RWJBarnabas announced Oct. 14 a $1 million donation to United Community Corp.
With the donation, UCC will be able to double the capacity of its medical respite program, which provides safe, stable, transitional housing for the unhoused following discharge from a hospital.
“United Community Corp. has been a critical link to better health for Newark residents for better than six decades,” said RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan.
The donation will give UCC long-term stability, amid a financially challenging time, allowing for the continued operation of its Roseville Avenue emergency shelter for a minimum of three years.
“We are proud to partner with them to ensure that not only can Newarkers, who are among the most vulnerable, continue their journeys to better health in a safe and supportive environment, but that this care can continue for the foreseeable future,” said Manigan.
Building confidence
This investment by RWJBarnabas will also allow UCC to expand the capacity of its medical respite program from 10 to 20 residents while providing a more accessible location for wheelchairs or patients with physical limitations.
“This generous investment from RWJBarnabas Health helps relieve a significant financial burden and allows us to look ahead with greater confidence,” said Craig Mainor, executive director of UCC. “As we prepare to serve residents at our ninth location, this support strengthens our ability to provide a safe place to recover and build on the work UCC has carried forward in Newark for more than six decades.”
Since 1964, UCC has helped residents throughout Essex County meet immediate needs and reach the goal of self-sufficiency. UCC currently operates an emergency shelter, a food pantry, and several programs including utility assistance, employment services, and more.
Earlier this year, the Devils Youth Foundation also awarded a grant to UCC and 37 other nonprofits as part of it’s largest charitable investment to date.
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