For Release:
   January 11, 2001

For Further Information Contact:
Dennis McGowan
609-984-7160

CHSP provides care management, prepared meals, personal assistance and housekeeping services to help frail older adults remain in their apartments rather than be cared for in long-term care facilities. Its expansion is one of many senior initiatives included in a $65 million package of senior programs Gov. Christie Whitman has supported in the last two budget years.

"This program goes to the heart of our efforts to help seniors maintain their independence for as long as possible, despite changes in their health status," said Whitman. "Rather than have seniors move to get services, this program brings vital services to them in their own apartments."

Health and Senior Services Commissioner Christine Grant said the expansion of CHSP "broadens the range of long-term care options for more New Jersey residents."

"One size does not fit all when it comes to long-term care," said Grant. "We have worked hard to ensure that seniors and their families have a variety of options from which to choose and are pleased to extend this option to more seniors in more subsidized buildings."

CHSP currently serves an estimated 1,800 seniors residing in 50 buildings. This $900,000 initiative increases the program's budget to $2,770,000, and will allow more than 2,500 seniors in 70 subsidized buildings to receive services annually.

New CHSP providers include: the Housing Authority of the City of Garfield (Bergen County), serving Golden Towers, Belmont Gardens and Daniel P. Conte Court; Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Inc., serving Lindenwald Towers (Camden); Trent Center West, Inc. (Mercer); Housing Authority of the City of Bayonne (Hudson), serving The Back Bay Gardens; Ridge Oak, Inc., serving Ridge Oak Senior Housing (Somerset); Sparta Ecumenical Council on Senior Citizen Housing, serving Knoll View (Sussex); and Housing Authority of the City of Summit (Union).

In Essex County, new CHSP providers include: the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metro NJ, serving the South Orange B'Nai Brith Federation House; United Methodist Homes of New Jersey (Burnet-Walnut Corporation), serving Bishop Taylor Manor; Housing Authority of the City of Orange, serving Washington Manor Senior Citizens Complex; Housing Authority of the City of East Orange, serving Arcadian Garden, Vista Village and Concord Towers.

In Middlesex, CHSP has been expanded to include: the Housing Authority of the Township of Woodbridge, serving the Adams and Finn Towers; South Brunswick Community Development Corporation, serving Charleston Place I & II; Older Americans Housing in Spotswood, Inc., serving Crescent Park Senior Housing.

For more information on long-term options, seniors and their families may call their county NJ EASE office at 1-877-222-3737, or visit the Department of Health and Senior Services' website at www.state.nj.us/health.