NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS AND INTERFAITH NEIGHBORS MARK THE COMPLETION OF THREE NEW HOMES AS PART OF HOME OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

Asbury Park, N.J. - New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) and Interfaith Neighbors, Inc. announced the dedication of three new homes (located at 1501, 1503 and 1505 Stratford Avenue) on the west side of Asbury Park as part of their long-standing partnership to provide affordable housing opportunities to deserving families and individuals in Monmouth County. 

 “The dedication of these homes calls attention to the continued need for affordable housing in Monmouth County,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of New Jersey Resources, NJNG’s parent company. “We are proud to have worked side-by-side with Interfaith Neighbors for the past 15 years, helping families fulfill their dreams of home ownership. We congratulate today’s first-time homeowners and wish them much happiness.”

These three homes represent an ongoing collaboration of community organizations focused on the redevelopment of Asbury Park’s west side. The homes feature high-efficiency equipment, appliances and energy-efficiency lighting to help the families conserve energy and manage their energy costs.

The Home Ownership Program began in 1997 with the completion of a home renovation in Asbury Park as a result of NJNG’s $25,000 donation to Interfaith Neighbors. Including today’s dedication, 32 homes have been completed under the program that provides qualifying families in Monmouth County the opportunity to purchase their first homes, which they otherwise would not have been able to afford. “This is a wonderful success story made possible, in part, by the outstanding relationship we have enjoyed with NJNG for the past 15 years,” Joe Marmora, executive director of Interfaith Neighbors, Inc., added.  These three homes are part of Interfaith Neighbors’ west side neighborhood revitalization efforts, of which NJNG is a corporate sponsor. The New Jersey state-approved West Side Revitalization Plan aspires to improve housing conditions, strengthen the economy and enhance the quality of life for residents of Asbury Park’s west side.  

"The partnership among the City of Asbury Park, New Jersey Natural Gas and Interfaith Neighbors continues to provide the opportunity for local families to realize the American Dream of home ownership,” Ed Johnson, Mayor of Asbury Park, emphasized. “We are building more than homes, we are building dreams!" By increasing the number of owner-occupied housing units, this project will help bring increased property values and greater stability to this area of Asbury Park.
“We look forward to continued partnership with Interfaith Neighbors, towns like Asbury Park and other community organizations as we work to strengthen the local economy and advance the development of underserved areas,” Downes said.

New Jersey Natural Gas
New Jersey Natural Gas is the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, a Fortune 1000 company, that provides safe and reliable natural gas and renewable energy services, including transportation, distribution and asset management in states from the Gulf Coast to the New England regions, including the Mid-Continent region, the West Coast and Canada, while investing in and maintaining an extensive infrastructure to support future growth. With $3 billion in annual revenues, NJR safely and reliably operates and maintains 6,800 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve nearly half a million customers; develops and manages a diverse portfolio of 3.2 Bcf/day of firm transportation and over 62 Bcf of firm storage capacity; offers low carbon, clean energy solutions through its commercial and residential solar programs and provides appliance installation, repair and contract service to nearly 130,000 homes and businesses. Additionally, NJR holds investments in midstream assets through equity partnerships including Steckman Ridge and Iroquois. Through Conserve to Preserve®, NJR is helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency. For more information about NJR, visit www.njresources.com, “Like” us at facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas or follow us on Twitter @NJNaturalGas.

About Interfaith Neighbors
Interfaith Neighbors is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3 corporation that assists working poor families and elderly residents of Monmouth County through programs that help meet basic nutrition, housing, and educational needs.  Formed in 1988 through a coalition of Monmouth County churches and synagogues, our focus on “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” includes programs that provide home ownership, community revitalization, rental and mortgage assistance, nutrition, holiday donations and volunteerism.  Approximately ninety-five cents out of every dollar contributed to our agency goes directly to assist those we serve.  For more information about Interfaith Neighbors, please visit  www.interfaithneighbors.org.