Examining the past and looking toward the future, Project Ezrah’s new initiatives (see last week’s Link article, “Project Ezrah Plans for the Future,” November 29, 2017) will be the foundation for Ezrah 2.0, the next phase of the organization’s continuous development and mission to HELP.
Project Ezrah began in 2001 by offering health insurance for families who had no coverage due to job loss during the financial free fall of the early 2000s. It was soon realized that health insurance alone was not enough; many neighbors also needed financial assistance for basic living expenses. The natural next step was for Project Ezrah to create an employment division. Clients could now come to Project Ezrah for job search assistance and guidance and were relieved of some of the financial stress during that search period with the organization’s financial assistance.
Living within Bergen County’s vibrant Jewish community has, as all who live here know, many benefits and advantages; however, this comes with the price tag of an extremely high cost of living. Project Ezrah, it may be assumed, has only seen a small percentage of the many families who are, at best, just making ends meet.
Years of growth and community involvement, and working closely with client families, highlighted other needs and other areas where Project Ezrah could continue its mission of “help.” Financial education, pro-bono services and shared community resources, budgeting assistance, caseworker support and scholarship committee advocacy all grew out of the determination of the organization’s board and professional leadership to live up to its motto: Ezrah Means Help.
Therefore, Project Ezrah is adding another arm to its outreach: proactive and preventative guidance. Ezrah 2.0 will draw attention to the many ways in which the organization can assist its clients as well as other community members in “tightening the belt.” Doing so will not only benefit the individual, but the community’s charitable financial footprint.
Project Ezrah now offers The Aisle, a financial guideline for couples and, after many requests, will soon unveil a similar program for singles. Additionally, through Project Ezrah, couples and individuals will soon be able to meet with financial planners to create and establish viable and workable budgets specific to their situation, and decide what type of mortgage is best for their specific needs or the advantages/disadvantages of re-negotiating an existing mortgage. Accountants will be able to suggest tax credits or other money saving strategies.
Help EZRAH Help, a program that enlists community pro bono services from the above mentioned financial planners, doctors, dentists, lawyers, tutors etc. will create a community “pool” of available services. These services will not only lighten the load of an Ezrah client,(as well as the organization’s outlay on behalf of that client, freeing money for other clients’ needs) but will be available to the greater community at large and, in that respect, could go a long way in assisting many to stay on their budget course. This “community pool of HELP” has enormous potential to grow as more and more community members “donate” their expertise and time.
The organization also plans to offer regularly-scheduled seminars open to the entire community, on topics such as money saving tactics, responsible use of credit card points, available government social services as well as services now offered within our community (please see The Jewish Link’s extensive weekly gemach list to learn where you could help or receive assistance.)
Project Ezrah hopes to orchestrate and organize this community’s enormous chesed in order for each of us to better benefit from both the giving and receiving aspects.
Sometimes money is not the answer, but each dollar saved through any of these new initiatives could go towards something else that only money can solve.
Looking forward to an even stronger and integrated Bergen County community, Project Ezrah welcomes your input and involvement. Contact us at [email protected].
By Robert Hoenig
Robert Hoenig is the executive director, Project Ezrah.
