January 18, 2023 The Waterfront Project, Inc. (WFP), a nonprofit legal clinic serving Northern New Jersey communities, is delighted to announce that Carol Sainthilaire has joined as the organization’s new Executive Director. Ms. Sainthilaire comes to WFP from Community Enterprises Corporation, an organization providing housing opportunities to individuals with disabilities, where she served as the Chief Executive Officer. She brings with her over thirteen years of experience in housing, advocacy and public sector management
“We are so excited to have Carol on board as our new leader during this period of tremendous growth at the Waterfront Project,” said Isabel Chou, President of the Waterfront Project’s Board of Trustees. “Almost overnight, we grew from a half-million dollar organization with a team of six staff members to close to $2 million and a staff of 25 today who supported over 1,000 people in 2022. With that amount of growth, we needed an experienced executive and thought leader like Carol to help take the organization to that next level where it can serve even more communities and families here in New Jersey.”
“I am honored to join The Waterfront Project to help drive their critical mission of providing legal services to those most in need,” said Ms. Sainthilaire. “More than a decade working in the housing space has shown me how important equitable access to legal services is, and TWP has been leading on that front from the beginning.”
Ms. Sainthilaire holds a Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from the New School, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University. Throughout her career, Ms. Sainthilaire has managed initiatives relating to housing for reentry and child welfare involved populations. Among other things, her work included overseeing criminal justice housing initiatives and providing technical assistance to child welfare agencies on expanding housing programs for youth and families and the Housing First model.
As a community volunteer, Ms. Sainthilaire works with many local animal rescue groups in Hudson County and serves as the Board Chair of My Dog Is My Home, a national non-profit working to help unhoused people and their animals find housing together.
About The Waterfront Project, Inc.
Founded in 2013, The Waterfront Project, Inc. (WFP), is a legal center that provides free civil legal representation, assistance and advocacy to New Jersey residents who are asset-limited, income-constrained, homeless or disenfranchised. At present, TWP serves hundreds of individuals and families facing housing insecurity through its Legal Defense and Housing Counseling Programs, providing free legal counsel and connecting them with housing resources. Throughout the pandemic WFP has supported over 200 New Jersey families through eviction crisis and proudly led over 550 legal cases for people in need. WFP also represents clients on matters related to public benefits, consumer debt, senior estate planning and medical directives, and other civil legal matters. Most recently, WFP launched the Sexual Assault Survivor Legal Services Project, which provides trauma-informed, client-centered advocacy, legal advice, and legal representation to survivors across New Jersey in a variety of matters in the aftermath of assault.
Media Contact:
Francesca Larson
media@thewaterfrontproject.org
Jersey City, New Jersey