(Trenton, NJ, March 10) — Governor Sherrill, thank you.

Thank you for including $25 million for rapid re-housing programs and $11 million for expanding Bringing Veterans Home in the Governor's budget proposal — recognizing that defending New Jersey values means taking bold action to address the urgent, growing homelessness crisis in our state.

We also welcome your commitment to begin to restore the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a critical source of funding for building homes that must be fully funded at a time when New Jersey’s affordable housing shortage is at an all-time high — reducing diversions by more than $70 million and making $30 million available for new construction.

“A budget is a statement of values. Today’s budget proposal makes it clear that in New Jersey, we refuse to look away as more of our neighbors, an increasing number older adults and families, do not have a safe place to sleep each night or risk their lives in extreme weather conditions because they have nowhere else to go,” said Connie Mercer, CEO of the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness.  

“Homelessness has increased 57% over the past 3 years, and it is estimated that more than 152,000 New Jersey residents sought homeless or homelessness prevention services last year alone. That means more people were homeless or at risk of homelessness statewide last year than the entire population of Lakewood, New Jersey’s 4th largest city.

Homelessness is not inevitable. Governor Sherrill pledged today that this must be the year we effectively end veteran homelessness in New Jersey. And we know that if we have the tools to end veterans' homelessness, we have the tools to end all homelessness in our state with sufficient investment, political will, and courageous leadership to prioritize solutions.

While we welcome and applaud this crucial investment, we must be clear: to turn the tide of a homelessness crisis of this magnitude, New Jersey must further invest in our homeless response system, which is overburdened, underfunded, and stretched beyond capacity — especially now that COVID-era federal aid and eviction protections have expired.

We are beyond grateful to Governor Sherrill for taking an essential first step today. But the job is not done. We urge the New Jersey Legislature to include this life-saving funding in the final budget, and we look forward to continuing to work with them alongside Governor Sherrill and her team to ensure that in New Jersey, everyone has a safe place to call home.”

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