By Briana Vannozzi
Correspondent

Every Wednesday crates of bread get delivered to the Catholic Charities office in Vineland, Cumberland County. And every Wednesday the line of people in need grows a little larger.

“It starts at 10 o’clock on Wednesday and sometimes by 2 p.m. we’re out,” said Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden Administrative Assistant Brian Wagner.

“There’s less work, higher rent, you know people not being able to pay their bills that’s why a lot of people come into these places,” said Vineland resident Alberto Maldonado.

The high cost of living is a concern throughout New Jersey. New data shows a third of all renters pay more than 50 percent of their income on housing alone. That means, there’s not much left for anything else.

“We see all walks of life. It can just be one simple thing like a car broke down, now you’re in danger of being evicted,” said Catholic Charities, Camden Diocese Housing Counseling Program Coordinator Cindy Lebron. “What do you do? Do you pay your car repair, lose your job because you can’t get to your job or pay your rent?”

According to the new research, only Florida tops New Jersey for the number of renters spending half their income while California and New York came in a close third.

A separate study found that a renter in New Jersey needs to earn roughly $53,000 a year to afford the average market rate of $1,300 a month for a two-bedroom rental.

“We call the landlord as soon as they come in, make arrangements, promissory note. That kind of thing and stop the eviction. Get them housed in a matter of 24 hours,” Lebron said.

“I had went out on disability and that’s where my disability and rent, it left like $50 for the month so it’s impossible,” said Kristen Johnson, Catholic Charities client.

Catholic Charities provides a number of social programs including rental assistance and financial planning. Johnson says she and her two young children had nowhere else to turn.

We do intensive case management. We come up with a plan for them, we break it down short-term goals and long-term goals and try to get them to reach their goals,” said Catholic Charities Housing Manager Counselor Madelyn Frazier.

The case workers here aren’t just providing rental assistance. They’re often working with families who have already lost their homes and are out on the street.

“In the past year we actually, as many as five people a week, maybe more. I’d say five people a week average,” Lebron said.

“I’ve always been the type of person who takes care of herself and is in control so it’s a humbling experience,” Johnson said.

This area of South Jersey is also seeing a lot of displaced casino workers come in for help, and with no economic relief in sight, Catholic Charities just hopes they’ll be able to provide it.