Trust Fund
Governor Corzine signs A-3101/S2354
Governor Jon Corzine was joined by state Senator Dana L. Redd (D-Camden, Gloucester), Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden, Gloucester), Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D-Mercer), Assmblywoman Elease Evans (D-Bergen, Passaic) and Camden Mayor Gwedolyn Faison as he signed the County Homeless Trust Fund into law in a ceremony held on September 8, 2009, at the Cathedral Kitchen in Camden. Almost one hundred fifty (150) people attended this event.
Governor Corzine signs the Trust Fund
Every member of the State Legislature committed to joining Senator Dana L. Redd in going county by county to lobby the Board of Chosen Freeholders to set up the Trust Funds. this will only succeed if the members of the Advocacy Network to End Homelessness are also working county by county to make this a reality.
These are the materials from the September 15, 2009, Homeless Trust Fund Implementation Forum.
PowerPoint Presentation in Adobe PDF Format
“The number of homeless, in New Jersey – especially women and children – is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes due to sudden economic hardship,” said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). “State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street.”
“Helping the hopeless is at the very core of what government should be about, and this new law provides a helping hand to those folks who have nowhere else to turn,” said Senator Dana Redd, (D-Camden, Gloucester). “At a time when the economy is struggling, many hard-working State residents are slipping through the cracks, unable to keep their heads above water. By authorizing counties to create a trust fund to assist the homeless, we are throwing those people a life preserver in their time of greatest need.”
The creation of county homelessness trust funds will provide some of the additional funds necessary to move homeless or formerly homeless individuals toward the goal of permanent affordable housing and self-sufficiency.
“In today’s economy even people who work hard and play by the rules can find themselves homeless through no fault of their own,” said Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden, Gloucester). “I am excited that we are empowering counties to help New Jerseyans put a dependable roof over their heads.”
To read the full press release from the Governors’ office click here.
Click here to view photos from the public bill signing
Click here to view video from the public bill signing.