In an ideal world, everyone would have a decent, affordable place to live. We at HOMECorp strive to provide just that here in Montclair.
A core value of Montclair is the preservation of its economic and racial diversity, a characteristic that benefits all of us. For the past 33 years, Montclair’s HOMECorp has supported that value by developing, preserving and renting affordable housing to a low-and-moderate income workforce in our town. We have also provided housing counseling, financial literacy programs and foreclosure prevention classes to the members of our community.
Like many nonprofit organizations, HOMECorp has faced significant financial challenges over the last 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, some of our tenants encountered economic hardships that prevented them from paying rent, resulting in a decline in our annual rental revenue and in our inability to provide needed repairs and maintenance to our buildings. Although the pandemic may be receding, the economic fallout on our tenants and our organization continues.
HOMECorp’s mission is to provide quality housing for our tenants, not simply a roof over their heads. To do that we need support from the Montclair community now more than ever.
Please consider giving to HOMECorp in this challenging year. You can donate online at homecorp.org/donate.
Roosevelt Nesmith
President, HOMECorp Board of Trustees
Montclair Local’s Opinion section is an open forum for civil discussion in which we invite readers to discuss town matters, articles published in Montclair, or previously published letters. Views expressed and published in this section are solely those of the writers, and do not represent the views of Montclair Local.
Letters to the editor: To submit a letter to the editor, email letters@montclairlocal.news, or mail “Letters to the Editor,” 309 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ, 07042 (email is preferred). Submissions must include the name, address and phone number of the writer for verification. Only the writer’s name and town of residence will be published. Montclair Local does not publish anonymous opinion pieces.
Letters must be no more than 500 words in length, and must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be eligible for potential publication in that week’s Thursday print issue. Letters may be edited by Montclair Local for grammar and style. While our goal is to publish most letters we receive, Montclair Local reserves the right to decline publication of a letter for any reason, including but not limited to concerns about unproven or defamatory statements, inappropriate language, topic matter far afield of the particular interests of Montclair residents, or available space.
Town Square: Montclair Local also accepts longer-form opinion essays from residents aiming to generate discussion on topics specific to the community, under our “Town Square” banner. “Town Square” essays should be no more than 750 words in length, and topics should be submitted to letters@montclairlocal.news at least seven days prior to publication.