Photo caption: The Roseville Avenue emergency shelter, home to UCC’s expanded medical respite program.

Funding allows United Community Corporation to continue vital program, provides residents greater stability and doubles capacity, ensuring UCC can continue to serve Newark residents for decades to come

West Orange, N.J., October 14, 2026 – RWJBarnabas Health today announced a $1 million donation to United Community Corporation (UCC), a longstanding pillar of the Newark community, to support and double the capacity of its medical respite program that provides safe, stable, transitional housing for the unhoused following discharge from a hospital. The donation strengthens the organization’s long-term stability, which was challenged financially, and will allow UCC to keep operating its Roseville Avenue emergency shelter for a minimum of three years, creating greater certainty for those who depend on UCC’s services.

“United Community Corporation has been a critical link to better health for Newark residents for better than six decades,” said Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health. “We are proud to partner with them to ensure that not only can Newarkers who are among the most vulnerable continue their journeys to better health in a safe and supportive environment, but that this care can continue for the foreseeable future.”

RWJBarnabas Health’s investment will allow the United Community Emergency Shelter to expand the capacity of its medical respite program from 10 to 20 residents while providing a more accessible location for individuals who use wheelchairs or have physical limitations. The program provides short-term residential support for individuals who are being discharged from a hospital and experiencing homelessness, offering patients a safe, clean place to recuperate, three meals a day, and individualized support to help them work toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.
“For the people we serve, knowing there is somewhere to turn can make all the difference,” said Craig Mainor, Executive Director, United Community Corporation. “This generous investment from RWJBarnabas Health helps relieve a significant financial burden and allows us to look ahead with greater confidence. As we prepare to serve residents at our ninth location, this support strengthens our ability to provide a safe place to recover and build on the work UCC has carried forward in Newark for more than six decades.”

Since 1964, UCC has helped individuals and families meet immediate needs and build toward lasting self-sufficiency. Through this work, UCC has remained a trusted presence for communities across Newark. UCC currently operates nine locations in Essex County with an emergency shelter, a food pantry, and several programs including utility assistance, employment services, and more.

“UCC has stood alongside Newark residents for decades, offering support, opportunity and hope when they need it most,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “RWJBarnabas Health’s investment recognizes how much this organization means to our city and helps strengthen its future. We are grateful to UCC and RWJBarnabas Health for their dedication to the dignity and well-being of our residents.”
“Recovery does not end when someone leaves the hospital. Having a safe place to rest, regular meals and help navigating the next steps can make a meaningful difference,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, PhD, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health. “By supporting UCC, we are helping create those conditions for patients while strengthening an organization that understands and responds to the needs of this community. This investment – made possible through resources from the State of New Jersey –reflects our commitment to addressing the everyday challenges that affect health and helping Newark residents build more stable futures.”

This investment was supported by the state-supported Our Healthy Communities initiative and builds upon RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to working with community partners to address social determinants of health including food insecurity and housing instability. Other recent investments in Newark include the opening of Harvest: A Farm to Community Center, the Brigaid program offering chef-made nutritious meals in Newark Public Schools, and the mobile pediatric clinic facilitating health clinics across Essex County.

About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.

RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey.  It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.

RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 45,000 employees, contributing more than $7 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org