New Jersey § 52:27d-287b

§ 52:27d-287b.

The Legislature finds and declares: a. The creation of county homelessness trust funds in counties that have completed

and endorsed a plan to end homelessness will provide some of the additional funds

necessary to move homeless or formerly homeless individuals toward the goal of permanent

affordable housing and self-sufficiency. b. Despite laudable efforts by all levels of government, private individuals, nonprofit

organizations, and charitable foundations to end homelessness, the number of homeless

persons in New Jersey is unacceptably high. The State's homeless population, furthermore, includes a large number of families

with children, youth, veterans, the elderly, and employed persons. c. Fiscal and social costs of homelessness are high for both the public and private

sectors and ending homelessness should be a joint goal for State and local government. d. A myriad of factors contribute to homelessness, including a shortage of affordable

housing; a shortage of jobs that pay wages and benefits sufficient to support a family;

high property taxes which undermine housing affordability; a lack of an accessible

and affordable health care system available to all who suffer from physical and mental

illnesses and chemical and alcohol dependency; domestic violence; and a lack of

education and job skills necessary to acquire adequate wage jobs in the economy of

the twenty-first century. e. It is critical that emergency shelters for the homeless are able to provide sufficient

and adequate shelter services to all homeless individuals in their communities when

a Code Blue alert is in effect due to severely cold weather. Allowing county homelessness trust funds to be used in support of emergency shelter

for the homeless services provided in connection with a Code Blue alert would create

an additional funding source to help ensure that this goal is met.