WOODBRIDGE – A organization based in Union County that offers day programs for adults with disabilities may be the new tenant of a former religious school now owned by the township.
Recently the Township Council introduced an ordinance authorizing a lease of township-owned property at 267 E. Smith St., known as the former school building of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, to Our House Inc., a nonprofit based in Murray Hill, located in sections of Berkeley Heights and New Providence, to operate the program.
If approved the program is anticipated to become operational at the Woodbridge location later this year. Our House already operates a similar program in a Woodbridge recreation facility in the Port Reading section.
The township is looking to enter into a five-year lease of the property with one five-year renewal option, because the council has determined that leasing the property to Our House "will provide a benefit to countless numbers of residents of the Township of Woodbridge," a public notice states.
The plan calls for Our House to pay $1,500 a month for a total of $18,000 a year to lease the property.
The mission at Our House is to "provide healthy, stimulating and inclusive environments for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through community residences, employment services, innovative day programs, social opportunities and related support services designed to help them achieve their full potential for living meaningful and productive lives," its website states.
Mayor John McCormac said Our House already rents space to run a year-round daytime program for adults with disabilities out of the township's Cypress Recreation Center in the Port Reading section.
McCormac said the clients are picked up and dropped off at the center where they learn life and job skills, visit recreational venues for bowling, miniature golf and swimming, as well as employment locations to gain jobs.
"It's a great facility and we're' so thrilled with that we wanted to find another place where they could offer that to even more families," said McCormac, adding the program has a waiting list of potential new clients.
He explained the township purchased everything on the Mount Carmel church site, except the church, from the Diocese of Metuchen many years ago. The property included a former school building that had been closed for years, which the township has renovated to be a facility for Our House. A rectory on the site that was in poor shape was demolished and a community building on the site is still be evaluated.
"Our focus has been on getting Our House open," McCormac said. "We had the vision to do this many years ago."
The mayor said there is a "good vibe" with the leaders of Our House and a good vibe when he toured facilities with them and saw how they work with their clients, which can be challenging.
"When kids age out of school they need somewhere where they continue that attention or else they can regress. If you are 21 and you are used to being in a school environment and suddenly you're not, you can regress and forget all the skills you learned," the mayor said, adding the program gives parents and family members an opportunity for their loved ones to continues learning in a school-like setting.
McCormac said it's undecided if the township will look to house a third Our House program after seeing how successful the second location will be.
"If they fill it in six months, we would certainly think about it, but if it takes longer or they don't fill it, then we wouldn't," McCormac said.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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