This bill creates a new housing assistance initiative called the "Veterans Helping Veterans" program within the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs. The program aims to connect homeless veterans with other veterans who volunteer to provide them with housing, using a vetting and incentive system similar to the state's foster care program. Key provisions require the department to establish clear application processes, eligibility criteria for both those seeking and providing housing, and rules for monitoring participant compliance. Additionally, the bill authorizes the department to seek external funding and mandates that implementing regulations be adopted within 90 days of enactment.
This bill requires organizations that provide services to homeless individuals in New Jersey to join the Homeless Management Information System to track shelter bed occupancy. It establishes an Office of Homelessness Prevention within the Department of Community Affairs to coordinate services and manage data from state, county, and municipal agencies. The legislation also allows for the transfer of the Homeless Management Information System from the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to the new office and provides funding to help organizations cover the costs of participation.
This bill requires every municipality in New Jersey to either operate or partner with a nonprofit to run an emergency shelter for homeless individuals within its borders, or alternatively contribute a fee based on population to a county fund that supports existing shelters. Municipalities choosing the fee option would pay $5 per resident according to the latest census data, which the county would then distribute annually to shelters based on the number of homeless people each facility serves. The legislation also mandates that all required shelters use a state system to provide real-time information on bed availability and allows towns to use existing occupancy fees to help cover the new costs.
This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Human Services to seek federal approval to offer rental assistance to specific NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries for up to six months. The program would target individuals who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or transitioning out of emergency shelters and who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness or substance use disorder. If approved, the state would issue financial assistance vouchers or subsidies directly to housing providers to help eligible recipients secure or maintain housing. The bill also requires the state to adopt new rules and regulations to implement the program once federal permission is granted.
This bill designates November of each year as "New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month" to raise public awareness about homelessness among young people in the state. The resolution authorizes the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities. While the bill does not create new funding or policy mandates, it aims to highlight the challenges faced by homeless children and youth, including risks to health, education, and safety, and to foster community support for existing assistance programs.
This bill creates a grant program to help homeless veterans in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties by funding the development of shelters. Counties must apply for grants by proposing specific locations and offering property for the state to build and operate shelters. Grants are available only if the legislature appropriates funds and are awarded based on criteria set by the state's Adjutant General. The program aims to improve access to shelter services for homeless veterans who face geographic barriers in southern New Jersey.
This bill (A 1456) establishes a $200 million mortgage assistance program for low- and moderate-income homeowners in New Jersey who face imminent risk of homelessness due to qualifying economic hardships (like job loss, medical issues, or death of a family member). It provides zero-interest, forgivable loans in four tiers: "deep" subsidies for those missing three+ payments, "moderate" for any delinquency, "shallow" for imminent risk, and "single" for at-risk homeowners. Homeowners must use the home as their primary residence for three years and complete mandatory counseling on budgeting and home finance to qualify for loan forgiveness. The program targets homeowners with incomes at or below 80% of their local median household income.
This bill increases state funding for the Center for Great Expectations in Somerset by $1.5 million, raising its FY2024 appropriation from $500,000 to $2 million. The Center provides housing and services to over 1,000 vulnerable individuals annually, including homeless people, pregnant or parenting individuals, and those with mental health or substance use challenges. The additional funds will specifically support its adolescent residential program (the state's only such program), adult residential services for pregnant women, and outpatient mental health/substance abuse programs. This budget amendment directly addresses current funding shortfalls for these critical services.
This bill creates a special "Support Our Veterans" license plate in New Jersey, available to vehicle owners who pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual fee. The collected fees fund a dedicated "Support Our Veterans License Plate Fund," which annually supports the Veterans Haven Council's services for homeless veterans housed at Veterans Haven facilities. The fund, managed within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, covers costs for veterans' housing and support programs. The plate design will be chosen with input from the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, and initial costs are offset by donations from the Veterans Haven Council and other donors, not public funds.
This bill (A 3016) allows New Jersey municipalities to reserve affordable housing units specifically for low- and moderate-income veterans, counting each such unit as a full credit toward the municipality's required affordable housing obligation. It defines "veteran" broadly (including those discharged with military pay) and specifies that units in facilities like Veterans Haven or transitional housing for homeless veterans qualify. The bill amends existing law to ensure these veteran-reserved units receive full credit, similar to other affordable housing units, without requiring additional municipal funding. It directly affects municipalities responsible for meeting housing obligations and veterans seeking affordable housing.
