Paterson Aims for $168,000 Grant to Bolster Reentry Program with New Coordinator

PATERSON, NJ – The Sayegh Administration is aiming to utilize a $168,000 grant to hire a Municipal Reintegration Service Coordinator. This initiative is part of the 2024 New Jersey Department of Corrections’ Local, Empowered, Accountable, and Determined (LEAD) Reentry Initiative grant, officials told TAPinto Paterson.

If successful, the grant would fund the coordinator position for 16 months, during which the coordinator would work across various agencies to assist individuals re-entering society after incarceration. The focus would be on developing a consortium of service providers to streamline support for these individuals.

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This specific grant requires the city to apply for it periodically, officials said. The first application funded the launch of the Reentry Initiative and enabled the hiring of Valaida Hall to oversee the program. The second round will allow the City to offer rental and educational assistance directly, enhancing their ability to support clients beyond referrals.

“None of the program’s clients have returned to incarceration since joining the program, and the administration is committed to maintaining this success with the new resources,” Chief of Staff Habib Kader said.

The consortium of service providers will offer essential services such as transportation, ID documentation, food security, employment readiness, and rental assistance.

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