Atlantic City, NJ – October 28, 2015 V. J. SCOZZARI & SONS, INC. is proud to announce the firm’s receipt of a 2015 Governor’s Conference on Housing & Economic Development Award. The “Leading Supportive Housing through Creative Partnership” Award was presented to the Freedom Village at Hopewell Community.

The goal of the Governor’s Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards is to recognize projects and professionals that are on the cutting edge of innovation in the fields of affordable housing and economic development. The awards are bestowed on behalf of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJ DCA), the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJ HMFA) and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJ EDA).

Leading Supportive Housing through Creative Partnership Award

Leading Supportive Housing through Creative Partnership Award

The Leading Supportive Housing through Creative Partnership award was presented by Anthony L. Marchetta, Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJ HMFA) and recognizes achievement in the creation of supported housing designed to serve special needs populations. That among other qualifications specifically address the following:

  • Promotes affordability within the community by providing affordable housing to a targeted population
  • Incorporates design excellence that addresses the needs of the tenants
  • Offers successful supportive service programs to assist tenants to move towards independence and self-sufficiency
  • Innovative partnership made possible by the collective vision and leadership of at least two partner agencies. (ie. for-profit, non-profit, community agency, local government, faith based organization, public housing authority);
  • Promotes diversity, social inclusion, integration, and adds to the quality of life of neighborhood residents

The main award recipient was Project Freedom, the other award recipient partners included:  Hopewell Township, who contributed the land and pre-development financing support; Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Trenton who worked with the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJ DHS) in serving their homeless population by providing financial and service support; the State of New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities (NJ DDD) who also provided support for individuals with special needs; Opportunities for All, who conducts workshops and trainings that stress the things needed to get and keep a job in today’s market place; the Hopewell Township Board of Education who conducts educational seminars for families of those Special Education parents; Joseph F. McKernan Architects and V. J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc. who served as the Construction Manager for the project. The Freedom Village at Hopewell Community marks the third partnership with Project Freedom. Previously completed projects include one in Hamilton Township and one in Lawrence Township. The two organizations have a fourth community under construction in Toms River NJ.

The Freedom Village at Hopewell Community is a supportive housing neighborhood, which consists of six buildings containing 72 fully assessable apartments, a 5,000 square foot community building, a wood framed gazebo and other site amenities. The fully accessible 10 acre site has been designed to comply with New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program TM and the NJ ENERGY STAR® Homes Program in accordance with the State of New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) Green Homes program.

Project Freedom, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that develops and operates barrier-free housing to enable individuals with disabilities to live independently. Supportive services such as recreation, training and advocacy are provided. In addition to being a developer of accessible, affordable housing, Project Freedom also provides supportive services, whereby self-directed people with disabilities can live independently in a non-medical environment. For more information about Project Freedom visit http://www.projectfreedom.org/

V.J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc. is a General Contracting, Construction Management, and Design/Build firm that has been meeting the needs of clients for more than three generations. They continue to adhere to the basic business values that have guided them from the very earliest days in business-attention to quality, honest and mutual beneficial client relationships, and a management philosophy that emphasizes treating clients, employees, and partners with respect and fairness.   Since the early 1990’s the firm has been a pioneer in the providing cost effective sustainable construction services and high performance buildings. The firm has a staff of United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Accredited Professionals (AP) as well as G|PRO Construction Management professionals, certified by the Urban Green Council, USGBC of New York. For more information about V. J. Scozzari & Sons, Inc. and the construction services they provide visit www.vjscozzariandsons.com