Income
OPEN YOUR HEART
LEND YOUR MUSCLE
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Housing for All
Affordable housing is one of the most critical issues in Monmouth County, noted by 70.7% of respondents to the UWMC Community Leaders survey as a very serious—second only to health insurance. Housing costs represent one of the largest monthly expenses for a household’s budget. And this financial burden is felt more keenly on lower-income working households. In Monmouth County 58.8% of lower-income working households spend more than 40% of their income on housing; 38.9% spend more than 50%. Participants in the UWMC focus group on Diversity and Demographics noted the key relationship between housing and employment, citing the availability of affordable housing impacts employers’ ability to attract and hire entry-level employees. Both the Diversity and Demographics and Income focus group participants discussed stigma, NIMBY and community attitudes as some of the largest obstacles to affordable housing in our county.
Objective |
Strategies |
Resources |
| Expand the availability of options for people to acquire & maintain housing appropriate to their income and need | 1. Partner with community stakeholders to create a 10 year plan to end homelessness 2. Increase awareness of available affordable housing options in the county |
Advocacy |
ARRA 2009 Tax Benefits
Get the latest information on energy, education, new vehicle and homebuyer credits that are available to help households save money. Go to www.irs.gov and click on Tax Benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
2-1-1
For help with a problem or to help others, dial 2-1-1, UWMC's free and confidential community service line, 24 hours a day or visit the NJ 2-1-1 website www.nj211.org and search their online database.
Born Learning
Want to find out how young children learn? Or get ideas for using everyday activities as learning moments? Born Learning helps parents, grandparents and caregivers enrich early learning.
Learn more about the UWMC Born Learning program
Five Ways You Can Live United
1. Read to children in your family, at your library, or with a local non-profit engaged in child care or literacy
2. Bring a child in your life to a bank to have a tour and open up a savings account.
3. Volunteer to prepare tax returns for low-income families
4. Buy pedometers for your friends and have a fun competition for who can walk the most steps.
5. Purchase personal care items such as deodorant, toothbrushes and soap and drop them off at the local homeless shelter