Support New Jersey’s Most Vulnerable Families

In New Jersey’s oldest cities, low-income families face overwhelming challenges: health risks, housing instability, and soaring energy costs. These barriers make it hard for them to thrive.

Children’s Health at Risk: Asthma keeps kids out of school and parents away from work. Lead poisoning, affecting 4,500 children annually in New Jersey, threatens academic success and increases the likelihood of behavioral issues and juvenile justice involvement. About 80% of these cases stem from lead paint dust in older homes, damaging young brains and causing lifelong learning and health problems. In Trenton, 50% of schoolchildren have blood lead levels that impair their reading and math skills. 

Elderly Safety Concerns: Substandard housing creates trip-and-fall hazards, sending seniors to hospitals or long-term care facilities. 

High Energy Costs: Outdated homes lack energy-efficient infrastructure, leading to utility bills that burden families already struggling financially. In New Jersey, high electricity rates make energy costs the second leading cause of homelessness, with nearly half of household energy used for heating.

The Cost of Inaction 

Each child affected by lead poisoning costs taxpayers up to $32,000 annually in special education, healthcare, and criminal justice expenses.

Substandard housing—marked by leaky roofs, peeling paint, vermin, and unsafe electrical or plumbing systems—drives up disease, crime, and mental health issues, according to the University of California Berkeley Health Impact Group.

Physical deterioration, like a leaking roof, can unleash encapsulated lead or cause injuries, creating a cycle of hazards.

Our Solution
Mercer County Hispanic Association(MECHA) and our partners are tackling these interconnected issues with innovative, cost-effective solutions. By addressing lead poisoning, improving home safety, and upgrading energy efficiency, we: 

Protect children’s health and academic potential. 

Ensure safer homes for families and seniors. 

Reduce energy costs, easing financial burdens. 

Create jobs and prevent neighborhood decline.

Your Impact
Your donation can transform lives by funding healthier homes, lower energy bills, for New Jersey’s families. Join us in breaking the cycle of poverty and instability—support our work today!