WHEN: Wednesday, March 26th 12:30pm ET – 1:30pm ET

HOW: Register online at www.uphelp.org/webinar

WHY: Residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy and insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are facing an April 28, 2014 deadline for submitting all proof of loss documents and complying with NFIP claim requirements. Homeowners who have not appealed or filed additional forms and proof of damages by this deadline will lose the right to challenge their NFIP settlement. The NFIP has very specific rules related to damage claims. A property owner must follow the NFIPs rules on submitting proofs of loss and supporting documentation. Through this webinar, homeowners, lawyers and contractors have the opportunity to become familiar with these specific rules and deadlines that apply to NFIP claims, including laws that come into play when a dispute arises. Property owners who do not use the right NFIP forms and/or complete them accurately and/or submit them on time will lose the right to recover additional benefits on their Sandy claims.

HOSTED BY: United Policyholders in partnership with the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.

About the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund
Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund Inc. is a private independent charitable organization, not formed or controlled by, or affiliated with the State of New Jersey or any of its agencies or offices. The Fund is chaired by New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie and has granted more than $25.7 million to over 90 non-profit organizations active in Sandy recovery efforts. As a New Jersey non-profit corporation exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), the Fund has received a determination letter from the IRS and is registered with the Charities Registration and Investigation Section of the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey.

About the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
The NFIP is a hybrid government and private insurance company run by a division of FEMA under the oversight of Congress. Federal – not state laws – govern NFIP policies and claims handling. That means residents cannot turn to the New Jersey Department of Insurance for help.

About United Policyholders (UP)
UP is a non-profit insurance consumer organizations with 20 years of experience helping people navigate insurance and recover from disasters.

We would also like to thank those who supported our Thanksgiving Campaign in 2013. All of the funds we raised during that time were granted to Joseph’s House to help outfit their new kitchen!

Photo: Anthony Mastrobuono

To view more photos of Joseph’s House, please visit our Photo Gallery

If you would like to help Joseph’s House, they are in need of a few items:
Heavy Socks
Bath Towels and Wash Cloths
Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets
Bottled Water
Large Bottles of Hand Sanitizer
Hairbrushes and Combs
Razors
Feminine Hygiene Products
Bar Soap or Body Wash (Travel Size)
Travel Size Shampoo
Travel Size Lotion
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Sugar
They cannot use any clothing or coat donations at this time.

If you are able to donate any of the items on their wish list above, please call or email to schedule a time to drop off donations. Donations may be dropped off Wednesday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Questions? Contact Mary Beth Kohler:
Telephone: 856-246-1087
Email Address: mbk@josephshouseofcamden.org

For more information on Joseph’s House, please visit their website josephshouseofcamden.org

We will continue to share updates as they come in, thank you for your support!

“We offered a warm coat, personal care items and a range of health services to people,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the County’s Department of Human Services. “Coats, blankets and hot beverage were important and needed, but we also wanted to make sure that each person who needs and wants assistance is being helped.”

Project Homeless Connect is the umbrella name for a nationwide effort to bring attention to efforts to end homelessness. People without a permanent residence or who are at risk of being homeless were encouraged to participate. Attendees completed a very brief survey form before being provided food, clothing, free health screenings, employment resources and other services.

“This year we provided services to 196 individuals at the three locations,” Curley said. “The purpose of Project Homeless Connect, coupled with the Point in Time survey, is to get a better idea as to who is homeless and out there somewhere.”

JBJ Soul Kitchen participated in Project Homeless Connect for the third straight year. These counts aid communities in creating strategic plans and develop policies that deal with the homeless issues. This day enabled us, at Soul Kitchen, to put forth our product and engage those who are experiencing food insecurity issues in our work. Those who participated in Red Bank, NJ were offered a complimentary ride in a van, donated by Arrow Transportation, from Pilgrim Baptist Church to Soul Kitchen where they received hot soup and a sandwich. Soul Kitchen volunteers and staff members were on hand throughout the day to speak to those coming in and let them know how they could volunteer in exchange for a meal in the future. This year Soul Kitchen served over 100 meals to those who came in as part of Project Homeless Connect.

The freezing temperatures and the snow storm on Wednesday played a role in reducing the number of folks who turned out for this annual event.

“Anyone who is vulnerable and close to homelessness – especially families with younger children, need to know that there is help available,” Curley said. “Shelter, food stamps and many other services can help improve their quality of life.”

“This is an annual, unified effort to reach people who do not have a permanent shelter,” said Jeffrey Schwartz, director of the County’s Division of Planning and Contracting for the Department of Human Services. “While County staff and volunteers gathered information at designated locations, others were collecting information about people housed at other locations by various housing agencies and coordinating efforts with municipal representatives to locate unsheltered individuals.”

Not included in the totals from the three locations are individuals who are in transitional housing, emergency housing, motels, hotels, boarding homes or other locations.

Curley noted that the Sandy Homeowner/Renter Assistance Program (SHRAP) is helping many potentially homeless individuals and families with a mortgage or rent subsidy as well.

“Some of the people displaced by Sandy were counted last year because they were being housed in motels and hotels,” explained Schwartz. “Anyone still displaced by Sandy should continue to be in contact with FEMA and the County’s Long Term Recovery Group to maximize the resources available.”

The primary goal of Project Homeless Connect is to gain an accurate picture of the number of people who experience homelessness and to work toward providing them with needed services, Schwartz said.

“Donations of time, space and resources by businesses and not-for profit groups make the Project Homeless Connect event possible,” Curley said. “Monmouth County is a very caring community and we appreciate the time, talents and goods that make a positive impact in the lives of people who need these items and seek these services.”

The count is part of an annual point-in-time survey of the homeless population in the New Jersey. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that such a count of the homeless be done every year.

Organizations that donated time and resources for Monmouth County’s 2014 Point in Time Survey and Project Homeless Connect include:
Acelero Learning
Adelphia Donuts LLC
Affordable Housing Alliance
ARC of Monmouth, Tinton Falls
Arrow Limousine Worldwide
Asbury Park Social Services
Brookdale Community College
Burlington Coat Factory
Catholic Charities – Linkages
Central Jersey Family Health Consortium
Child Care Resources
Cohn Reznick
Community Affairs & Resource Center
Community Health Law Project – Asbury Park
Comprehensive Emergency Assistance System (CEAS)
Covenant House
Division of Child Protection & Permanency
Easter Seals NJ – Adult Shelter
Family & Children’s Services
Family Promise of Monmouth County
Feed All God’s Children – Jim Benedict
Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
Frank’s Deli – Baked Goods
Freehold Area Open Door
HABcore, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity
Holiday Express
Howell Alliance and Schools
I Beseech Thee Community Development Corp.
Interfaith Neighbors – Nancy Flanigan, Heather Schulze and Catherine Wieczorek, Site Coordinators for Asbury Park
Investors Savings Bank
JBJ Soul Foundation
JBJ Soul Kitchen
Jersey Shore Rescue Mission
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Kula Café
LADACIN Network
Lunch Break
Manna House – Peggy Comfort, Site Coordinator for Freehold
Marlboro Elementary School
Monmouth A-Team
Monmouth Cares
Monmouth County Human Services Advisory Council
Monmouth County Department of Human Services
• Divisions of Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services; Mental Health and Addiction Services; Planning and Contracting and Social Services
Monmouth County Department of Workforce Development
Monmouth County Buildings & Grounds
Monmouth County Community Development
New Beginnings Agape Christian Center
New Jersey City University – Cheryl Leiningen, Assistant Professor and accelerated BSN Students, Wall NJ Campus
New Jersey Department of Labor-One Stop Center
New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency
New Jersey Natural Gas
New Jersey Youth Corps – Asbury Park
Novadebt, Freehold
180, Turning Lives Around
O.C.E.A.N, Inc.
Ocean Monmouth Legal Services
One Warm Coat
Paul David Party Supplies
Paul M. McGuire Family Health Center
Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank
Red Cross
Salvation Army, Asbury Park
Signs, Sealed and Delivered
Social Security Administration
Soleil Tans – Matawan
Soul Kitchen in Red Bank
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
The City of Asbury Park
United Way of Monmouth County
VNA Health Group
Various Ministries
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Winifred Canright House

Our now two-year old Soul Kitchen program in Red Bank, NJ continues to build and strengthen relationships with local nonprofits serving clients who may be experiencing food insecurity and hunger issues. Your response to our social media campaigns has enabled us to serve thousands of meals and form relationships with those in need and help them connect to the services to begin moving toward a life of self-sufficiency.

We appreciated your support of our New Jersey “Soul of Hunger” advocacy event which brought together leaders from non-profit, business, healthcare, and government to discuss the root causes of hunger and how to begin to find a solution. The many brave citizens of New Jersey who shared their stories with us will be a guiding light for us in meeting this challenge.

Our housing partnerships continue to progress with three building construction/renovation projects in the works as of this writing. The Joseph’s House homeless shelter in Camden, NJ will not only provide emergency shelter for 75 homeless men and women each night but will be a hub for service providers to connect those coming off the streets with the services they need to exit homelessness. In early 2014, we expect to celebrate the grand opening of two community development projects: JBJ Soul Homes in partnership with Project H.O.M.E. and Merrick Hall at Northern Services – both in Philadelphia and serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

Additionally, we continue to work with local New Jersey organizations on the long term rebuilding plans for vibrant, sustainable communities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. On the one year anniversary of the storm, we went back to visit some of the communities hardest hit and although much progress has been made, it is very evident that much work still needs to be done – and we have pledged to use the donations that were designated for rebuilding to have the greatest impact in the community in which we invest.

The best way I can think of to thank all of our followers is to continue to be a responsible investor in homelessness, affordable housing and hunger-related projects that have an impact in our communities. Thank you so much for your support and we look forward to an exciting 2014 – again, we could not do this without YOU – “The Power of WE”. Thank you!!

Sincerely,

Mimi