Bill Text: NJ SJR109 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses State's support for addressing homelessness through rapid rehousing strategies and urges use of rapid rehousing core components by community-based programs.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-12-07 - Substituted by AJR149 (2R) [SJR109 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SJR109-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses State's support for addressing homelessness through rapid rehousing strategies and urges use of rapid rehousing core components by community-based programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution expressing the State's support for the strategies and core components of rapid rehousing programs as a way to combat homelessness, and urging their use by community-based programs.
Whereas, Homelessness remains a continuing and visible social problem that exacts indirect costs in productivity and dignity for the men, women, and children affected by it; and
Whereas, As a result of the day-to-day challenges faced by homeless persons and their heightened likelihood of facing hospitalization or imprisonment, homelessness remains a continuing expense for the State's taxpayers; and
Whereas, Rapid rehousing programs move individuals and families experiencing homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, provide supportive services together with rental assistance, and are widely considered a particularly effective way to combat homelessness; and
Whereas, Federal agencies that fund homelessness assistance endorse the core components of rapid rehousing programs: housing identification, financial assistance, and case management services; and
Whereas, Rapid rehousing programs help individuals and families experiencing homelessness locate and secure housing by identifying available affordable rental units, and by recruiting landlords who are willing to rent to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness; and
Whereas, Rapid rehousing programs provide financial assistance to cover move-in costs and security deposits, and, on average, six months of rent and utility payments, to allow individuals and families to move immediately out of homelessness and stabilize in permanent housing; and
Whereas, Rapid rehousing programs help individuals and families experiencing homelessness identify and select among various permanent housing options based on the unique needs, preferences, and financial resources of the individual or family, thereby increasing the likelihood that households will remain stably housed once program assistance ends; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The State expresses its strong support for the strategies and core components of rapid rehousing services, and urges community-based programs to employ rapid rehousing methods in order to reduce and eventually eliminate homelessness.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor, the Commissioners of the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, the Chair of the State Parole Board, the Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the public members of the Interagency Council on Homelessness.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution expresses the State's support for the strategies and core components of rapid rehousing programs as a way of combatting homelessness, and urges community-based programs to employ rapid rehousing methods in order to reduce and eventually eliminate homelessness.
Rapid rehousing programs are considered a particularly effective way to combat homelessness. Rapid rehousing programs move individuals and families experiencing homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, and provide supportive services together with rental assistance. The core components of rapid rehousing programs are housing identification, financial assistance, and case management services.
Rapid rehousing programs help people experiencing homelessness identify and secure affordable housing units; provide them financial assistance to cover move-in costs, security deposits, and rent and utility payments; and council them on the selection of housing to meet their needs.
