By now it is clear and there is no longer any doubt:
We are in the midst of a financial crisis.

Industries in the New Jersey region have been hit hard. We read about the increased layoffs occurring in the financial services, pharmaceutical, and technology arena. Right here in our own backyard we know family, friends, and neighbors who have been directly affected by this economic upheaval. People are losing their jobs, they are having trouble keeping their homes, they are being forced to give up their health insurance, and they are feeling enormous stress, which often affects their family lives and troubles their marriages. There has been nothing like it in decades. It stretches around the world and it reaches into every community.

Demand for aid from community agencies like Jewish Vocational Service and Jewish Family Service is increasing at an alarming rate, and this is only the beginning. MORE

From July to September 2008, our partner agencies saw a 30% increase overall in the monthly caseloads for career counseling, career placement, mental health counseling, and cash assistance requests, as compared to the same period in 2007.

But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Typically, services like these face the true scale of the problem only after a time delay, due to the nature of the issues they address. That tells us things are about to get much worse!

It’s our expectation that the number of requests and caseloads will increase dramatically over the next three to six months. MORE

Only a few months old, the MetroWest HELPS supplemental funding initiative has already begun to make inroads, reducing the impact of the ongoing difficult economic situation on MetroWest Jewish individuals and families.

MetroWest HELPS is a two-pronged approach to the economic crisis that so many people in MetroWest have to deal with. UJC is getting out the message to the community that emergency help is available for anyone suffering from job loss, financial distress, or the emotional impact that affects the entire family as a result of dire financial challenges. Every effort possible is being made to be sure every member of the community knows that support is available to them. MORE

If you lost your job or are experiencing emotional & financial trauma due to the current economic crisis...

UJC MetroWest and our Partner Agencies are here for you and your family.

Through MetroWest Helps, assistance is available if you:

• Lost your job or are underemployed and need job counseling, training, or placement
• Are about to lose your home
• Can't make ends meet
• Are experiencing enormous stress and anxiety and are having trouble coping

The Jewish Resource Line (contact: 973-929-3100) is a centralized information and referral service providing health, educational, vocational, and social services offered under Jewish auspices.

Jewish Family Service (contact: 973-765-9050) provides counseling for individuals, families, couples, and children and can be helpful in a variety of ways to families in financial distress.

Jewish Vocational Service Career Counseling & Placement Services (contact: 973-674-6330, x271) provides support services and counseling for the unemployed and underemployed.

Hebrew Free Loan (contact: 973-765-9050, x344) provides interest-free loans to Jews with no place else to turn. Loans are provided for virtually any situation in which a needy family finds itself.