City Of Newark Programs

Utility Payment Assistance Centers – Several organizations have partnered with the City to help its residents struggling to pay for utility services. These include Catholic Charities, The Hudson Center, Newark Empowerment Center, Holy Angels, Holy Family, St. Vincent’s DePaul and DEHAP. 

Efficiency Smart- Efficiency Smart helps residents and businesses reduce their energy use and save money. The program offers advice on home energy rebates, appliance recycling, home energy assessments and more. It also offers solutions for small and large businesses.

Home Improvement Loan Program – This program provides loans for necessary home repairs/rehabilitation to eligible homeowners under the CDBG program. Newark homeowners who make below 80% of the area median income for NCC are eligible. Repairs that may qualify under this program include roofing, siding, heating, plumbing, electric, sewer and water systems and accessibility modifications.

Senior Home Repair Program – The Newark Senior Center and Community Services Corporation assist homeowners over the age of 60 with minor free home repairs that focus on health, safety and security. Home value cannot exceed $278,050.

Home Buyer Incentive Program - The Home Buyer’s Incentive Program provides interest free deferred loans up to $5,000 to assist income qualified first-time homebuyers to purchase properties within the City of Newark. The funds can be used for up to 50% of down payment and 100% of settlement closing costs associated with the purchase of the home. All funding requested will be used for the Home Buyer’s Incentive Program loans and program costs (mortgage recording fees, lead paint, and electrical inspections, etc.) The loans will be secured by a second mortgage on the home to be purchased. 

Parks and Recreation Fee Assistance Program - The Parks and Recreation Department requested CDBG funds to support the Recreation Fee Assistance Program. The program assists low- to moderate-income families to take part in City-sponsored activities and programs by eliminating registration fees as a barrier to participation, allowing these families to enjoy the full benefit of City recreational activities and programming. 

The City funds a number of other programs through CDBG and the City’s Revenue Sharing Program by outsourcing this to community organizations to do direct assistance to Newark residents. These include the following:

Newark Day Nursery (NDN) - Day Care Scholarships - The Newark Day Nursery Children’s Center requested funds to provide tuition assistance to low and moderate-income children, and their parents, participating in accredited early care and education programs for children ages 1 – 5 and after school programs for children ages 6–14. The service enables parents to attend work, obtain an education, or participate in training programs knowing that their children are in a safe, nurturing, educational environment.  NDN families pay tuition on a sliding scale depending on their family income level. Funds received from the CDBG program are used to cover the difference between what a family can pay and the real cost of providing the service. Because tuition supplements are provided on a sliding scale based on income, the total number of participants to be served will vary depending on the number of applicants and their individual income levels.

Newark Senior Center - Meals on Wheels Program - The Newark Senior Center is requesting funds to subsidize the home delivery of meals to homebound elderly or disabled residents of the City of Newark. Meals-On-Wheels is a meal delivery program serving a hot, nutritious, mid-day meal to homebound City of Newark participants. Approximately 22% of the Meals on Wheels clients live in the City of Newark, for a total annual cost of over $76,091 to serve the City’s population. The client’s residency and ability to donate toward the cost of their meals is determined during an initial interview and a sliding scale is used to provide a recommended client donation for meals. Meals are prepared fresh each day using the Newark Senior Center kitchen, and consist of a protein source, side of rice or pasta, a vegetable, cup of soup, serving of bread, milk, and a homemade dessert. All meals are delivered by volunteers from the community, service organizations, churches and area corporations and businesses, who also help to provide human contact for clients otherwise facing very isolated circumstances.

Newark Area Welfare Committee Emergency Cash & Food Assistance - The Newark Area Welfare Committee (NAWC) requested funding to continue its Emergency and Food Assistance Program. This program provides emergency monies to Newark residents in need of assistance with their utility bills and rent, as well as temporary lodging, medical expenses, mortgage payments, shoes, food, and other immediate needs that residents face during times of significant financial challenges. Funds from the grant are used only to help Newark residents that meet guidelines established for public assistance by staff of the Hudson State Service Center. Residency is documented through interviews by Hudson Center staff and verified by a NAWC representative. The goal of the program is to help the client through an emergency when other agencies are unable to help.

Newark Arts Alliance – Camp Imagine Scholarships for kids - The Newark Arts Alliance requested funds for scholarships for low-income Newark families to attend “Camp Imagine,” which is held off site at the Newark Center for Creative Learning on Phillips Avenue. The two week, full-time, summer art camp includes sessions of visual arts (drawling, painting, clay, and mixed media) and performing arts such as dance and theater, for up to 36 children ages 7 to 12. Each week, the camp runs Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM, both before and after-care is made available on a sliding scale based on family income.

YWCA Delaware, Inc. – Economic Empowerment Program 

YWCA Delaware, Inc., requested funding for the Delaware Economic Empowerment Program, dedicated to eliminating barriers to success and achieve economic advancement and self-sufficiency for individuals and families. This program provides valuable financial literacy, economic advancement with a focus on sustainable homeownership and practical financial education. Through both workshops and one-on-one counseling, HUD-approved housing counselors and qualified financial coaches work with clients to develop budgets and navigate the financial system. With projections based on experience, the YWCA expects to serve over 50 individuals from the City of Newark. The Revenue Sharing Program requires that program funds be used to provide direct assistance to City of Newark households. The YWCA will collect documentation to ensure the households served are City of Newark residents. 

Newark Bike Project – Youth Empowerment Program - The Newark Bike Project (NBP) is a volunteer-based nonprofit community bike shop offering shared access to professional repair tools and knowledgeable volunteer mechanics to residents of Newark. NBP is constantly working to educate, empower and create a strong sense of community and encourage sustainability. To this end, the NBP applied for funding for a Youth Empowerment Program, which educates middle and high school students about bike safety and maintenance, trains them in leadership, and organizes them to carry out bike safety and ridership workshops in the Newark area, as well as other community service activities. Youth programs include support for local safe routes to school programs in partnership with WILMAPCO, the City of Newark, the Christina School District, BikeNewark, and DelDOT.

Lori’s Hands Spring Clean-Up Day and Home Safety Project - Lori’s Hands was established as a community health service-learning program to meet the needs of adults living with chronic illness in Newark. In addition to assistance with activities such as grocery shopping, light cleaning, and meal preparation, volunteers also provide companionship and social support to clients during weekly visits. These services are designed to specifically support individuals who want to remain living independently in the community. Lori’s Hands requested Revenue Sharing funds towards its inaugural Spring Clean Up Day for an expansion of Lori’s Hands Services to target residents living in Newark. The Clean-Up day will offer assistance to both current clients and others in Newark with chronic illness who are not presently enrolled in Lori’s Hands but who may be interested in the future. 

Good Neighbors – Home Repair Program - Good Neighbors requested funding to do four (4) free home rehabilitations/repairs at properties in the City of Newark for low to moderate income households. Good Neighbors sends a project manager to assess the scope of work. They focus on “critical repairs” like installing wheelchair ramps, fixing electrical and plumbing issues, and repairing or replacing water heaters, furnaces, windows, doors, and leaking roofs as well as addressing any other safety or health issues. The project manager then with the Volunteer Coordinator brings together local church and business volunteers to work on the home.  This means that a $12,000 grant could accomplish 30K or more worth of home repairs. The unit cost is $4,000 per home.

New Castle County Programs

Hope Center - The Mission of the New Castle County Hope Center is to house and support adults & families experiencing homelessness during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Down Payment & Settlement Assistance – This program enables low and moderate income households to purchase a home by providing assistance to cover the down payment and/or settlement charges. 

Federal Programs

With the exception of the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, all COVID-19 related programs are discontinued.

State Of Delaware Resident Programs:

COVID-19 Rental Assistance – Renters facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic may qualify for assistance through the Delaware Housing Assistance Program (DEHAP). This program can assist with up to 15 months. Fees and utilities due to landlord can be covered by DEHAP up to $2000/month.

Delaware Mortgage Relief Program - A program designed to assist eligible households who experienced a COVID-19-related financial hardship that resulted in mortgage delinquency or forbearance. 

Delaware 2-1-1 – Delaware 211 is a partnership with United Way of Delaware to connect residents to health and human services including housing, utility assistance, healthcare, food, senior services, substance abuse, legal help and other services. Residents requiring services can dial 2-1-1 to be connected with a team member.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - This program includes grants for home heating, crisis assistance and summer cooling assistance. Eligibility is defined as 200% of the federal poverty level.

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) – This program provides funds to assist low income households with water and wastewater bills. To be considered, qualified applicants must be in danger of immediate disconnection or are attempting to prevent disconnection. Funds may be available to pay current water bills.

State Of Delaware Small Business Programs:

EDGE grant - Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion. The Division of Small Business awards EDGE Grants through a competitive selection process. STEM-based companies can receive up to $100,000 for eligible expenses. Entrepreneur Class (non-STEM) businesses can get up to $50,000. The funds are provided as a $3 (state) to $1 (business) match. And the Division can provide up to 10 grants per application round (5 STEM/5 Entrepreneur). Deadline to apply is 5pm on March 31. 

Workforce Training Grant – This program offers grants to fund customized training for eligible Delaware entities. The objective is to attract and retain quality jobs in the state.