Family Promise of Sussex County received a $10,000 grant from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) to support the agency’s Stabilizing Tenancy: Eviction Prevention Program (STEPP).
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation was founded in 1958 and is responsible for the charitable and educational ventures of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In addition to a grants program, NJSBF offers speakers, educator training, free publications, and programs for school-aged children.
The STEPP Program will provide a series of 10 workshops to educate both landlords and tenants on their rights and responsibilities. Topics will include housing discrimination, leases, rent increases, habitability, eviction, boarding houses and mobile homes, and accessing local resources. There will be another five classes specifically on eviction. The courses will be held at Family Promise of Sussex County’s Newton headquarters at 19 Church Street, led by Frank Zywicki, J.D., Program Manager.
In New Jersey, eviction was the second most reported cause of homelessness, per the 2023 Point-in-Time count. Eviction rates in the state have remained high since the eviction moratorium was lifted in January 2022, leaving many people owing more back rent than they can afford. With no constitutionally protected right to counsel in civil cases, and legal aid only able to help a fraction of tenants who receive eviction notices, 98% are left to represent themselves, per an NJ.com article. The STEPP program seeks to educate and empower tenants, while providing useful information to landlords and encouraging more cooperative relationships between the two groups.
The workshop series will start on September 10th at 5:30 p.m., and eviction courses will be offered in September, October and November.
If you are interested in registering to attend the workshops, please go to one of the links below or call 973-579-1180.
Workshop series: https://familypromisesussex.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/19768
Eviction courses: https://familypromisesussex.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/19957
About Family Promise of Sussex County
The mission of Family Promise of Sussex County is to secure housing stability and sustainability for those in crisis…because everyone deserves a home. Our vision is that every individual and family shall have a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. We offer many services and a dedicated team of individuals that are available to assist our clients in attaining these goals. To learn more visit us at https://familypromisesussex.org or our offices in Newton, Sparta and Sussex or contact us at 973-579-1180 or fpsc@familypromisesussex.org.
The mission of Family Promise of Sussex County is to secure housing stability and sustainability for those in crisis…because everyone deserves a home.
Our vision is that every individual and family shall have a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. We offer many services and a dedicated team of individuals that are available to assist our clients in obtaining these goals.
