Trenton – In an effort to assist local homeless populations, Senator Bob Smith and Senator Joseph Vitale sponsored a bill to allow hospitals to construct or rehabilitate housing and expand services for those suffering from homelessness or housing insecurity. The bill, S-1676, was passed by the Senate today by a vote of 39-0.

“Nationwide, hospitals are increasingly facing a huge challenge from the high costs that come with treating individuals suffering from chronic homelessness,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset).

“Recently, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield implemented a pilot program to provide wrap-around services to high risk community members and saw an impressive reduction in emergency-room visits and hospital readmissions,” said Senator Vitale (D-Middlesex). “If passed and signed into law, this bill will give hospitals the tools and authority they need to provide similar wrap-around services and to support housing projects for the homeless populations they serve.”

Under the bill, hospitals will be authorized to build or rehabilitate, or remediate housing and provide wrap-around services for individuals who are homeless and housing insecure who are treated at the hospital. These services may include referrals to outpatient primary care and behavioral health care, and access to appropriate social services such as employment and childcare assistance.

The bill exempts the provision of housing and wrap-around services for the homeless from the Certificate of Need requirement, a State regulation which could otherwise slow down the process. The bill further deems a hospital’s housing activities permitted uses in residential and nonresidential districts of a municipality and exempts them from local zoning restrictions.