Homeless Trust Fund bill approved by a vote of 4-0 by the
Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee
The Homeless Trust Fund legislation, S2354, was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee by a vote of 4-0 on Monday December 8, 2008. Senator Redd, the prime sponsor of S2354 and the Vice-Chair of the committee spoke passionately about the importance of the bill. She spoke about Foster Dunlap, a former Harvard Law professor who became homeless and died spending the night outside in Camden in subzero weather. She said “my vote is for Foster Dunalp a homeless person who would otherwise be forgotten and all of the others who are homeless and need our help.”
In addition, Senator Ron Rice, the Chair of the committee, signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill.
The Advocacy Network is working with the Senate sponsors to have this bill scheduled for a vote at the last Senate session on December 15, 2008. We will let everyone know once the date is confirmed.
Left to right testifying before the committee today were: Daniel A. Altilio, President and CPO of the United Way of Hudson County, Catherine A. DeCheser, President and CEO of The Community Planning & Advocacy Council, Freeholder Blanquita B. Valenti of Middlesex County, and Freeholder Keith Hamilton of Mercer County. Not pictured but also testifying was Freeholder Terry Duffy of Passaic County.
The bill is currently sponsored by:
Senator Dana L. Redd (D-Camden)
Senator Brian Stack (D-Union City)
Senator Robert W. Singer (R-Jackson)
Senator Barbara Buono (D-Edison)
Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-Woodbridge)
Senator Ronald L. Rice (D-Newark)
We continue to strongly encourage our members to contact their State Senators and ask them to both sponsor and support S2354 when it comes to the floor of the Senate. We can provide draft letters upon request. To find out who represents you in the Senate click here.
The members of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee are:
Rice, Ronald L. – Chair who voted Yes.
Redd, Dana L. – Vice-Chair who voted Yes.
Connors, Christopher J. who did not attend.
Haines, Philip E. who voted Yes.
Van Drew, Jeff who voted Yes.
The Homeless Trust Fund establishes a recurring source of funding that would be dedicated to ending homelessness in each County that decided to establish a local fund. This would be a distinct account that would receive dedicated sources of public funds. Funds from the Homeless Trust Fund will be used to support projects that:
1. Measurably reduce homelessness;
2. Demonstrate government cost savings over time;
3. Employ evidence-based models or promising approaches;
4. Could be replicated in other counties across the state;
5. Include a strong performance measurement component; and
6. Are consistent with the locally developed plan to end homelessness.
If you are interested in helping with the campaign we encourage you to read the sign on letter and have your organization become one of the leaders in this important campaign. To view a list of those who have endorsed this campaign click here.
For a fact sheet click here or for a description of possible uses and populations to be served click here.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking here.
For more information click here [Email address: rbrown #AT# njaneh.org - replace #AT# with @ ].
