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Ending Homelessness
people in the U.S. were experiencing HOMELESSNESS in 2022. out of every Roughly 18 10,000
Community involvement is crucial to addressing homelessness effectively, it’s up to all of us to do our part, whether individuals participate and join subcommittees to offer diverse perspectives and insights, or volunteer or donate to shelters, I encourage all our residents to join the County’s efforts to combat homelessness.”
A BEACON OF HOPE: Ending Homelessness in Middlesex County Homelessness affects over 400,000 individuals across the United States, but in Middlesex County, NJ, a comprehensive strategy is underway to provide support, shelter, and hope to those in need.
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CLARIBEL A. AZCONA-BARBER. Middlesex County Commissioner
MIDDLESEX COUNTY HOUSING FIRST CAPITAL FUND has successfully created over
INSTILLING HOPE: Adapting to the Pandemic While the COVID-19 pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, Middlesex County’s commitment to ending homelessness remained steadfast. In response to the pandemic, the County launched the COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program, providing $21.5 million in rental and utility assistance to 2,035 households. Beyond the pandemic, Middlesex County’s journey to end homelessness highlights community collaboration and unwavering commitment, offering hope for those experiencing homelessness and turning the County into a beacon of hope for communities everywhere. “Community involvement is crucial to addressing homelessness effectively,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Claribel A. Azcona-Barber. “It’s up to all of us to do our part, whether individuals participate and join subcommittees to offer diverse perspectives and insights, or volunteer or donate to shelters, I encourage all our residents to join the County’s efforts to combat homelessness.” For more information, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov and type “Office of Human Services” in the search bar.
SUPPORTING THE CAUSE: Middlesex County’s Plan At the heart of the County’s efforts is the Middlesex County Housing Continuum of Care Committee (MCHC³), a diverse group of stakeholders dedicated to planning and coordinating services for the homeless. The County helped establish Coming Home of Middlesex County, Inc., a non-for-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness. Together, MCHC³ and Coming Home promote collaborations, ensure equal access to homeless system resources, prioritize placements for shelter and housing opportunities to those most in need, and use data to allocate resources and address system gaps. “The coordinating efforts of Coming Home and MCHC³ helped create a true homeless response system that is more consumer- friendly and reduces the need for persons who are homeless to call multiple agencies for services. This strategic approach and coordination of County, state and federal funding toward system goals have helped increase funding opportunities to address homelessness. For example, this year our County has secured over $3.5 million in federal HUD Continuum of Care funding for approximately 20 community programs,” said Middlesex County’s Director of Human Services Melyssa Lewis.
PROVIDING SHELTER: The Housing First Capital Fund One of the key pillars of Middlesex County’s plan is the Housing First Capital Fund, which seeks to establish permanent, affordable housing units for homeless individuals and families by constructing new housing units, rehabilitating existing properties, and acquiring land for housing projects. The Board of County Commissioners has committed an annual budget of $1 million to this fund, making it a critical resource for housing initiatives for the homeless. “In our unwavering commitment to house and assist the homeless population, Middlesex County has successfully created more than 60 new units in the last five years, and over 100 units dedicated to homeless individuals and families since the Housing First Capital Fund program started,” said Lewis. Middlesex was one of the first counties in the state to establish a County Homeless Trust Fund. Funded by a small fee on certain documents recorded in the County Clerk’s office, it supports housing for veterans, Coming Home, and Code Blue funding to municipalities.
dedicated to homeless individuals & families for the past 12 years. 100 units Between OCTOBER 2021 & SEPTEMBER 2022 203 households received Rental or Utility Assistance from the County’s HUD program.
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When temperatures plummet to 32 degrees or below, Middlesex County Emergency Management calls a Code Blue. This alerts municipalities to open warming centers. Code Blue declarations and a list of warming centers can be found on NJ211.org CODE BLUE Helping the Vulnerable During the Winter Months
With 25 municipalities ranging from urban centers to farmland communities, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to ending homelessness. To combat this national crisis, Middlesex County has focused on not just managing homelessness but has implemented various initiatives and programs that seek to end homelessness.
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RONALD G. RIOS Director of the Board of County Commissioners
middlesexcountynj.gov 9
8 Your Middlesex | 2023 Issue 3
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