A doorway to stability

Financial Guidance

Housing, employment, and money — the trinity of stability for men rebuilding. Start here when you need one of the three or all of them, with doorway pages, free tax prep, and one-on-one benefits help.

Need financial help right now?
Housing Assistance Employment Guidance Financial Literacy Benefits Navigation Financial Guidance by County

Housing Assistance

Shelter is the foundation. Whether you need emergency housing tonight, an affordable place to stabilize, or a pathway to homeownership, these doorway pages connect you to programs across Camden County NJ, Burlington County, Gloucester County, and Philadelphia PA. Start with the page that matches your county — each one opens the directory already built for your region.

CAMDEN COUNTY · NJ

Housing Resources (Camden Anchor)

South Jersey Doorway

The Camden County doorway for emergency shelters, transitional housing, and rental assistance programs. Covers the city of Camden, Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, and surrounding townships, with direct lines to the County Housing Authority and faith-based shelter partners.

  • Emergency Shelters — same-day placement
  • Transitional Housing — 6–24 month programs
  • Rental Assistance — Camden County CAAs
REGIONAL

Affordable Housing Directory

Long-Term Stability

Affordable apartments and subsidized housing across South Jersey and Philadelphia. Includes public housing authorities, LIHTC properties, Section 8 voucher holders, and waiting-list guidance — a national-hub style list tailored to Camden/Philly applicants.

  • Public Housing — Camden & PHA listings
  • Section 8 / HCV — voucher info
GUIDE

Housing Guide (Step-by-Step)

What to Expect

A guided walk-through of the housing process — what to bring to an intake, how to apply for emergency shelter, what documentation landlords require, and how to avoid eviction. Written for first-time applicants and returning citizens rebuilding stable housing.

VOUCHERS

Section 8 / Housing Assistance

Camden Housing Authority

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program — eligibility, how to apply when the waiting list opens, what counts as income, and what to do while you're on the list. Built around the Camden Housing Authority process but applicable to most NJ & PA PHAs.

NEW JERSEY

NJ Housing Resources

Statewide Directory

New Jersey state housing resources beyond just Camden — the NJ Department of Community Affairs programs, statewide affordable housing search, weatherization assistance, and county-by-county housing authority directories.

PHILADELPHIA · PA

Philadelphia Housing Resources

Philadelphia Doorway

The Philadelphia doorway — PHA housing, Office of Homeless Services intake, faith-based shelters across the city, and eviction-prevention partners. Covers North, West, South, and Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Employment Guidance

A steady job is the second pillar of stability. These doorway pages cover everything from job boards and second-chance employers to resume help, interview prep, and small-business support — organized by the county where you live or want to work. Each card opens the full directory already shipped on the site.

EMPLOYMENT HUB

Employment Resources Hub

Camden + Philly + South Jersey

The single employment doorway — NJ and PA job boards, small-business resources, and workforce development contacts in one place. Includes state workforce agencies, One-Stop Career Centers, faith-based workforce partners, and reentry-friendly employment networks.

  • 25+ NJ & PA Job Boards — verified hiring
  • Small Business Resources — SBA, SCORE, CDFIs
  • Workforce Development — One-Stops & partners
GUIDE

Job Readiness Guide

Step-by-Step

A guided walk-through of getting job-ready — resume templates, interview practice, what to wear, how to disclose (or not disclose) a record, and how to follow up after applying. Built for anyone re-entering the workforce after time away.

SECOND-CHANCE

Second-Chance Employers

Fair-Chance Hiring Network

Employers who explicitly hire returning citizens — fair-chance hiring commitments, Ban the Box policies, and companies known to give interviews regardless of record. Covers national chains, regional employers, and staffing agencies that specialize in reentry.

CAMDEN COUNTY · NJ

Camden Employment Resources

South Jersey

The Camden County employment directory — county workforce partners, Camden City One-Stop, employer lists by industry (logistics, healthcare, construction, retail), and faith-based job-placement ministries serving Camden and Cherry Hill residents.

BURLINGTON COUNTY · NJ

Burlington Employment Resources

South Jersey

Burlington County workforce resources — Burlington County One-Stop Career Center, industry-leading employers (military bases, healthcare systems, logistics), and faith-based employment partners serving Willingboro, Mount Holly, and Burlington Township.

PHILADELPHIA · PA

Philadelphia Employment Resources

Pennsylvania Anchor

The Philadelphia employment directory — Philadelphia Works (city workforce board), reentry-focused employer networks, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) presence, and major Philadelphia employers with fair-chance hiring. Covers North, West, South, and Northeast Philadelphia.

Financial Literacy & Budgeting

Tax time is the doorway to a larger financial picture. Free tax prep returns money to your household, helps you build an ITIN if you don't have an SSN, and opens the door to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit. From there, budgeting tools and small-business courses take you from returning citizen to employer.

Tax season runs January through April 15. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE sites offer free in-person preparation for households earning roughly $67,000 or less. ITIN applications and EITC claims can still be filed retroactively for prior years — don't leave money on the table.

PRIMARY · TAX ASSISTANCE

Tax Assistance Hub

Free Tax Prep · VITA · ITIN · EITC

The doorway to free tax preparation. VITA sites near you, ITIN filing for taxpayers without an SSN, EITC and Child Tax Credit guidance, NJ and PA state programs (NJ FamilyCare, PA Cash Assistance), and 8 educational tax guides written in Deacon Benny's voice. Covers IRS payment plans, 1099-C (cancellation of debt), and tax filing with no SSN.

  • VITA Sites — free in-person preparation
  • ITIN Filing — apply without an SSN
  • EITC / CTC — credits you may be missing
  • 8 Educational Guides — taxes after prison, ITIN, 1099-C
HEALING RESOURCES

Financial & Recovery Resources

Cross-Doorway Link

The financial section of the U.N.I.T.Y. Healing Resources hub — recovery-friendly budgeting help, debt counseling, credit-building resources, and faith-based money stewardship programs. Start here when your financial picture overlaps with your recovery walk.

SMALL BUSINESS · $97

Iron Sharpened Ministry Kit

Build Toward Ownership

The next step beyond budgeting — building income that builds wealth. Three course tracks (Business Autobuilder, Ministry Autobuilder, Passive Income) shaped around returning citizens, ministry leaders, and the sandwich generation. Module 1 free; full kit at $97.

  • Business Autobuilder — start your business
  • Ministry Autobuilder — fund your calling
  • Passive Income — income that isn't a paycheck

Benefits Navigation

Public benefits are not a handout — they're a bridge. SNAP covers food while you stabilize. Medicaid and Medicare cover doctor visits and prescriptions. TANF covers rent when a paycheck won't. Section 8 vouchers bridge you to affordable housing. Unemployment covers the gap between jobs. This section gives you what each benefit does, who qualifies, and how to start the application — then connects you to one-on-one help if you'd rather walk it through with someone.

FOOD

SNAP — Food Assistance

Federal Nutrition Program

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Monthly food benefits loaded to an EBT card for groceries. NJ residents apply through NJ FamilyCare/County Board of Social Services; PA residents apply through COMPASS. Eligibility is based on household income and size — most returning citizens and low-wage workers qualify during stabilization periods.

HEALTHCARE

Medicaid & Medicare

Public Health Coverage

Medicaid covers low-income adults and children; Medicare covers seniors 65+ and people with qualifying disabilities. Returning citizens and people exiting incarceration are categorically eligible for Medicaid in many cases — reactivation happens through the County Board of Social Services (NJ) or County Assistance Office (PA). Use NJ FamilyCare or PA COMPASS to apply online.

CASH ASSISTANCE

TANF — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Cash + Work Support

Time-limited cash assistance for families with children, paired with employment-focused services. NJ administers TANF through the County Board of Social Services; PA through the County Assistance Office. Cash benefits are modest but real, and the work-supports side often opens childcare and workforce training you wouldn't otherwise get.

HOUSING VOUCHER

Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher

Federal Rental Assistance

Housing Choice Vouchers cover the gap between what you can pay in rent (typically 30% of income) and the actual rent on a housing unit. Waiting lists are long, but most PHAs reopen them periodically. Camden Housing Authority, Burlington County, and Philadelphia Housing Authority each run their own lists — see the Housing Assistance section above for details.

INCOME

Unemployment Insurance

NJ Dept. of Labor · PA UC

Temporary income while you're between jobs and actively looking for work. NJ: Department of Labor & Workforce Development. PA: Department of Labor & Industry (UC system). Same-day applications online in most cases; weekly certification required to keep benefits active. If you've been laid off or had hours significantly cut, apply — don't wait.

One-on-one benefits help is one call or one form away. Reach out — we help you figure out which benefits fit, fill out the application, and follow up until a decision comes back. Get connected or call (856) 450-0437.

Financial Guidance by County

Use the county links below to jump into the existing New Jersey and Pennsylvania resource directories, plus free tax and state-program entry points. Each path can help you find financial counseling, benefits assistance, or reentry-focused financial aid; confirm eligibility, hours, and intake steps before you travel.

NEW JERSEY · CAMDEN COUNTY

Camden County

Home-Base Financial Guidance Path

For Camden, Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, and nearby communities, start with free tax counseling and the county resource entry point. We can help you connect benefits, tax credits, and reentry support into one practical plan.

Need help choosing your first county call? Call (856) 450-0437 for a referral.

NEW JERSEY · BURLINGTON COUNTY

Burlington County

New Jersey County Support Path

Residents across Burlington County can pair free tax counseling with the county resource directory and New Jersey tax-program guidance. Start with the county entry point, then confirm which benefits and credits fit your household.

Need help choosing your first county call? Call (856) 450-0437 for a referral.

NEW JERSEY · GLOUCESTER COUNTY

Gloucester County

South Jersey Financial Stability Path

For Glassboro, Washington Township, and surrounding Gloucester County communities, use the county directory as the local starting point and the New Jersey tax entry point for credits and filing help.

Need help choosing your first county call? Call (856) 450-0437 for a referral.

PENNSYLVANIA · PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Philadelphia County

Citywide Financial Guidance Path

Philadelphia residents can combine free tax counseling with the citywide reentry resource entry point and Pennsylvania tax-program guidance. Start with the local county path before traveling to an office.

Need help choosing your first county call? Call (856) 450-0437 for a referral.

PENNSYLVANIA · MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Montgomery County

Eastern Pennsylvania Financial Guidance Path

For Norristown, Pottstown, Lansdale, and nearby communities, start with the Montgomery County reentry resource entry point, then use free tax counseling and Pennsylvania program guidance to plan the next step.

Need help choosing your first county call? Call (856) 450-0437 for a referral.

Need financial guidance?

Our team can help you navigate housing, employment, tax credits, and public benefits — so the next paycheck, voucher, or tax return lands where it should. Call us, or join the Connector community for direct support.