rental assistance programs, housing utility deposit assistance, moving cost assistance, essential home furnishing assistance, housing-related transportation assistance, temporary storage cost assistance, pre-release discharge planning, and other community referrals, based upon each individual’s unique needs.
Eligibility for ERRA is determined by:
- Priority Service Eligibility:
- Adult individuals within 180 days of release from NJDOC or released from a NJ State prison within the last seven (7) years and their immediate family.
- Adult individuals within 90 days from release from an NJ county jail or released from a NJ county jail within the last three (3) years and their immediate family.
- Location:
- Service connection to the Newark Metro Area, consisting of Essex, Morris, Hudson, and Union Counties.
- Risk of Homelessness:
- Demonstrated need for emergency, rapid, re-housing assistance, having exhausted all other existing federal, state, and community resources.
On July 18, 2024, several representatives from EHCA attended the FY24 NJDOC NJLEAD Summit, a pivotal event that brought together leaders and innovators in the field of corrections and reentry programs throughout New Jersey. The summit served as a platform to recognize the FY24 NJLEAD grant funding recipients, highlighting new initiatives, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders committed to improving reentry outcomes. EHCA was honored to be part of this significant event, which emphasized the collective efforts needed to support individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society.
EHCA’s Emergency Rapid Re-Housing Assistance Program (ERRA) was recognized as a grant award recipient at the event. The grant award was presented to EHCA’s ERRA Reentry Support Specialist, Ms. Kellyann Bishop-Siland, marking a momentous occasion for our organization. This funding will enable us to expand vital emergency housing and comprehensive support services to returning citizens throughout the Newark Metro Area. The recognition and resources from the NJLEAD grant program reinforce our shared commitment to reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry. We are eager to continue our partnership with the NJDOC to make a lasting impact in our communities.
