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Homelessness is a nationwide issue. Here in Hudson County, nearly 1,000 people experience living without a permanent address at any given time, with more than half of that number dwelling in Jersey City according to NJ.com and Patch. Living without shelter often means other needs such as food security, physical safety, and education are lacking as well. Enter the York Street Project, a non-profit 501(c)3 based in Jersey City whose mission is to build programs that help those experiencing homelessness or lack of resources. The Hoboken Girl sat down with Camryn Hadley, Communications and Events Manager of The York Street Project to learn more about the organization, chat about how to get involved and hear about the community members it supports. Read on for our conversation with York Street Project.

The York Street Project is no stranger to helping those in need. Dating back to 1891, the Sisters of St. Joseph’s of Peace founded the organization to support poor immigrant women with housing, jobs, and training. Fast forward to 1989, YSP shifted its focus to include women and their families who may be experiencing different barriers such as homelessness, lack of child care, and who are in need of services and social work support. Not having access to any one of the areas in which YSP supports can lead to a life of struggle making it hard to prevail.

When asked about the cycle of poverty, a system in which many of the women seeking support from YSP find themselves in, Camryn shared “The cycle of poverty is multi-generational and swallows whole generations of families. In order to support herself and her children a woman needs a decent job, but in order to get a decent and well-paying job, she needs a decent education. However, to get a decent education, she needs someone to entrust with the care of her children while she is at school. The only way to break the cycle is to take it all on at once, something most don’t do. YSP is really unique in that its array of holistic services takes on those barriers and treats each aspect of needs for the whole family.”

Read More: This Jersey City Woman is Giving Back to the Shelter She Once Lived In

As an active part of the community, YSP has a number of different programs for its guests. YSP has two on-site locations as well as apartments within the community. St. Joseph’s Home hosts 25 families experiencing homelessness or emergency shelter. St. Mary’s Residence is a boarding house for 44 single working women. Additionally, 40+ families are part of the Rapid Rehousing Program in sponsored apartments to assist in the return to independent living. The Nurturing Place is a child development center that serves children from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds including homeless, low-income, and York Street neighborhood infants and children ages two months to five years old.

These programs are designed to provide the life skills and resources needed for independent living. And they work! Over 70% of guests who complete programs with YSP are living on their own and doing very well. While York Street Project is proud of the work it has accomplished, the goal is to get that number to 100%. That can be done with the support of the community through volunteer work, monetary donations, or supply drop-offs. Over the years, YSP has seen former clients who benefitted from the resources of the organization go on to be case managers at YSP and even serve on the Board of Trustees.

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Camryn shared a touching story of how one client was not only able to work to support her own education but helped change the narrative for others. “A recent story is one of a former client who was a victim of human trafficking. She participated in all of the programs we offer and truly made the most of every opportunity. Later, she decided to continue her education by going to college. Unfortunately, since she was brought in illegally, she did not qualify for financial aid. With her determination and the assistance of our Executive Director, she not only got her education but her case got a federal policy changed so those who were brought into the country by human trafficking can qualify for financial aid.”

See More: Organizations + Non-Profits to Give Back to in Montclair

In order to continue with the incredible work York Street Project does, support of the community is vital. Recently, YSP felt the love of the community at its Evening Under the Stars event. Sixteen local food and beverage vendors gathered to serve over 300 attendees to raise money for YSP this past June. While the next Evening Under the Stars won’t be until June 2024, the organization hosts plenty of events throughout the year including street festivals, galas, and golf outings. For those who would like to get involved with York Street Project immediately, volunteer options and an Amazon wishlist can be found on the organization’s website. Monetary donations are the largest need and a great way to know these resources can continue on for the community. Be sure to join the organization’s mailing list and follow @yorkstreetproject on social media to stay up to date with the latest events and needs.

The success of any neighborhood depends on location and entrepreneurship. One is controllable, the other is not. The entrepreneurial spirit displayed by those residing and working in Jersey City Heights has resulted in new businesses moving into the area, an increase in home prices and an overall uptick in activity.

The search for the next affordable neighborhood with enough personality to plant roots is a perpetual quest for people in the Greater NY/NJ Metropolitan Area. Proximity to transportation generally dictates where to seek out long-term housing, but for those willing to venture off the beaten path, you can still find treasure just off the Gold Coast of New Jersey.

The Gold Coast of New Jersey has always been attractive for Manhattanites looking for real estate value and proximity to New York City. Prime areas like Hoboken have long been a draw. Now a relatively under-the-radar enclave of Jersey City called Jersey City Heights is enchanting newcomers for its charm, strong sense of community and thriving local business scene.

Over the years Jersey City Heights has morphed into a quaint enclave and remains relatively under-the-radar because it’s not in immediate proximity to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Heights overlooks Hoboken from the Palisades, and because Hoboken is a historic district with height restrictions there are no high rises affording the Heights protected NYC views. Central Avenue and Palisade Avenue boast immaculate Manhattan skyline and Hudson River vistas.

Businesses are thriving here. Case in point is the meteoric rise of Modcup Coffee with a Punk/Rave DIY spirit. Started by Travas Clifton a decade ago, Modcop first roasted its beans illegally in a garage before selling from a cart at a weekly farmer’s market in Riverview. Then it took off. Property owners embraced the concept and welcomed a permanent location in place of an always-empty realty office.

Then the artists came, Broadway actors came, the area flourished and more businesses like Bread & Salt, a Roman-style pizza and bakery, opened. Although housing options have turned luxurious though for the metro area, real estate prices in The Heights are still approachable, selling for a median price of $710K. The area features a blend of townhouses, condos and old industrial conversions. There is no one reigning architectural style which people like Clifton find inspiring.

Several business people spoke about the allure of the “Heights.”

Diana Sutherlin, licensed real estate broker with Compass.

Demand remains strong in Jersey City Heights despite higher interest rates because you can get more for your money compared to more established areas along the Gold Coast of New Jersey. Demand is particularly strong for larger apartments with outdoor space. Many of the people who come up to the Heights are priced out of Hoboken and Jersey City. The area has always appealed to creatives and Brooklynites but lately, there is a newfound influx of former Brooklyn residents who are discovering the charm, views and liveability of Jersey City Heights along with stunning views given its location above Hoboken on the cliff.

Rising interest rates and lack of inventory actually contribute to the strong demand in Jersey City Heights. Developers continue to seek out projects and properties for an opportunity to raise the bar because of the unwavering demand. One example of new inventory is 197 New York Avenue, which offers spacious, bright loft-like apartments with high-end finishes. Prices for these homes would be significantly higher in Downtown Jersey City. The building is just a block from all the hot spots on Palisade Ave and beautiful Riverside Fisk Park with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline and the weekend farmers market. Many love the excitement of getting into a market early with clear growth potential, and we’re seeing more investors come to the area despite high rates. A super hip, independent, artist community flocks here to plant roots.

Travas Clifton, owner of Modcup Coffee

Jersey City Heights was a great place to start Modcup Coffee and it was also the right timing. Ten years ago there was a young new mayor who actively wanted to encourage local businesses to open and prosper. He launched a press campaign called Make It Yours. The area suddenly had a newfound spirit after years of grappling with the aftermath of the Great Recession. Prior to the 2008 crash, many saw the potential of the area but nothing happened because of the downturn. Finally, a tide shift gave way to pent-up demand for new restaurants, shops and bakeries. People craved something new. The rent was cheap, inventory was high and risks were easier to take.

Now, because of the many cultural changes that have happened in the past ten years, we have an engaged, enthusiastic customer base for specialty goods and niche businesses. The is a strong desire to support young and independent businesses versus the mainstream.

Jersey City Heights retains the feeling of a small town and is very walkable. Public transport doesn’t link sections of Jersey City so people actually tend to stay close to home and they are loyal to the local businesses. Any business that develops a following becomes a big fish in a small pond in Jersey City Heights. I would describe the Heights as youthful, energetic and extremely diverse.

Michelle Berckes, owner Busy Bee Organics

Jersey City Heights has been a supportive hub for my business to flourish, thanks to its unique "suburban-urban" vibe, strong family presence, bustling farmers market/events and a close-knit community of like-minded entrepreneurs who embrace collaboration, making it the ideal place to grow together.

Jersey City Heights exudes a vibrant yet almost cozy ambiance, blending bustling city energy with a welcoming community spirit. It's a diverse and inclusive neighborhood where local businesses thrive, accompanied by green spaces that offer a refreshing retreat from the city's hustle and bustle. Our city views are unrivaled, thanks to the unique advantage of elevated heights that provide an unmatched vantage point to overlook and embrace the entire cityscape.

Chris Leo, co-owner, Riverview Wine & Spirits with his wife Laura Marchetti.

If you value loving where you work and live along with the people who patronize what you do, then yes absolutely Jersey City Heights is the place for you. There is so much opportunity for more of everything here. We are so far from being saturated with anything.

The charm is in its people. This is where Jersey grit comes face to face with New York City culture. People are comfortable in their own skin here and entirely unpretentious. It feels like we're a million miles away from the machiavellian NYC alpha conqueror yet still there's a lust for life. I know all my neighbors and say “Hi” to people on the street.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU)’s recovery from the financial emergency declared in June 2022, is profiled in an article by ROI-NJ, a statewide leading business publication.

The article, published on July 12, is entitled “Mission-driven: How NJCU has moved from crisis to recovery.”

The feature is presented in a question and answer format with Interim PresidentAndrés Acebo and ROI-NJ Editor and Chief Content Officer, Tom Bergeron.In the profile, Bergeron discusses Acebo’s first six months in his role as interim president — an appointment that began on January 17, 2023 — as Acebo reflects on how far the university has come — and where it’s headed in the future.

Read the entire article here: https://www.roi-nj.com/2023/07/12/education/mission-driven-how-njcu-has-moved-from-crisis-to-recovery/?utm_source=ROI-NJ+MAIN+Newsletter+List+%282%2F4%2F19%29&utm_campaign=4fa23b9d91-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_07_14_08_06&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4fa23b9d91-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

Members of the media who wish to conduct interviews with President Acebo are encouraged to contact the Office of University Communications at [email protected].

About NJCU: New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the development of our students, our city, our communities, and our state. We are a game-changing force for our students and have been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation improving their upward economic mobility. Whether enrolled in one of our undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs at our three locations, NJCU students have access to an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty. This prepares them to go on to become the next generation of workers and leaders who improve their communities and the State of New Jersey.

—www.NJCU.edu—

Contact: Ira Thor, Associate Vice President for University Communications (interim) | [email protected] | 201-200-3301

Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority (JCMUA) will begin work to replace thousands of lead pipes in the city, starting in the city’s underserved areas this August, a city spokeswoman said.

The agency, responsible for managing the city’s water and sewage systems, announced it would replace an estimated 16,000 lead service lines across the city at no cost to homeowners in February 2022. The JCMUA is expected to spend $288 million to replace all the lead service lines by the state-mandated deadline of 2031.

The announcement came sox months after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that requires every community water system in the state to replace lead lines within 10 years. As part of the legislation, municipalities had six months to evaluate the pipes and notify residents, which Jersey City began in February 2022.

City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said the JCMUA will put out a request for proposal within the next week “to complete 700 services under the first phase, starting in August and targeting underserved areas first.”

“The program is moving forward as planned,” Wallace-Scalcione said.

Wallace-Scalcione did not respond to follow-up questions, so it is unclear how many phases will take place to complete the replacement and whether each phase will consist of 700 lead service lines.

JCMUA Executive Director Jose Cunha could not be reached for comment. Wallace-Scalcione did not respond to a request to speak to the head of the autonomous agency.

Lead service line pipes move water from the city’s underground water mains to homes. The pipes will be dug up by a licensed plumber and replaced with copper pipes, according to the JCMUA’s webpage, leadfreejc.com.

Newark, the state’s largest city, replaced 23,000 lead service lines in less than three years, at no cost to residents.

The beginning of the citywide lead replacement project comes just as the MUA is set to finish water remediation at the last six of the 29 schools it pledged to work on in 2018.

Jersey City schools Superintendent Norma Fernandez expects the MUA to finish up before the end of summer. During the June Board of Education meeting on June 15, the district will present a contract for an engineering firm to evaluate the cost of remediating the remaining 14 schools, Fernandez said.

“I am committed to making sure our students have clean water, it is important,” Fernandez said Monday. “We are still waiting for (JCMUA) to finish this last phase of a group of schools.”

The JCMUA is still working on Schools 5, 28, 6, 7 and McNair Academic High School, Fernandez said. She added that there are no plans with the city or the JCMUA to work on the last group of schools.

The schools that are still in need of lead remediation include Schools 11, 20, 23, 24, 26, 30, A. Harry Moore, Lincoln High School Grade 9 building, Liberty High School, Renaissance Institute, Cunningham Early Childhood, Danforth Early Childhood, Infante Early Childhood, and West Side Early Childhood. The Infinity Institute also is in need of remediation, but the building is not owned by the district.

Wallace-Scalcione said the city has spent $15 million on that project and replaced 750 drinking fountains.

According to Jersey City Together, which strongly advocated for the much-needed remediation, 18,000 students now have access to clean, safe drinking fountains and 2,000 more students will soon have access. The remaining schools with at least 4,500 students still get bottled water delivered while their fountains are not in use.

The school district and the JCMUA have made substantial progress in the lead remediation of the schools, Jersey City Together education leader Jim Nelson said at a press conference Thursday to commend the work that’ completed and urge the district to commit to finishing the remaining schools.

Lead in the city schools’ water systems has been an issue since 2008.

“Jersey City Together leaders fought to get the school district the money it needs, and we worked to get the district to spend it equitably on critical needs, like providing clean, safe water fountains for all children in our district,” Nelson said. “Dr. Fernandez is continuing to deliver on this essential promise that is already improving the health of our children. We will keep advocating until the job is done.”

For me I love history and if I am traveling I try to find places that have a real historic presence when I came across this article from Love Exploring, I knew I had to do a follow-up with an emphasis on New Jersey's "Most Charming Historic Downtown".

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According to Love Exploring, "If landmark buildings, fascinating backstories and historic events are what draw you to a place, then venture to one of these historic neighborhoods – they have all three in spades. From districts packed with Victorian-era architecture to atmospheric main streets in Gold Rush towns, we take a look at the most charming downtowns across the US."

There are so many pieces of history in Cape May. From historic churches to lovely Victorian-Era homes, there is a great deal of history in beautiful Cape May. I always love just walking about and seeing the sights in Downtown Cape May. There are lots of shopping, coffee shops, and restaurants to choose from.

According to Love Exploring, "A stroll along the historic seafront district is a real treat in this charming coastal city. The area is admired for its pristine beaches, but also for its pretty and colorful Victorian mansions. The preservation of these eye-catching homes helped the entire city earn its status as a National Historic Landmark in 1976."

So next time you wanna take a step back in time be sure to visit historic Cape May. Check out the Harriet Tubman Museum of New Jersey, Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May Lighthouse, Fireman's Hall History Museum, The Stephen Smith House, and more.