Welcome
New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund (NJCAEF) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1983, promoting the empowerment of low- and middle-income people through research, education and training around public policy issues and direct counseling and services. We work with the state's largest citizen watchdog coalition, New Jersey Citizen Action).
From Our Mission Statement
NJCAEF's goals are to promote economic and social justice, to empower and organize the unorganized, to build a strong progressive coalition working on issues of common concern, strengthening our base both collectively as a coalition and as individual organizations.
Our education focuses on community, senior, consumer, labor and other constituencies that would be affected by pocketbook issues like changes in the tax code, health care reform, environmental hazards, and utility rates. We have comprehensive outreach and training programs to assist families in dealing with insurers, banks, health providers, utilities, and telecommunications service providers.
Read our complete Mission Statement.
Health Reform: The Cost of Failure
NEW! On May 21, 2009, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), along with New Jersey Citizen Action and the NJ Citizen Action Education Fund released a report, "Health Reform: The Cost of Failure."
It projects that if federal health care reform efforts are not enacted soon, within 10 years the cost of health care for businesses could double and the number of uninsured Americans could reach 66 million — with middle-income families hardest hit. The report was conducted by researchers from the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Read the Press Release, Statement, and full report.
Loan Counseling Service and NJ Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program
You may be able to participate in the NJ Judiciary Foreclosure Mediation Program. Click here for more information, including full eligibility requirements.
Our Loan Counseling Service Application is now linked to the NJCA Website, and can be completed and submitted entirely online.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Report "At the Brink: Trends in America's Uninsured 1994–2007"
With Congress and the Obama administration discussing how to reform the nation's health care system, this new report looks at what has happened since the last significant reform effort ended in 1994 without any comprehensive congressional action. At the Brink: Trends in America's Uninsured 1994-2007 chronicles state-by-state health coverage trends. The report finds that over the last 15 years, nearly every state has seen increased numbers of uninsured residents, greater costs for workers while their incomes are flat, and significant erosion of private coverage.
- Read NJ Citizen Action Education Fund's Public Statement, distributed on Wednesday, March 25, 2009
- Read At the Brink: Trends in America's Uninsured 1994-2007 (PDF of full report)
Our Economic Security Center Can Help You — And It's Free
Are You Struggling to:
- Buy Groceries for your Family
- Pay your Gas, Electric and/or Oil Bill
- Find Affordable Health Care for Your Kids
- Pay High Cost Tax Preparation Fees
Our Economic Security Center provides free, confidential benefits counseling to help individuals and families get information on public programs for which they qualify. These include food stamps, health insurance, heating and utility bill assistance and more. We also provide free tax preparation to help individuals and families file their forms and claim tax refunds from the federal and state government.
Our goal is to increase your economic security by helping you understand how to get public benefits, tax credits and other essential services to which you are entitled. These programs provide a cushion against everyday setbacks — a sick child, car trouble, temporary job loss — that can become catastrophes in your life.
Call Us Today: 1-888-829-3711
23 West Park Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Map and directions
HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 10am–7pm;
and Saturday from 10am–4pm
Download and distribute the flyer — Thank you!
The Citizen Action Economic Security Center is an Empowerment Project of New Jersey Citizen Action and the New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund and is supported by the Sovereign Endowment at the Independence Community Foundation and Single Stop USA.
Free Tax Preparation / Preparacion De Taxes Gratis
| 1-888-TAXES-11 Or Text the word "TAXES" to 89074 |
1-888-TAXES-11 Ó Texto La Parbla 'TAXES' to 89074 |
| Click here for full details | Información en Español |
From NJCA Education Fund Executive Director Phyllis Salowe-Kaye
2007 saw many great accomplishments for the New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund (NJCAEF). We educated our members, the public, the media, and policy makers about vital progressive issues such as Universal healthcare, a safe end to the war in Iraq, fair and clean elections, and paid family leave insurance.
We worked hard to lower utility rates in the state and saved ratepayers up to $2.3 billion a year by preventing the costly merger between PSE&G and Chicago-based Exelon Corporation which would have created a giant utility monopoly capable of easily manipulating energy supplies and polices. At the same time, the New Jersey Citizen Action Oil Group continued to provide lower cost home heating oil, saving members an average of $200 – $400.
We also provided direct service to thousands of low- and moderate-income individuals, families, and seniors in the form of financial education, homeownership preparation and foreclosure prevention, and lead poisoning abatement.
Read our complete 2007 Annual Report.