Now is the time to address NJ’s Homeless Crisis
“If one of our richest counties has people signing up for food stamps who have never signed up before, that indicates the depth of this problem with the lack of food,” said Kathleen DiChiara, executive director of Community FoodBank of New Jersey in an article in The New York Times. The article – Newly Poor Swell Lines at Food Banks - describes the rising demand for services at food banks across the country. The county Ms. DiChiara is referring to is Morris County.
“It’s the canary in the coal mine” she said.
We agree. One of the early warning signs for homelessness is the increase in demands for food and basic services.
In New Jersey the canary has almost stopped breathing.
However, hope is on the way. A key component of the recently signed economic recovery plan is the Homelessness Prevention Fund. This $1.5 billion initiative will provide $41.2 million dollars to New Jersey to prevent and rapidly re-house the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. The Advocacy Network is working with communities around the state to use these funds in an effective way to address the rising tide of homelessness.
In announcing the 2008 Continuum of Care awards, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said “I’m quite confident the funds will be put to very good use very quickly.”
Eligible activities are:
- short- or medium-term rental assistance,
- housing relocation and stabilization services,
- housing search assistance,
- mediation or outreach to property owners,
- credit repair,
- security or utility deposits,
- utility payments,
- rental assistance for a final month at a location,
- moving costs assistance,
- case management, and
- other appropriate activities for homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing of persons who have become homeless.
For more details on the Homelessness Prevention Fund click here.
“These are people who never really had to ask for help before,” said Brenda Beavers, human services director for the Salvation Army in New Jersey, which dispenses emergency food supplies at 30 pantries throughout the state. “They were once givers and now they’re having to ask for assistance.”
To read the full article in The New York Times click here.
