Offering Hope & Delivering Help

Our Mission New Jersey SHARES, Inc. (NJS) is a statewide non-profit corporation primarily providing assistance to individuals and families in need of help meeting their energy and utility burden. Through advocacy, community outreach, education, information and referral we connect low and moderate income households with available resources.

Our Programs NJS offers assistance for Energy, Telephone and Water bills through partnerships with New Jersey regulated utility companies, Verizon New Jersey, SUEZ Water and New Jersey American Water Company. ACE Helping Hands is a new program starting in 2017. NJS partners with a network of over 222 community based organizations and legislative offices with over 270 sites. Visit www.njshares.org for a list

Assistance grants help our neighbors to put the pieces back together…

Energy Program Guidelines NJS provides assistance to New Jersey households: Who are not receiving or are not eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Universal Service Fund (USF) or other state funded programs Whose gross monthly income does not exceed 400% of the Federal Poverty Guideline Who can demonstrate a temporary financial need Who are “at risk” of service termination (arrears, shut-off notice, shut-off)

Energy Assistance Grants Maximum grant of $700 for heating service Maximum grant of $500 for electric service If a client heats with electric, a maximum grant of $700 may be awarded A household may receive a grant once between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of a given year A NJS grant must maintain or restore service and cannot be applied toward deposits or service charges

Requirements Personal ID for the applicant Proof of the last 30 days income for all contributing household members Most recent energy provider bill – must be a NJ regulated company $100 good faith payment made within the last 90 days Good payment history Signed and dated application

ACE Helping Hands Assistance for Households with incomes at or below 400% of FPL Maximum grant of $200 for electric service A household may receive a grant once in a twelve month period Can be combined with NJS Energy Assistance Grants if the household is income eligible

Verizon New Jersey

Connecting our Communities New Jersey SHARES and Verizon New Jersey partnered in 2005 to help our neighbors in need. The Communications Lifeline Program is available to qualified applicants throughout the Verizon NJ service area.

Verizon Communications Lifeline Program Benefits Discounted residential phone service, including free touch-tone service Depending on the basic service chosen and rate area, the monthly discount could reduce the bill by more than $20.00 Safety and privacy features Clients may add safety and privacy features like caller ID and non-published listing Choice of three local service options Flat Rate Plan Moderate Rate Plan Low Use Rate Plan

Eligibility An applicant, one or more of the applicant’s dependents, or the applicant’s household must receive benefits from one or more of qualified assistance programs. Enrollment is also available for applicants who are not on any of the qualifying assistance programs, who have an annual income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Eligibility In order to be eligible for Lifeline Service, an applicant may not currently receive Lifeline telecommunications services from any other provider including wireless providers. No other member of the household may currently be receiving lifeline services from any provider.

SUEZ Water and New Jersey American Water

SUEZ CARES In 2005, NJS and United Water partnered to create SUEZ CARES in New Jersey and five additional states. In New Jersey, this program offers a SUEZ customer up to $100 on their SUEZ Water utility bill if they have a hardship. There is no income guideline. The customer must have a good payment history and have paid at least $20 on their bill within 90 days of applying.

NJ American Water In 2009, NJS and New Jersey American Water partnered to offer NJAW customers assistance with their water bills Through NJAW’s H2O Help to Others Program™, clients with income levels at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level may receive a grant of up to $500 * *NJAW screens applicants for additional monthly discounts A household may receive a grant once annually

Eligibility Must be a residential New Jersey American Water Customer (NJAW) Must be experiencing a financial crisis, such as a job loss or illness Must be behind on their NJAW bill Must have received a shut off notice or currently be shut off to be considered for a grant Must have a total gross monthly income level that does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level Must have made a good-faith payment of at least $100 within 90 days of applying Must not be eligible for a payment arrangement with NJAW in order to receive an NJAW grant Must not have defaulted on a payment plan with NJAW in order to be eligible for a grant

Requirements Personal ID for the applicant Proof of the last 30 days income for all contributing household members Most recent water bill $100 good faith payment made within the last 90 days Good payment history Signed and dated application

New Jersey SHARES Highlights

NJ SHARES Highlights Helped more than 181,900 households in New Jersey with $73,900,000 in grants Administer Verizon’s Communications Lifeline Program Operates a water assistance program for SUEZ Water customers in multiple states Administers New Jersey American Water’s Assistance Program Won the National Fuel Fund Network’s Victorine Q. Adams Award for the best fuel fund in 2002, 2006 & 2009

Impact Evaluation Highlights

Key Findings NJ SHARES serves needy households 19% have children under the age of six 50% had a child 18 or younger 21% are single parent households 55% had a household member of 50 years of age or older 22% have a family member over 60 years of age 82% had employment income 60% have annual income below $50,000

Key Findings Changes in types of households served. More likely to have natural gas as main heating fuel More likely to have shutoff date passed or be shut off Less likely to only have past due balance NJ SHARES provides grants to those in temporary need of assistance. 77% received a grant in only one of the past nine years. Recipients made an average of 2.0 payments and $320 in payments in the 90 days preceding the grant

Key Findings NJ SHARES continues to serve those hit by the recession. 11% of 2012 recipients reported receipt of unemployment compensation, down slightly from 2010 and 2011, but still higher than pre-2009. 9% of 2012 recipients reported unemployment as reason for grant application, higher than pre-2009.

NJ SHARES Important Numbers New Jersey SHARES Energy Assistance: 1-866-(NJSHARE) 1-866-657-4273 Telephone Assistance: Verizon NJ’s Communications Lifeline: 1-888-337-3339 Water Assistance: SUEZ Water Cares: 1-888-942-8080 American Water H2O Help to Others™: 1-877-652-9426