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Home > Community Development > Community Profiles > Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division (MD) > Community Organizations

Community Profile: Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division (MD)

Community Organizations

This section provides information about affordable housing, social service, economic development, and community revitalization organizations in the area whose interests, activities, and initiatives improve the housing conditions and employment opportunities of residents. These groups represent potential partners for bankers seeking to more fully address the credit needs of each region’s low- and moderate-income people and communities.

The information in this section is obtained directly from the websites of the community organizations.

Asociacion De Puertorriqueños En Marcha, Inc. (APM, Inc.)

Mission

To promote the welfare of Puerto Ricans/Latinos and low-income and disadvantaged residents of the greater Philadelphia area. The association provides services that improve the quality of family and community life in the greater Philadelphia area. It seeks to create new opportunities for the community in education, health, employment, business development, housing, and the welfare of children and families. The association joins other Hispanic and non-Hispanic organizations to work toward developing better understanding and tolerance among all residents of the community.

APM, Inc. is the largest and oldest human services organization serving the needs of Puerto Ricans/Latinos in Philadelphia. It has a satellite office in New Jersey.

Year of Origin

1996

Core Programs

  • Health Services Programs: mental health services, health promotion, primary care services, drug and alcohol treatment
  • Human Services Programs: support services, Head Start, family services, early intervention, learning center
  • Community and Economic Development: housing counseling, property management

Service Area

Camden County

Contact Information

Asociacion De Puertorriqueños En Marcha, Inc. of New Jersey
2312 Mickle Street
Camden, NJ 08105
Phone: 856 338-9492
Fax: 856 338-9488
E-mail: APMNJINC@aol.com
Website: http://www.apmphila.org/ External Link

Burlington County Community Action Program (BCCAP)

Mission

BCCAP exists to combat the causes and reduce the effects of poverty in Burlington county by:

  • promoting and removing barriers to self-sufficiency;
  • maximizing the participation of customers in the development and implementation of programs;
  • testing new approaches to solving basic causes of poverty;
  • supporting self-help groups that promote self-sufficiency;
  • working to better organize services related to the needs of the poor; and
  • broadening the resource base of programs directed to the elimination of poverty.

Year of Origin

1965

Core Programs 

  • Purchases properties, renovates them, then sells them to low- and moderate- income residents, allowing them to become first-time homeowners
  • Provides affordable rental housing to low-income families
  • Provides first-time homebuyer education, pre-purchase and post-purchase homeownership counseling, mortgage delinquency and default resolution counseling, fair housing assistance, and renter assistance counseling to eligible applicants
  • Provides fair housing information and referral, and assistance with filing housing discrimination complaints
  • Provides temporary, safe housing and supportive services to homeless families with children
  • Provides emergency crisis intervention, including assistance with fuel and utilities
  • Operates a Head Start early-childhood development program
  • Provides training information to local community groups, assists with research projects, and provides information on issues of importance to the community

Service Area

Burlington County, New Jersey

Contact Information

Burlington County Community Action Program
718 Route 130 South
Burlington, NJ 08016
Telephone: (609) 386-5800
Fax: (609) 386-7380
Email: admin@bccap.org
Website: http://www.bccap.org/BCCAP_index.html External Link

Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity (OEO)

Mission

In the interest of the underprivileged, poor, handicapped, uneducated, unskilled, or otherwise disadvantaged persons, OEO will make a broad scale attack upon poverty with a view toward eliminating it as a destructive force on society through related efforts and resources available from federal, state, and local sources.

Year of Origin

1966

Core Programs 

  • Builds new houses for sale to low- to moderate-income families
  • Provides homeownership and mortgage counseling
  • Provides several services to help low-income families maintain adequate housing, including a weatherization program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and NJ Shares
  • Offers the Head Start early-childhood development program and operates a day care center
  • Provides emergency services and aid to individuals and families that are unable to buy food or are in imminent danger of losing their housing
  • Administers an Individual Development Account (IDA) savings program
  • Offers case management for the homeless, including personal counseling, assistance in finding temporary shelter and permanent housing. OEO also has transitional housing facilities.

Service Area

Camden County, New Jersey

Contact Information

Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity
538 Broadway
Camden, NJ 08103
Telephone: (856) 964-6887
Fax: (856) 365-2784
Website: http://www.camdencountyoeo.org/ External Link

Camden Lutheran Housing, Inc.

Mission

To rehabilitate and construct housing in the city of Camden for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.

Year of Origin

1986

Core Programs 

  • Developing and rehabilitating housing so that it is affordable to residents of Camden.  (Efforts have included reclaiming former industrial sites and using the land to construct environmentally clean and safe new homes.)

Service Area

Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Camden Lutheran Housing, Inc.
800 Galindez Court
Camden, NJ 08102 
Telephone: (856) 342-8088
Fax: (856) 342-7032
Email: bclifford@clhi.org
Website: http://www.clhi.org/index_ie.html External Link

Cooper's Ferry Development Association

Mission

Cooper's Ferry Development Association (CFDA) is a private, nonprofit corporation charged with creating and implementing a comprehensive revitalization plan for the Camden Waterfront. It was created through a joint effort of the city of Camden, the Campbell Soup Company, and RCA. Since 1984, CFDA has been working to establish a new center of economic activity that can help rebuild Camden's depleted tax base, create a significant number of jobs for city residents, and improve Camden's image as a place to live, work, and visit.

Year of Origin

1984

Core Programs

  • Create and carry out economic development projects within the city of Camden
  • Coherently plan and implement high-quality urban redevelopment projects in order to help replenish Camden’s depleted tax base
  • Create a significant number of jobs for city residents
  • Improve Camden’s environment as a place in which to live, work, visit, and invest.

Service Area

Camden County

Contact Information

Cooper’s Ferry Development Association
One Port Center
2 Riverside Drive, Suite 501
Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: (856) 757-9154
Fax: (856) 757-9478
E-mail: cfda@camdenwaterfront.com
Website: http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/economic/why_cfda.html External Link

Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation (CHCDC)

Mission

The CHCDC is dedicated to building a thriving, safe, family-oriented community that is economically and culturally diverse.

Year of Origin

2003

Core Programs 

  • Developing affordable housing
  • Revitalizing the central commercial node of River Road
  • Operating a wealth-building center

Service Area

Cramer Hill neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation
2699 River Avenue
Camden, NJ 08105
Phone: (856) 964-2462
Fax: 856-964-2363
Email: mdelgado@cramerhillcdc.org
Website: http://www.cramerhillcdc.org/index.htm External Link

Fairview Main Street, Inc.

Mission

To preserve, protect, and promote the revitalization of the Fairview neighborhood of Camden's downtown area while enhancing the character of its historic and natural assets.

Year of Origin

2002

Core Programs  

  • Revitalizing Fairview’s downtown area
  • Bringing new business opportunities to Fairview

Service Area

Fairview neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Fairview Main Street, Inc.
2950-B Yorkship Square
Camden, NJ 08104
Phone: (856) 966-4003
Fax: (856) 966-4002
Email: info@fairviewmainstreet.org
Website: http://www.fairviewmainstreet.org/ External Link

Greater Camden Partnership

Mission

To promote the revitalization of the city of Camden through a joint public/private venture

Year of Origin

2001

Core Programs  

  • Revitalizing downtown Camden
  • Completing strategic development planning for downtown Camden
  • Organizing funds to support façade renovations and streetscape and safety improvements
  • Focusing on a park and open space plan

Service Area

Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Greater Camden Partnership
One Market Street
Camden, NJ 08102
Phone: (856) 963-3191
Fax: (856) 225-6683
Website: http://www.downtownnj.com/our-members/greater-camden-partnership45.php External Link

Heart of Camden

Mission

To restore the dignity and quality of life of the community through programs for housing restoration, economic expansion, and human development

Year of Origin

1984

Core Programs 

  • Builds homes and rehabilitates buildings
  • Focuses on neighborhood revitalization (Waterfront South Neighborhood Revitalization Plan)
  • Family services division - offers a variety of activities, including gardening activities, Urban Promise after-school program, youth karate program, mural painting, community police collaboration, and a community newsletter
  • Environment division - repairs the historic Waterfront South neighborhood through mitigating and addressing the environmental issues that have contributed to the neighborhood's decline, such as air pollution, soil and water contamination, and overall urban ecosystem dysfunction

Service Area

Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Heart of Camden
1742 Ferry Avenue
Camden, NJ 08104
Telephone: (856) 966-1212
Fax: (856) 966-0236
Website: http://www.heartofcamden.org/about.htm External Link

Housing and Economic Opportunities, Inc. (HEO)

Mission

HEO is dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income families and individuals find affordable housing and appropriate employment

Year of Origin

1992

Core Programs 

  • Purchases and rehabilitates foreclosed and abandoned homes and then markets those homes to low- and moderate-income families at an affordable price or rent
  • Offers homeownership counseling, long-term credit/budget counseling, and home maintenance/repair education
  • Offers environmental testing services
  • Manages affordable rental housing properties for seniors  
  • Sponsors the Mortgage Readiness Initiative--a financial/homeownership counseling program that includes an IDA (individual development account) program

Service Area

Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May, and Atlantic counties in New Jersey

Contact Information

Housing and Economic Opportunities, Inc.
600 Cuthbert Blvd.
Westmont, New Jersey 08108
Telephone: (856) 858-0303
Fax: (856) 858-0163
Email: shelia@njhousing.net
Website: http://www.njhousing.net/index.html External Link

Jersey Counseling & Housing Development, Inc.

Mission

To meet the housing and counseling needs of the communities that it serves by assisting those communities in strengthening low- and moderate-income neighborhoods through housing, management, and development programs.

Year of Origin

1967

Core Programs

  • Counseling first-time home buyers with delinquent mortgages.

Service Area

Camden and Burlington counties

Contact Information

Jersey Counseling & Housing Development, Inc
1840 South Broadway
Camden, NJ 08107
Phone: (856)541-1000
Fax: (856)541-8836
E-mail: jerseycou@aol.com
Website: N/A

Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey

Mission

The mission of Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey is to serve those in New Jersey who hurt, who are in need, or who have limited choices.

Year of Origin

1904

Core Programs

  • Affordable Family Housing: Apartments, town homes, and for-sale homes for families in need of affordable housing.
  • Affordable Senior Housing: Apartments for seniors in a variety of urban and suburban settings.
  • Senior Health Care: Residential, skilled nursing, and respite care provided in historic Moorestown.
  • Special Needs Housing: Housing for those with special needs, both physical and emotional, as well as transitional housing for women with dependent children.
  • Housing Development: Pursue housing development opportunities within the state of New Jersey.
  • Community Residential Services: Emergency children's shelter and housing for developmentally disabled women.
  • Community Outreach Services: Adoption options, assisted living program, community partnering, Lutheran disaster response, immigration and refugee services, Lutheran counseling service, speakers bureau.

Service Area

New Jersey

Contact Information

Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
6 Terri Lane, Suite 300
Burlington, NJ 08016 
Phone: (609) 386-7171 
Fax: (609) 386-7191 
E-mail: info@lsmnj.org
Website: http://www.lsmnj.org/ External Link

Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development, Inc.  (MEND)

Mission

MEND is dedicated to providing decent, safe, affordable housing to low- and moderate-income families, senior citizens, and disabled individuals

Year of Origin

1969

Core Programs 

  • Develops, builds, and manages rental apartments and single-family homes

Service Area

Burlington County, New Jersey

Contact Information

Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development, Inc.
99 E Second Street
P.O. Box 828
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Telephone: (856) 722-7070
Fax: (856) 722-7577
Website: http://009f886.netsolhost.com/index.html External Link

Neighborhood Housing Services of Camden, Inc. (NHS Camden)

Mission

To renew pride, restore confidence in the benefits of education, promote reinvestment, and revitalize neighborhoods in collaboration with residents, businesses, government agencies, and other nonprofits.

Year of Origin

1988

Core Programs 

  • Provides homebuyer education, pre-purchase, and post-purchase homeownership counseling (English and Spanish)
  • Offers financial literacy workshops for adults and children
  • Provides individual credit counseling and credit repair
  • Offers default counseling (early stages)

Service Area

Primary service area is Camden metropolitan division.  NHS Camden is able to assist residents throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Contact Information

Neighborhood Housing Services of Camden, Inc.
601-603 Clinton Street
Camden, NJ 08103
Telephone: (856) 541-0720
Fax: (856) 541-8440
Email: nhscamden@comcast.net
Website: http://www.nhscamden.org External Link

Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, Inc. (PBCIP)

Mission

To revitalize the Parkside community of Camden

Year of Origin

1993

Core Programs  

  • Rehabilitate houses
  • Revitalize the Parkside neighborhood by addressing quality of life issues, such as education, job creation and training, code enforcement, and safety
  • Focus on the commercial revitalization of Haddon Avenue business corridor

Service Area

Parkside neighborhood in Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, Inc.
1487 Kenwood Ave.
Camden, NJ 08103
Phone: (856) 964-0440
Fax: (856) 964-3664
Email: info@pbcip.org
Website: http://www.pbcip.org/ External Link

Respond, Inc.

Mission

To enhance and promote the economic independence and general welfare of individuals and families residing in Camden city and county by providing comprehensive services in early child care and education, adult and homeless day centers, housing, youth services, job training, employment and related programs that help people help themselves.

Year of Origin

1967

Core Programs 

  • Provides community-based jobs for adults
  • Offers rental housing and homeownership opportunities
  • Provides an adult day center where community elders can be safe, participate in activities, receive services, have a nutritious lunch, and socialize with their peers
  • Provides a network of child-care centers for children from infancy through age 12, including 24 Abbott District classrooms for three- and four-year olds for the Camden Board of Education
  • Operates programs for homeless adults including a day center, emergency overnight shelter, and transitional supportive housing for homeless men
  • Administers a summer career exploration employment program for high school students and a summer teen volunteer program
  • A job-training center is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2009

Service Area

Primary service area is the city of Camden. Child-care facilities are in Merchantville and Winslow Township in Camden county. 

Contact Information

Respond, Inc.
532 State Street
Camden, NJ 08102
Telephone: (856) 365-4403
Fax: (856) 365-4408
Website: http://www.respondsocserv.org/respond_index.html External Link

Save Our Waterfront (SOW)

Mission

SOW is coordinating the effort to update the North Camden neighborhood plan to reflect current conditions, opportunities, and threats facing North Camden. SOW is working with a broad range of community stakeholders and residents. With the current completion of the 2008 North Camden Neighborhood and Waterfront Park plan, SOW will work in tandem with its member organizations to implement the key recommendations to ensure future equitable development.

Year of Origin

1992 (SOW played a key role in spearheading the creation of the original North Camden Plan, which was published in 1993)

Core Programs  

  • Lead organization in charge of the creation of the 2008 North Camden Plan
  • Facilitator of North Camden steering committee
  • Coordinator of plan implementation on an ongoing basis
  • Community outreach and organizing

Service Area

Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

Save Our Waterfront
800 Galindez Court
Camden, NJ 08102
Phone: (609) 502-6048
Email: sow.camden@gmail.com
Website: www.sow-camden.org External Link

St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society

Mission

To enable individuals to form a community, improve their standard of living, and create safe neighborhoods by encouraging stability and pride through homeownership. This change can be affected by providing the resources, services, and means that will empower the people of East Camden with a sense of dignity, pride, and roots.

Year of Origin

1985

Core Programs

  • Housing Development: In 1985, the society began the first phase of its renewal campaign by rehabilitating abandoned houses and selling them to low- and moderate-income families in Camden, New Jersey.
  • Homeowner Education: Focuses on critical elements of homeownership, financial stability, and community growth. Its objective is to provide first-time homeowners the necessary skills to succeed in the transition from renter to owner.
  • Community organization

Service Area

Camden, NJ

Contact Information

St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society
20 Church Street
Camden, NJ 08105
Phone: (856) 966-8117
Fax: (856) 342-7289
E-mail: phogan@sjcscamdem.org
Website: http://www.sjcscamden.org/ External Link

State Street Housing Corporation

Mission

To provide the support services necessary for families to obtain decent, affordable homes to live in and to help them attain homeownership.

Year of Origin

1972

Core Programs

  • Purchases, renovates, manages, and maintains residual real estate with the ultimate goal of selling homes to citizens of Camden and surrounding areas.

Service Area

Camden, New Jersey

Contact Information

State Street Housing Corp.
532 State Street
Camden, NJ 08102
Phone: (856) 365-4403
Fax: (856) 365-4408
E-mail: N/A
Website: http://www.respondsocserv.org/housing.html External Link

The Affordable Homes Group, Inc.

Mission

The mission of the Affordable Homes Group, Inc., and all its member companies, is to help meet the needs of lower income individuals and families as partners. The foundation of the Affordable Homes Group, Inc.’s work is decent, affordable housing, which helps people reallocate economic resources and focus energies in meeting both immediate and longer-term goals. The Affordable Homes Group, Inc. provides a continuum of housing options: emergency shelter, transitional housing, rental housing, and affordable homeownership. Through a variety of supportive services, the Affordable Homes Group, Inc. strives to help lower income people take control of their own futures. 

Year of Origin

2000

Core Programs

  • The Salt & Light Company, Inc. is a property development and management company. It deals in all aspects of real estate purchase, renovation, rehabilitation, and sale. It is the oldest company of the Affordable Homes Group, Inc., having been formed in 1986.
  • People First, formerly known as Transitional Housing Services, is a social service agency that specializes in providing case management and social services to people unable to live independently, whether homeless or in need of supportive housing, to keep a person from becoming homeless. People First partners with its sister company, the Salt & Light Company, Inc., to provide housing to its vast array of clients.
  • Home Start, Inc. is a homeownership education and counseling program. Its purpose is to help lower income people become responsible and capable homeowners.
  • Delta Real Estate is a licensed New Jersey real estate brokerage. It is an extension of the Affordable Homes Group, Inc. trading as Delta Real Estate through its fictitious name. It represents both buyers and sellers as a broker and is handling real estate purchases and sales, including those properties of the Salt & Light Company, Inc.
  • Homes of Hope, which joined the Affordable Homes Group in September 2005, provides affordable rental housing in the Burlington County, New Jersey, area.

Service Area

Southern New Jersey, particularly Burlington County

Contact Information

The Affordable Homes Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
94-96 Rancocas Road
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Website: http://www.affordablehomesgroup.com/ External Link

The Latin American Economic Development Association, Inc. (LAEDA)

Mission

To promote economic development to include the economically disadvantaged, primarily minorities, in the Delaware Valley, primarily the city of Camden, New Jersey.

Year of Origin

1987

Core Programs  

  • Focuses on neighborhood-based commercial redevelopment. Efforts include searching for blighted properties, conducting feasibility studies for properties that have potential for rehabilitation and job creation, rehabilitating the properties, procuring tenants, obtaining financing, and contracting for construction
  • Focuses on the Commercial District Revitalization Initiative (CDRI). Efforts include identifying neighborhood commercial districts to be revitalized;  identifying and rehabilitating abandoned and/or underutilized commercial real estate in the commercial districts; facilitating the development of the commercial districts as cultural tourism assets; establishing business support services to assist existing business owners in strengthening and growing their businesses; creating a curriculum of commercial revitalization educational training tools
  • Provides technical assistance to minority-owned businesses and helps these small businesses obtain financing
  • Provides an entrepreneurial development training program
  • Provides training, management services, and contract administration to independent janitorial businesses through the Community Janitorial Venture, Inc.

Service Area

The Delaware Valley (primary service area is Camden, New Jersey)

Contact Information

The Latin American Economic Development Association, Inc.
129 North Broadway, Suite 300
Camden, NJ 08102
Telephone: (856) 338-1177
Fax: (856) 963-1835
Website: http://www.laeda.com/index.html External Link

Tri-County Community Action Partnership

Mission

To provide social services that improve quality of life and promote self-sufficiency.

Year of Origin

1987

Core Programs

  • Distributes food products to churches and other food pantries annually
  • Provides a number of options for affordable housing and transitional housing for families.
  • Helps individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers solve the issues that face them daily.
  • Honors individuals who have served the community and provided leadership and guidance to their fellow citizens. Induction of new members occurs every May.
  • Offers college students an alternative to spring break vacations by affording them the opportunity to volunteer in the child-care centers and assist with other social service initiatives.
  • Offers child-care services for children ages 0-5 years.
  • Helps people to learn to control their finances, start businesses, and achieve financial freedom.
  • Offers ESL courses, remedial reading, and tutoring services to battle illiteracy.
  • Sponsors clothing drives, distributes holiday food baskets, holiday toys, and offers energy assistance and other services to help clients meet the basic needs of daily living.
  • Helps women, infants, and children maintain healthy nutrition with its voucher program

Service Area

Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties

Contact Information

Tri-County Community Action Partnership
110 Cohansey Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Phone: 856-451-6330
Fax: 856-455-7288
Website: http://www.tricountycaa.org External Link

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley

Mission

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley provides community-based assistance to populations in need so that they can lead self-fulfilled, independent lives.

Year of Origin

Founded in Philadelphia in 1896; incorporated as Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Inc. in 1985.

Core Programs 

  • Offers various single-room occupancy and affordable housing complexes throughout the Delaware Valley.  Residents also receive referrals, counseling, employment assistance, and crisis intervention, and have access to support groups, workshops and community activities
  • Offers specialized housing for men, women, and families through transitional living programs and offers temporary emergency housing
  • Operates community-based, residential, reintegration-centered programs
  • Provides domestic violence outreach services and a family violence prevention program
  • Provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities or behavioral health challenges

Service Area

Delaware Valley

Contact Information

Volunteers of America Delaware Valley
235 White Horse Pike 
Collingswood, NJ 08107 
Telephone:  (856) 854-4660
Fax: (856) 854-0651
Email: info@voadv.org
Website: http://www.voadv.org/index.cfm External Link

  • Last updated: Monday, June 2, 2008

Report Sections

Introduction

Historical Information

Demographics and Economic Data

Financial Institutions and Market Share Data

Community Organizations

Funding Sources

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Philadelphia, PA 19106-1574

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