SERVICES
United Passaic Organization supports the residents of the City of Passaic with a variety of services and programs that transform, impact, and connect through active advocacy.
Home Services
As the Community Action Agency of the City of Passaic, UPO aims to provide food and home necessities to those in need. Food assistance is readily available for the whole family. Rental Assistance and Homelessness Prevention services ensure families remain in their homes. UPO provides case managers to assist low-income, and otherwise struggling families with applying for help with wide-ranging needs.
The Need
One of the most pressing issues facing the City of Passaic, Passaic County, the state of New Jersey, and beyond is food insecurity. According to the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau survey, one in 13 New Jersey households reported not having enough to eat. Additional data from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey confirmed that 800,000 New Jersey residents are food insecure.
An already pressing issue was amplified by COVID-19. The number of food stamp recipients increased from over 760-thousand in September 2020 to over 887-thousand in September 2021 - an increase of over 15-percent.
In February 2022, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority released a list of the state’s top 50 food deserts. The City of Passaic has ranked No. 10 statewide and the highest-ranked area in Passaic County ahead of Paterson South (No. 13), Paterson North (No. 15), and Prospect Park/Haledon/Hawthorne (No. 34).
Our Service
United Passaic Organization is dedicated to fighting food insecurity in the City of Passaic.
UPO offers a food and nutrition program in partnership with the ShopRite of Passaic. Qualifying low-income families/individuals residing in Passaic can receive vouchers for food assistance. The vouchers are worth between $50 and $150 depending on family size. Because this is an emergency assistance program, a client must wait at least two months before requesting an additional voucher. Vouchers can only be received by appointment.
Food Voucher Qualifications/Requirements
- Must be present on the date of appointment
- Picture Identification
- Social Security Card of all members in the house
- Proof of income (must be low-income or facing financial hardship to qualify)
- Proof of address (lease or utility bill) (Must live in the City of Passaic)
- Intake Form completed
Devastating damage from Hurricane Ida forced the closing of UPO’s previous food pantry but we are excited to announce that we will be opening a full-service food pantry on Tuesday, May 24 located at Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church (163 Autumn St, Passaic, NJ 07055).
UPO has partnered with fellow Community Action Agency, United Community Corporation to utilize the UCC Cafe Mobile Feeding Program to provide hot, pre-packaged meals to the City’s residents without an address on Saturdays at Mt. Pilgram Missionary Baptist Church.
It is not only important to address food insecurity but also to promote nutritional living. Throughout the year, UPO will host various food education workshops providing individuals and their families with the knowledge to identify healthy food on a budget.
Workshops range from various topics including:
- Cooking for large families
- Couponing
- General Nutritional Classes
- Healthy Living
- Super Market Tours
- Utilizing food pantry items to create healthy meals
For more information about UPO’s food assistance programs, contact Food and Nutrition Coordinator Menna Fahmy at [email protected].
The Need
The eviction moratorium in New Jersey was lifted at the start of 2022 leaving well over 50,000 New Jersey residents at risk of being evicted due to their inability to pay back rent and mortgage/rental arrears.
The City of Passaic has a poverty rate of 27.1%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; meaning that nearly one in every three residents is facing poverty. The Poverty Rate in Passaic County is 16.9% - over seven points higher than the statewide average of 9.4%. With a poverty rate much higher than the statewide average, the lifting of the eviction moratorium could’ve been disastrous for residents of Passaic.
UPO recognized this dire need for rental assistance and is dedicated to preventing homelessness for residents of the City of Passaic.
Our Service
To ensure that clients and their families are safe from eviction, UPO’s Homelessness Prevention/Rental Assistance program will pay up to three months of rental arrears for qualified individuals. The payment will go directly to the resident’s landlord.
Requirements for Homelessness Prevention/Rental Assistance
- Clients and family members must adhere to the Federal Poverty Guidelines mandated by the NJ Department of Community Affairs. (See chart below)
- Clients must show they are currently generating income by providing their most recent pay stubs.
- Clients must complete an Intake Form
- Clients must bring the following documentation: State ID or Driver’s License; Social Security Card/Birth Certificate; Hardship letter/Eviction Letter/Rent Ledger; and a Current or Most Recent Lease.
For more information about homelessness prevention/rental assistance services contact Community Resource Director, Deiby Martinez at [email protected].
Click here to view the 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines for CSBG Agencies.
The City of Passaic does not have a permanent shelter for the homeless but Mayor Hector Lora created the Passaic Dignity House resource center, which houses those living on the street during Code Blue emergencies.
Referrals
United Passaic Organization consists of experienced staff members that can make educated determinations as to what services can best assist clients. When a client asks for assistance, UPO staff makes sure they get the help they need - whether that service is provided by UPO or a partner agency.
UPO staff also tries to help clients understand that they may have multiple needs and could qualify for resources that they may not have even known existed. The first and most important step is coming to us and asking for help.
For assistance and referrals email [email protected].
Human Services
United Passaic Organization is dedicated to serving the whole person. UPO provides wraparound services to guide its clients and their families towards self-sufficiency. Areas of focus include helping clients through the United States citizenship process, providing income tax workshops, and educating clients through leadership development and job training.
The Need
Immigrants provide significant benefits to the economy and workforce of Passaic County. In 2019, the New Americans in Passaic County report was released by the New American Economy and American Immigration Council in partnership with Passaic County and William Paterson University Small Business Center.
The report revealed that immigrants makeup 31.2% of the county's overall population, represent 38.2% of its working-age population, and 40% of its employed labor force.
United Passaic Organization understands the importance of immigrants to the City of Passaic but also recognizes how difficult it can be to obtain citizenship in America.
Our Service
While UPO doesn’t provide services in-house for citizenship assistance, it refers clients to trusted local attorneys and other multi-service agencies that assist with and file citizenship forms.
UPO is committed to helping clients seeking citizenship and will help guide them through the - at times overwhelming - the process of applying to become a U.S. citizen.
For more information email [email protected].
- Intake Form completed
- Government ID
- Social Security card
- Proof of address (lease or utility bill) (Must live in the City of Passaic). If you are not receiving income, you must fill out a zero-income verification form.
The Need
Filing tax returns can be a nightmare.
We hear about so many “tax breaks” and “tax exemptions” but how do we know which ones we qualify for?
United Passaic Organization is committed to helping clients not only receive assistance in filing their taxes but also understand how to file taxes and how to qualify for benefits that could result in larger refunds.
Our Service
UPO teams up with New Jersey Citizen Action to host tax filing virtual workshops. The workshops not only guide participants through the process of filing tax returns but also helps them identify programs that could result in them receiving larger refunds such as the Child and Dependent Care Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Earned Income Tax Credit.
For more information email [email protected].
The Need
Leadership training is a crucial aspect for non-profit agencies to provide to youth and adults within the community. Finding an individualized roadmap through life is not easy and requires many attributes and necessary preparation. Each person is different and both one-on-one and team training are critical in helping individuals identify what they want to do in life and their next steps. Leadership development and job training assist low-income, unemployed, and working poor individuals in overcoming challenges that prevent them from getting a job and help guide them on their journey through life.
Our Service
United Passaic Organization is excited to announce its United Community Leadership Academy (UCLA).
This leadership development training is set to launch in 2023 and will begin the enrollment process in the Fall of 2022. UCLA will guide trainees through development classes addressing resume building, acquiring a GED, interview skills, leadership training, time management skills, and personal development all with an end goal of the trainee deciding to either enter the workforce or pursue secondary education. This program is dedicated to providing the tools for trainees to create their own road map.
Interested clients/partners can email [email protected].
Workshops
There are few better ways to learn than through hands-on, interactive experiences. United Passaic Organization emphasizes these interactions to help clients learn about services that can help them, learn how to live healthy and happy lives, and learn important traits needed to succeed in today’s world.
United Passaic Organization is dedicated to fighting food insecurity in the City of Passaic. While providing clients with the means to feed their families goes a long way, UPO also wants to teach clients how to live nutritious and healthy lifestyles - all while saving money.
UPO offers hands-on workshops identifying the following areas of nutritional and healthy living:
- Cooking for large families
- Couponing
- General Nutritional Classes
- Healthy Living
- Healthy Heart
- Super Market Tours
- Utilizing food pantry items to create healthy meals
For more information and the dates of upcoming workshops email [email protected].
One of the most important pieces in becoming self-sufficient is financial literacy. Once individuals have a firm handle on financial literacy, they take a massive step toward becoming self free standing.
United Passaic Organization is excited to go over all aspects of financial literacy with its participants. Through various workshops, UPO will teach clients everything from tenants' rights to buying their first home - providing crucial information and resources along the way.
UPO offers hands-on seminars identifying the following areas of financial literacy:
- Fair Housing
- First Time Home Owners
- Renters/Tenant's Rights
For more information and the dates for upcoming seminars email [email protected].
United Passaic Organization wants to provide wraparound services that help all of its clients from its youth through its seniors. While nutritional & wellness and financial literacy are important topics, UPO knows that there are so many subjects that can benefit clients.
UPO is committed to helping the whole person and offers various hands-on and interactive workshops to teach participants essential traits and show services that can change their lives for the better.
Below are additional workshops provided by UPO:
- Breast Cancer Workshop
- Court Expungement
- Domestic Violence Seminar
- Emergency Preparedness Seminar
- Grow with Google
- Senior Tech Day
For more information and the dates for upcoming seminars email [email protected].
Have more questions? Get in touch.