It is also the responsibility of this office to ensure that education and awareness in the area of social justice is offered throughout the Diocese both through parish offices and the Vicariates. We are active on committees on the Diocesan level as well as an Inter-diocesan level that includes NJ Catholic Conference, NJ Catholic Coalition for Environmental Justice and Metuchen CRS. The Office of Social Concerns is committed to actively participate in working for peace and justice and to serving those who come to us in need of the basic necessities of life.

The Social Concerns Program is an alliance between Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, and the local parishes. Through this program, the agency brings information, support and direct services to the pastors, social ministers and parishioners of 108 parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen.

Unity Square Neighborhood Revitalization Project
The Unity Square Neighborhood Revitalization Project is part of the Housing and Social Concerns division at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen.

Unity Square is a 37 square block neighborhood in New Brunswick between Commercial and Livingston Avenues and Sanford and Welton Streets. The office is located on the Sacred Heart Church campus. This neighborhood, which is composed of a mix of African Americans who have lived in the area for many years and are predominately homeowners, and new immigrants mostly from Mexico who are predominately renters. The neighborhood has an estimated population of 10,000 people, of which 24% live below the Federal poverty limit. The diversity of the neighborhood reflects the richness and opportunities in this area which have been captured in the revitalization projects.

Catholic Charities, together with Sacred Heart parish began organizing the neighborhood in 2004, and has formed partnerships with many local civic, religious and governmental organizations. A grass roots based neighborhood plan has been completed, which has been approved by the NJ Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of obtaining tax credit funding for projects that reflect the goals within the plan. Some of the goals include the development of housing affordable to families that earn between 35 and 50% of the median income in order to alleviate some of the overcrowded living conditions the residents are experiencing; improving access to health care for those without insurance; economic development; improving recreational activities for youth particularly; reducing crime and the development of a Community Center. To date, one project, which includes the development of 11 units of housing and increasing the hours at the free health clinic, has been fully funded.

Unity Square also has held a number of very well attended community events including Earth Day, Night out against Crime and Halloween events for children.

Community Development and International Solidarity
These programs reach beyond the Diocese of Metuchen and provide direct assistance and stimulate local community response to disaster and long-term poverty:

• The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the United States Catholic Church’s official antipoverty program. Over 4,000 projects have been funded in the past 30 years through the support of Catholics residing in the Diocese of Metuchen and nationwide.
• The Unity Square Partnership, which assists with community development in New Brunswick, support of New Labor outreach for immigrants, and The Intersect Fund, which provides micro lending for small business entrepreneur. For more information about Unity Square, please contact Lorena Gaibor, Program Director at 732-545-0329.
• Catholic Relief Services-Metuchen (CRS) works with the local community, and the national CRS headquarters, to advance global solidarity and social justice. CRS is the official overseas arm of the U.S. Catholic community, sponsoring education, advocacy and fund-raising programs for at-risk communities in over 95 countries.