Media Coverage

Daily Record
July 26, 2007

Housing Director Finishes Training

Melody Federico (center), completed an 18-month training to assist NewBridge in the creation of 100 new units of affordable housing by 2010. She is pictured with Paige Carlson-Heim, Managing Director, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, which presented the training; and Helen Steblecki, Vice President and Director, Community Relations, Citigroup, the program's funder. NewBridge is a nonprofit provider of behavioral health and education programs and services for Morris and Passaic county residents.

PEQUANNOCK - To further assist NewBridge Services in its mission to create 100 new units of affordable housing by 2010, its housing director has completed an 18-month training program to understand, among other things, the wealth of funding options available to nonprofit developers.

Melody Federico, Director of Housing Development at NewBridge Services, fulfilled the requirements of National Development Council's (NDC) Housing Development Finance Professional (HDPF) Certification Program.

This, the last of a four-course series offered through the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, trains nonprofit housing professionals in order to increase production of affordable housing units throughout the state to help meet the governor's affordable housing goals.

"Affordable housing is not just a poverty issue. Escalating housing costs are making it virtually impossible for young professionals and hardworking families to own a home in New Jersey," said Federico, who is working with NewBridge, a nonprofit community provider of behavioral health and education services, to create the 100 new units of housing. "This training opened us to strategies that will help us provide housing for people of all income levels and for those with special needs."

Citi Foundation funded this program through grants from its Global Community Relations Department and its 2007 Citibank Community Development Impact Grant Program. "Affordable housing is critical to sustain the life of every community. We are pleased to play a supporting role in revitalizing neighborhoods in the state of New Jersey," said Pamela Flaherty, President and Chief Executive Officer, Citi Foundation.

For more information about NewBridge's affordable housing initiative, call Federico at (973) 839-2521, ext. 250.