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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>Thanks Pam Gaston, NJ CBVI, for sharing.</DIV>
<DIV>To all receiving, please read and share with others.</DIV>
<DIV>Joe </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">We
care. We
share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President <BR>National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Raising
Expectations To Live The Life You Want!</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Your
old
car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your unwanted
vehicle
to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call 855 659
9314<BR></DIV>
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<DIV>Energy Assistance Programs now Open</DIV>
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<DIV>When finances are tight, every penny counts. Last year, state officials
noted that New Jersey residents who applied for utility assistance through
LIHEAP saved 1.4 million dollars collectively. Households heating with
electric
and gas can often receive as much as $1,200 in savings annually. That's a
whole
lot of pennies. The Home Energy Assistance season opened on October 1 and
offers
help to residents who fall within the financial limits and program
guidelines.
As the State's Utility Assistance Hotline, NJ 2-1-1 receives inquiries
(calls,
texts, and chats) from residents all over New Jersey who are asking for
information about how programs work, how to apply for assistance and the
status
of their application once it has been submitted.</DIV>
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<DIV>Utility assistance program comparisons, links to the applications
needed
and contact information for the local agency that processes applications in
your
area are available on the utility assistance pages of our website<<A
href="https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs">https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Financial guidelines for utility assistance programs are based upon
household income as it compares to the Federal Poverty Guidelines
(reestablished
every year) and the number of people in the household. For example, this
year a
household of four must have a monthly gross income of less than $4,184 to be
eligible for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). To qualify
for
USF (Universal Service Fund), that monthly limit is set at $3,661 for a
household that size.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If you received LIHEAP/USF last year, you are eligible to apply for the
program through a process called recertification. New applicants or those
who
have moved within the last year will need to follow another process. Find
out
what you'll need to bring either way<<A
href="https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs#documentation">https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs#documentation</A>>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Other utility assistance programs are available for higher wage earners
who
have experienced a financial crisis and are eligible for assistance through
the
NJ Shares program. Those in need may also find help through emergency
assistance
programs; weatherization services that can be used to improve energy
efficiency
in your home; and special assistance programs from your utility provider. NJ
2-1-1 has created a handout entitled Utility Assistance at a Glance<<A
href="https://www.nj211.org/sites/default/files/documents/2018-09/utility-assistance-nj-at-a-glance-fy2018.pdf">https://www.nj211.org/sites/default/files/documents/2018-09/utility-assistance-nj-at-a-glance-fy2018.pdf</A>>
for a quick review of what is available. More in-depth information is found
on
the utility pages<<A
href="https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs">https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs</A>>
of our website.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Put us on your Team</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Supported by a grant from the NJ Department of Health, NJ 2-1-1 has
spent
the past three months reaching out to family physicians, nurse practitioners
and
others in the medical community with a clear message, "Put us on your team."
We've been met with open arms! What we have learned in the process is that
the
healthcare community has been struggling to find community resources for
patients who have basic needs that are going unmet. They know how important
it
is to overall health and yet, in many cases, just didn't know where these
services could be found. NJ 2-1-1 provides that vital connection and is just
a
phone call, text or chat away.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It is a logical union and one that research has proven to be beneficial
to
individuals and society as a whole. Social determinants like where you live,
your level of education, your access to food, affordable housing,
healthcare,
etc. have a significant impact on your health. Some studies attribute 40% of
your overall health outcome to these very factors.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>With this thought in mind, NJ 2-1-1 started targeting its outreach
efforts
to healthcare workers throughout New Jersey to educate them about our
services
and the breadth and integrity of our resource database. NJ 2-1-1 Executive
Director, Melissa Acree, participated in a panel discussion at the NJAFP (NJ
Academy of Family Physicians) Diabetes Summit to discuss how connections
made by
2-1-1 could offer practitioners and their patients a practical solution to
addressing these basic needs which, when left unmet, often obstruct the road
to
good health. Her message was simple and direct, "When you are meeting with a
patient who needs help with any of their basic needs, ask them to dial
2-1-1. We
are always open and we can help to connect them with programs and services
that
can make all the difference. Put us on your team." Watch our video<<A
href="https://www.nj211.org/sdoh">https://www.nj211.org/sdoh</A>>.</DIV>
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<DIV>One Door Leads Home</DIV>
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<DIV>"I don't have any place to sleep tonight. I need help." As the Homeless
Hotline for Morris County, our office gets many calls that start this way.
When
a person dials the Hotline, they are connecting themselves with a continuum
of
service providers in Morris County committed to assessing each individual
situation and responding accordingly. The system is structured to minimize
traditional barriers to shelter and housing services by creating a single
point
of entry and providing additional support to access as needed.</DIV>
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<DIV>Formally known as Morris County's Continuum of Care, the group consists
of
13 agencies that have come together to communicate a simple message: One
Door
Leads Home. If you are experiencing a housing crisis, the number to call is
2-1-1.</DIV>
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<DIV>Climbing out of homelessness is virtually impossible without a
community-wide response, and local groups have coordinated their efforts and
services to meet the unique needs of Morris County community members
experiencing a housing crisis. Those in need of shelter and others who are
experiencing a housing crisis can make the call to 2-1-1 themselves or go to
one
of two drop-in centers to get connected to the appropriate housing and
shelter
resources in the county. The important thing is that they take that first
step<<A
href="https://www.nj211.org/morris-county-homeless-hotline">https://www.nj211.org/morris-county-homeless-hotline</A>>.</DIV>
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<DIV>The use of a coordinated entry system like this is encouraged by the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and offers distinct
advantages
to past approaches including, equal access, standardized assessment and
coordinated referral. All in need may get help through 2-1-1. NJ 2-1-1
serves as the Homeless Hotline in three other counties including Hudson
(4:30pm-8am), Middlesex (24 hours), and Passaic (24 hours). Callers from
other
areas of the state are referred to the appropriate county hotline.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jersey Cares Volunteers join our Ranks</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NJ 2-1-1 was called to action on September 11 as North Carolina
prepared
for another hurricane to make landfall just as Hurricane Matthew had done in
2016, only to be followed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. "Part of the beauty of
the
2-1-1 system is that we can depend upon one another in times such as these,"
NJ
2-1-1 Executive Director Melissa Acree explains. "Every state in the country
has
a 2-1-1 now. And when disaster hits we can reach out to other locations for
back-up."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NJ 2-1-1 was built for disaster and that enables us to quickly ramp up
when
the volume of calls increases. So when Hurricane Florence hit on September
14,
our staff took some of the calls from North Carolina and continues to do so
as
people recover. Volunteers from Jersey Cares asked if they could help and,
after
receiving special training, are providing assistance with calls during the
weekends. We thank them for that!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>North Carolina Governor Cooper has expressed his gratitude to NC 2-1-1
for
the valuable role they have played, saying they served as the "voice to the
public." In addition to handling calls, the organization very successfully
employed reverse text messaging which enabled them to communicate directives
to
North Carolina residents who had opted into the system. Before, during and
long
after the storm 2-1-1 is there. As of October 1, NJ 2-1-1 had answered over
1,700 calls for help from North Carolina.</DIV>
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