New Jersey unveils a $30 million plan to end veteran homelessness, aiming to house over 1,000 veterans in two years.
At a Glance
- New Jersey’s “Bringing Veterans Home” initiative allocates $30 million to combat veteran homelessness
- The plan aims to provide stable housing for over 1,000 homeless veterans within two years
- State departments will collaborate with veteran service organizations in a public-private partnership
- Six regional hubs will be established to coordinate assistance across county lines
- Self-referrals for the program will be available by early 2025
New Jersey Takes Bold Step to Address Veteran Homelessness
On Veterans Day, New Jersey announced a landmark initiative to combat veteran homelessness. The “Bringing Veterans Home” program, unveiled by Acting Governor Tahesha Way, commits more than $30 million in state and federal resources to provide stable housing for over 1,000 homeless veterans within the next two years. This ambitious plan represents a significant step towards ensuring that those who have served our country never have to worry about where they will sleep at night.
The initiative, led by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, marks the first-of-its-kind collaboration between state agencies and veteran service organizations. This public-private partnership aims to streamline the housing assistance process for unhoused veterans, service members, and National Guard members.
Today I’m proud to announce our “Bringing Veterans Home” initiative — dedicated to ending veteran homelessness in New Jersey over the next two years.
The courageous men and women who have served our country should never bear the weight of homelessness. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PTGf6vtTnF
— Lt Governor Tahesha Way (@LtGovWay) November 11, 2024
Comprehensive Approach to Veteran Support
The “Bringing Veterans Home” initiative goes beyond simply providing housing. It includes a range of support services such as diversion programs, rapid rehousing, emergency sheltering, street outreach, and permanent housing vouchers. Six regional hubs will be established to assist with case coordination across Continuums-of-Care and county lines, ensuring that no veteran falls through the cracks of bureaucratic boundaries.
“New Jersey veterans deserve our utmost respect and support—after serving our country, they should never worry about where they will sleep at night. My Administration is proud to partner with our veteran service organizations to invest in the fight against veteran homelessness and ensure that it will be rare and brief in New Jersey” – Governor Phil Murphy
Eligibility for assistance includes those classified as veterans, National Guard members, and service members according to state and federal definitions. Veterans must have been honorably discharged to qualify for the program. The initiative aims to effectively end veteran homelessness in New Jersey by 2027, addressing a critical need identified in the most recent count of 518 unhoused veterans in the state.
Accessibility and Outreach
To ensure that all eligible veterans can access these services, self-referrals will be available by early 2025 through a web referral form, NJ 211’s homelessness hotline, or associated homelessness services providers. Additionally, direct outreach efforts will be conducted to reach veterans in homeless encampments or those unable to apply independently.
“Through this initiative, we’re not just setting ambitious goals – we’re providing the resources, coordination, and accountability needed to achieve them” – Office of Homelessness Prevention Director Michael Callahan
The DCA’s Office of Homelessness Prevention will manage the initiative with a dedicated data and project management team, ensuring that the program’s progress can be tracked and its effectiveness measured. This comprehensive approach demonstrates New Jersey’s commitment to not just housing veterans, but also addressing the root causes of homelessness among this population.
Challenges and Future Considerations
While the “Bringing Veterans Home” initiative has been widely praised, some lawmakers emphasize the need for even more comprehensive solutions. Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, while supporting the initiative, stressed the importance of addressing underlying issues such as medical problems, substance abuse, and mental health concerns that often contribute to veteran homelessness.
The initiative comes at a critical time, as New Jersey’s overall homeless rate has increased by 24% since 2023, with veterans making up 5.4% of the adult homeless population. By focusing on this vulnerable group, the state hopes to make significant strides in reducing overall homelessness while honoring the service of its veterans.
As this ambitious program rolls out, all eyes will be on New Jersey to see if it can achieve its goal of effectively ending veteran homelessness by 2027. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for other states grappling with similar challenges, potentially transforming the landscape of veteran support across the nation.
Sources:
- This is NJ’s $30M plan to wipe out veteran homelessness in just 2 years
- New Jersey commits $30M to combat veteran homelessness
- State launches public-private partnership to end veteran homelessness
