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County approves youth‑services grants; UCC art‑therapy program and YMCA shelter funded
Summary
The board approved social‑services and community‑service block‑grant awards including a social‑services for the homeless grant and four CSBG subawards; the youth services commission presented a $240,000 art‑therapy subgrant proposal and service estimates for hundreds of youths.
The Essex County Board approved a set of community‑service grants and subgrants meant to fund homelessness relief, feeding programs and youth services.
Terrence McCoy, division of community action, said the social‑services for the homeless grant funds rental assistance, utilities, security deposits and sheltering and is distributed to 23 agencies through competitive contracting. He listed four CSBG subcontract awards: Township of Irvington ($100,000); Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation ($50,000); Joyce Angel ($85,500); and Seed Time Outreach ($72,500). McCoy told commissioners the county requires audit reports from awardees as part of contract review.
At item 8, Jason Martinez (Youth Services Commission) requested approval for state community partnership subgrants for 2026 not to exceed $240,000, highlighting an art‑therapy program run by United Community Corporation (UCC) for court‑involved youth and an after‑school academic component. UCC deputy director Yolanda Deloney described the program as a therapeutic space and exhibition venue; Lakisha Chambers (YMCA YESH program) described the 19‑bed youth emergency shelter (30–60 day stays) and invited commissioners to a ribbon‑cutting.
Commissioner Mary Thomas asked for rough service numbers; McCoy estimated about 500 people through the homeless grant and up to 1,000 through the CSBG programs. Commissioners approved the grants by roll call.
