PROJECT EZRAH NEEDS INC
95 CEDAR LANE, ENGLEWOOD, NJ 07631 www.ezrah.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: Project Ezrah Needs, Inc. founded in 2005, utilizing a specifically developed multi-faceted program, guides and assists each client family in creating a lifestyle that enables them to be financially and emotionally self-sufficient as well as productive members of their community. There are many avenues that are traversed to reach these specific goals; therefore, a Project Ezrah counselor stands by and assists throughout the process and continues to work with and mentor the family until the identified goals have been reached. Case workers, financial counselors and employment counselors create individualized programs for client families. Each unique program is based on specific needs and identifies attainable goals. Helping the client navigate through the family's financial situation is addressed first. Clients are then taught fiscal responsibility and appropriate management and budgeting skills, all with the ultimate goal of building up self-esteem and mending and rebuilding the marriag

TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED AND TO RAISE FUNDS VIA CONTRIBUTIONS AND VARIOUS EVENTS.

Client Families Needing Financial Assistance Project EZRAH administers two programs within this category: Managed Salary and As-Need. Hours of preparations for a client family begin even before the client is accepted into either of the Financial Assistance programs: analysis of required financial documents, review and verification of financial need, evaluation of probable compliance to the program's principles and, finally, the creation of a unique-to-that-family path toward success. An extended initial meeting acquaints the new client family with the program, sets the family's goals, outlines their individual course of action and reviews in detail the family's financial assistance package. The family's first month in the program usually requires extended interaction hours so that both spouses, and even children when appropriate, are fully comfortable with and possess an understanding of the program. Throughout the course of a family's program, case workers, mental health professionals and health care professionals work in areas as needed. Additionally, staff members are available to assist clients with bookkeeping, financial planning, in finding appropriate and meaningful employment, computer-training, school supplies before the beginning of each year as well as planning appropriate simchas. The Managed Salary Program assists client families with critical living expenses, medical bills, approved invoices as well as a cash allowance for food and weekly incidentals. In 2019, the Managed Salary program assisted 27 families; by year's end, approximately 22% of these families either graduated out of the program or, with minimal assistance from Project Ezrah, managed on their own. The As-Need Program works with families who have graduated out of the Managed Salary Program and now need only minimal Project Ezrah assistance. Additionally, this program assists families who look to Project Ezrah for pre-approved, singular needs assistance, and/or pro-bono services. There were 95 additional families who received this type of financial aid in 2019; approximately 46% were also able to graduate out of the program by year's end (the 2019 Managed-Salary graduated families are not included in the 2019 As-Need families' percentage data).

Employment The Employment department connects candidates with appropriate employment opportunities. After a specific in-take process, an initial meeting allows counselors to assess a candidate's job readiness and make suggestions for targeted area improvements; resumes are reviewed and revised, interview skills are evaluated, job-search strategies are analyzed and appropriate goals are established. Candidates continue to work directly with their employment counselor until they have found meaningful and appropriate employment. In 2019, the employment team worked directly with 324 in-house candidates and was instrumental in placing 126 candidates (39%). Additional and complimentary services have been implemented to augment the job-search experience: (1) An interactive Job Board, hosted 410 candidates and listed over 165 employment opportunities in 2019. The Job Board's Administrator contacts Job Board candidates to review their individual postings and resumes and, whenever possible, connects these candidates with potential employers. Toward that end, he spends many hours cultivating potential employers in order to develop a broader spectrum of available employment opportunities for the Project Ezrah client/candidate. (2) A LinkedIn group promotes networking. Approximately 2,000 candidates and community members use this format to expand each candidate's own network of contacts and answer appropriate industry-specific questions. (3) Seminars are held to assist, encourage, enlighten and broaden a candidate's knowledge in a variety of subjects. 2019's seminars were: Bergen Workforce Presentation . Smart Stop Adult Learning . Learn Google Apps . Learn Social Media Techniques . LinkedIn . How Come I Can't Land the Job I Really Want . Engage Your Network . Who Do You Know WDYK. Recent Initiatives: In an effort to keep current with community needs, the organization has initiated a program to identify new areas that will support its mission goals: Interest Free Loan Program. Initiated in 2016, this program provides small, interest-free loans for one-time unexpected expenses (roof replacement, unexpected tax bill, i.e.). With respect to the importance of its fiduciary responsibility, the organization has included the requirement of two guarantors as part of the application process. To date, several loans have been granted. Help Ezrah Help. In an effort to reduce some financial expenditures on behalf of its clients, the organization has made a concerted effort to avail itself of pro bono services donated by community members and has thus created a base with a broad range of donated services (e.g. legal assistance, medical and dental care, financial planning, tax preparation and accounting, tutoring.) By the end of 2019, the organization was able to draw from over 130 pro bono providers, which enabled the organization to distribute funds in areas of greater need. (At the end of 2018 the organization was able to draw from over 125 pro bono providers.) The Aisle: A Pathway to Financial Fidelity. A specialized training seminar, targeting engaged or newlywed couples, to teach money management and budget preparation. This specific group has been selected in order to prevent financial collapse prior to the onset of the yeshiva tuition avalanche.

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