Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Author: Michael Swayze

  • Join NJ 2-1-1 ProNet Email Listserv – Connecting Human Service Professionals

    Formerly known as the First Call Forum, NJ 2-1-1 ProNet is an e-mail listserv designed to foster communication between health and human service professionals in New Jersey. Any provider of human services in the state is welcome to become an active member of the listserv. Once you’ve registered you will have a free and easy channel of communication that will offer easy access to other ProNet members.

    By using NJ 2-1-1 ProNet, you can communicate specific requests that are not being met by existing agencies and programs.

    For example:
    •A family, displaced after a fire, needs beds, a refrigerator, and other household items.
    •A single man without family nearby needs transportation to chemotherapy treatments for 6 weeks.
    •A mother from out-of-state needs a place to stay during her daughter’s lengthy hospitalization in Morristown.

    NJ 2-1-1 ProNet can also be used to post announcements of:
    •Donation offerings (clothing, furniture, etc.)
    •Program expansions, changes, closings or hiatuses
    •Workshops, seminars, special programs
    •Agency/organization job postings

    NJ 2-1-1 ProNet provides simple access to professionals throughout the state who you can communicate with to find solutions for specific requests that are not being met by existing agencies. Use it as well as a forum to post announcements about programs, workshops and employment opportunities.

    You can find the this email listserv at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NJ2-1-1ProNet/. It is simple to share your thoughts, queries or announcements with the group. To join NJ 2-1-1 ProNet members of nonprofits, health organizations, or human service organizations can send an email to: ProNet@nj211.org. Include your name, organization, and telephone number. To subscribe via Yahoo Groups send an email to:
    NJ2-1-1ProNet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Once subscribed you can post messages at NJ2-1-1ProNet@yahoogroups.com.

    Feel free to share this message with other colleagues who would benefit from a connection with the 2-1-1 community.

  • Help For Homeless Veterans: HUD Announces New Funding

    Today is Independence Day, a national holiday, a day we celebrate with family and friends at barbecues, at the beach, watching fireworks. It’s also a day we pay tribute to the members of our armed forces and their families. Earlier today First Lady Michelle Obama issued a message. In it she stated the following, which is worth repeating here.

    “Our military families are tested each day. Multiple and extended deployments mean that children often don’t see their moms or dads for long periods of time. Civilian spouses juggle the demands of work and family without their partners for long stretches of time. Family members serve as primary care givers for our wounded warriors, and too many families bear the heartbreaking reality of moving forward with their lives while keeping the memory of our fallen heroes alive. Through it all, military families contribute countless hours to supporting other military families, being role models to our children, and making communities stronger. A small percentage of Americans fight our wars, but we need 100 percent of Americans to support these brave men and women and their families back home.”

    Last month the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that nearly 8000 homeless veterans will get permanent housing through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH). New Jersey vets and their families are expected to receive 150 HUD-VASH vouchers. Eligibility screening for the program occurs at designated VA Medical Centers and within designated Service Areas (Camden, Jersey City, Paterson, Newark, Trenton, and Elizabeth). Eligible veterans are provided supportive services and case management as well as being referred to a participating public housing authority for their rent subsidy voucher.

    The VA Medical Centers involved in this HUD-VASH voucher allocation are located at:

    East Orange – VA Medical Center
    385 Tremont Avenue
    East Orange, NJ 07018
    973-676-1000

    Lyons – VA Medical Center
    151 Knollcroft Road
    Lyons, NJ 07939
    908-647-0180
    Service areas includes: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren

    Philadelphia – VA Medical Center
    3900 Woodland Avenue
    Philadelphia, PA 19104
    215-823-5800
    Service area includes: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester

    Wilmington – VA Medical Center
    1601 Kirkwood Highway
    Wilmington, DE 19805
    302-994-2511 or 800-461-8262
    Service area includes: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem

    If you know of a veteran who may qualify for the HUD-VASH program they should contact their local VA Medical Center. Or to connect to a trained VA staff person call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline at 877-4AID VET (877-424-3838). For other useful New Jersey contact information see HUD press release or visit the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs website.

  • Ecoman and The Skeptic

    In these trying environmental times I want to pass along a favorite radio, correction Internet radio show of mine. It’s called Ecoman and the Skeptic and it airs weekly on the Green Talk Radio Network. There are several ways to listen to the show. Perhaps the easiest, at least for me, is to listen to them on my iPod while commuting to and from work.

    Ecoman and the Skeptic are two professors from Philadelphia University’s Engineering and Design Institute. They are: Rob Fleming, an architect (Ecoman) and Chris Pastore, an engineer (Skeptic). Their show is informative, funny, and covers a wide range of topics dealing with sustainability.

    You can check it out by visiting www.philau.edu/ecomanandtheskeptic . Or you could visit the iTunes Store and download any of their three dozen shows via podcast. Another method is to go to The Voice America’s Green Talk Radio Network website and listen to Ecoman and The Skeptic live. Their show usually airs from September through April during the school year. I’m behind in my listening but I’m catching up by way of the podcasts.

    If you want to learn more about what sustainability is all about this is a show to turn to. Me, I’m lucky I have a daughter and son-in-law who are in the field. BTW, if anyone is thinking about getting a degree in sustainable design go visit Sustainable Design blog belonging to Philadelphia University.