Economy and budget cuts set the stage
Action needed now on a plan to end homelessness
This year’s Thanksgiving was the second we have celebrated during this Great Recession. The anxiety caused by the economic situation would have in itself been enough to add a level of somberness to the holiday. However, the banner headline in the Star-Ledger – N. J. budget deficit grows to $1B for current fiscal year – insured that this holiday would insure a level of sobriety for this holiday season that would be unprecedented.
The state today said it is facing a $1 billion hole in this year’s budget – a shortfall five times bigger than previously disclosed – and will cut funding for schools, municipalities, higher education, hospitals and pension plans to help close the gap.
The budget crisis was not unexpected. Occurring with the backdrop of record high unemployment and foreclosures, rising demand for food, shelter and prevention services, a bad omen is set for the coming winter.
At the appropriate time and place, the Advocacy Network may address specific budget cuts.
Ending homelessness would both save money and help those that negatively impacted by the Great Recession.
As we said last week it will take a paradigm shift to achieve this goal.
The Interagency Council to Prevent and Reduce Homelessness is in the final months of developing a plan for New Jersey.
With the change in administrations we cannot and must not allow this planning process to be lost in the shuffle.
Instead we need not only for it to be finished but for it to be endorsed by both Governor Corzine and Governor-elect Christie.
It will help New Jersey not only to address our financial crisis but also the humanitarian one.
Failure to address both will undermine all that is good about New Jersey.
