Public Information & Community Resources, NJ

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Q & A Session

Listed below are some of the most common questions asked by site visitors. By no means is this list exhaustive. So if you have a question that is not listed here with a related answer, just click on the "Comments" button to submit your question. We will research the question and post an answer on this site as quickly as possible.



  1. How and where can I find housing?
  2. Where can I find gainful employment?
  3. Can I be legally restricted from certain jobs?
  4. Can I get an LLC or other type business license?
  5. Where can I find Public Assistance?
  6. Where can I get individual and/or group counseling?
  7. Who should I see for a case specific evaluation?
  8. Where can I find immediate help during crisis?
  9. What are the different Resident Laws in each state?
  10. What is the "Tiering" Process, and does it apply to me?
  11. Are there different Travel Laws in each state?
  12. Are there any good support groups or networks?
  13. Your Comments




Housing: How and Where To Find It

There are countless websites on the net which list housing locations, prices, and financial as well as criminal background checks; therefore I see no reason to cover this territory again. It is the purpose of this website to show you how to break down barriers, not just repeat what you already know. Probably the biggest challenge facing you is the ability to secure adequate, affordable housing. While the task is often extremely tough, it is not impossible. The tips given below are tools found to be very effective:

1. Target landlords; not apartment complexes owned by companies or corporations. The reason is corporations are typically interested in your purchasing power, your credit score, and your background. While the average landlord is certainly interested in such things as well, the difference is you get the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the person who ultimately makes the decision.

2. Hunt for your apartment with the same intensity you would search for employment: be consistent, call or drop by the location as many times as it takes to get an housing interview with the landlord; follow up on every lead and interview you have.

3. When you get your face-to-face interview it is UP TO YOU to convince the landlord that you would be an excellent tenant - a "good risk" investment. What? Even with a criminal background? Yes, even with a background. Understand that if a landlord could fill all his/her properties with squeaky, clean background tenants he probably would not be talking to you. A significant number of landlords are concerned about your willingness to make payments on time, to keep his or her property clean and in good living condition, and to be decent toward your neighbors.

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    • Full-time Employment: How and Where To Find It

    Again we will bypass the usual list of things you can find on many sites, such as "resume writing", "personal appearance", "interview preparations", "networking", etc... . Instead we will focus soley on principles not usually covered. The suggestions outlined in housing tips 2 and 3 can be applied to the area of employment as well, but a few more are added here to help increase your chances of locating steady, full-time employment.

    1. A computer and an e-mail address are two things that "appear" to be prerequisite for an application and eventual interview. This is normally true if you are seeking a job position with a median 5 figure starting salary requiring a high degree of education and/or experience. Of course there are exceptions like Walmart, Shoprite, or Whole Foods (just to name a few) which are lower wage jobs that do require on-line applications.There are a couple things you can do:

    2. Be willing to accept a job that perhaps nobody else wants. This shows a sense of humility and a willingness to go where the company needs you. Remember, YOU are asking someone to "just give me a chance" or "I just need a new start"! Well, sometimes that's at the bottom. Be willing to accept it until you work your way up or secure better employment.

    More points could be made here, but you should get the drift by now: Think outside the box; do things that will set you apart from the other, typical employee candidate. If you can (and we know you can) show a potential employer that you possess something good for the future of the company, he or she would be more inclined to overlook your past.

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    • Job Restrictions and Sanctions

    While state and federal laws do not prohibit anyone from being employed they do, however, place restrictions on holding certain job positions based on the type of conviction(s) a person has. Such restrictive laws apply to certain misdemeanor crimes as well, and these laws (for felony and misdemeanor) vary from state to state. In addition, similar laws exist at the national or federal level. Sometimes nothing could be more frustrating and embarrassing than wasting time and personal resources seeking a job position (only to discover much later in the process) you are sanctioned (restricted) from holding. At the end of this paragraph there is a link to an official government-sponsored site called The National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction. Here you will find compiled lists of legal sanctions and restrictions correlated to specific types of convictions. When you access the site just do the following: 1. click on the orange "V", 2. click on your state, 3. click "Employment" in the "Select Consequence Category" box, 4. click whatever type offense you have in the "Select Offense Category" box; 5. click the orange colored "V" inside the white circle.


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    • Public Assistance: Where do I go?

    Click on the link below which takes you to the official site of the NJ Department of Human Services listing all county public assistance offices throughout the state of New Jersey. Contact your county office, and staff should be able to address any questions or concerns you have about public assistance requirements or qualifications.

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    • Residence, Travel, Tiering: Laws & Procedures

    What are the different Resident, Tierirng, and Travel Laws in each state? What is the "Tiering" process and does it apply to me? Click on the link at the end of this paragraph to connect you to official and general web sites of each state. PICS does not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided by the sites listed on the link. If you have any additional questions or if you question is not answered satisfactorily, we suggest that you utilize the contact information provided on those sites to contact the appropriate state authorities directly.


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    • Business & Free Enterprise