In mid-2021, as New Jersey prepared to lift its COVID-19 eviction moratorium. Impact100 South Jersey member Rosemarie Parker, CEO of Family Promise of Southwest New Jersey, foresaw an impending housing crisis. With rental rates left unchecked by state legislation, Parker knew the coming months would bring skyrocketing housing costs and a surge of eviction cases. Courts began to see an influx, with judges hearing up to 75 cases daily. Parker and her dedicated team sprang into action, striving to help the increasing number of families in need navigate this daunting legal landscape.
The gravity of the situation was met with a lifeline in 2022 when Family Promise SWNJ received a $250,000 grant from the New Jersey Eviction Diversion Pilot Program. This critical funding allowed Parker to bring on a Resource Navigator, who worked within the courts and provided essential support to those facing eviction. However, Parker knew more was needed to sustain long-term relief.
Parker met Patty Legge, an attorney and licensed social worker when they both attended an Impact100SJ Nonprofit Outreach Committee meeting. Legge is the founder and Executive Director of the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic, which connects clients facing legal barriers with South Jersey attorneys offering high-quality pro bono services. Recognizing the potential for collaboration, Parker and Legge quickly formed a partnership.
This partnership proved to be a game-changer for Family Promise’s clients. Legge’s legal experience provided invaluable advice and representation, significantly bolstering the support Parker could offer those in need. The collaborative efforts of Family Promise and Volunteer UP reached a new milestone in 2024, when their joint proposal to New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs secured a $462,000 grant under the State’s Comprehensive Eviction Defense & Diversion Program.
The story of Parker and Legge’s partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and the shared commitment to their communities. Through the connections fostered by Impact100 SJ, they have created meaningful change in their communities, offering hope and stability to families facing the threat of eviction.