Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) announced a $75,000 grant from the PSEG Foundation to foster a partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newark (Habitat) and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Comfort Partners Program.
The goal is to increase the energy efficiency and livability of homes in Newark, where PSE&G is headquartered.
Habitat of Greater Newark identifies and solves home weatherization issues and provides rehabilitation, home preservation, and critical repairs as well as support for broader community development issues. The BPU’s Comfort Partners Program offers free energy-saving improvements and energy education for income-eligible families. PSE&G is one of six utilities in the state that helps administer the Comfort Partners initiative.
“PSE&G has a long-standing commitment to helping our customers save money and use energy more wisely,” said Susanna Chiu, Director of Energy Efficiency Services, PSE&G. “As a Newark-based company, it is especially rewarding when we can help in the neighborhoods and homes right in our own backyard. This grant and partnership will enable us to provide needed improvements to make homes safe, comfortable and affordable for families in Newark.”
Jeffrey J. Farrell said he is looking forward to the non-profit’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program to expand into other neighborhoods. It focuses on critical home repairs, such as roof repair/replacement, siding repair/replacement and window replacement with the goal of maintaining healthy living for low income families, seniors and veterans.
“There is a misperception in the community that Habitat for Humanity is only about building homes for our Partner Families,” Farrell said. “We are also about building partnerships to ensure families have safe homes and can achieve the American Dream of home ownership. We are equally committed to critical repairs and revitalizing neighborhoods.”
The partnership and PSEG Foundation grant will allow the Habitat program and the Comfort Partners Program to make repairs to homes that may not fit the Comfort Partners Program criteria alone because too much repair work is required. The two programs will also have a cross referral program so that applicants to Comfort Partners will be shared with Habitat’s program.
“This generous grant opens the door for so much new opportunity in the neighborhoods we serve,” Farrell said. “We will leverage this funding to the greatest extent possible, urging other partners and sponsors to join in the effort. It is our full intention for this program to make a lasting, permanent mark on Newark.”