New Jersey
Trenton, NJ 08618
609-393-3752
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TRENTON, N.J. -- A broad coalition of business, religious and community leaders supporting better housing in New Jersey today applauded Acting Gov. Richard Codey's proposed $200 million Housing Trust Fund as a groundbreaking step to help create affordable, permanent homes for people with mental illness and other disabilities who are able to live in their communities.
"We strongly support New Jersey's Housing Trust Fund," said Tim Touhey, Chairman of Homes for New Jersey, a diverse coalition of more than 100 organizations that support the creation of more affordable housing in the state. "We applaud Governor Codey for making this recommendation and addressing the needs of some of New Jersey's most vulnerable citizens."
"Forty percent of the people who are admitted to our state psychiatric system are homeless," said Deb De Santis, Director of Corporation of Supportive Housing's New Jersey operations and a member of the Homes for New Jersey coalition. "Creating supportive housing for chronically homeless people results in significant savings of public funds and improvements to communities. We are grateful for Governor Codey's commitment to providing thousands of individuals and families with the housing and services they need to live as independently and productively as possible."
"Too many New Jerseyans with disabilities are homeless, unnecessarily warehoused in institutions or living in substandard housing," said Diane Sterner, Executive Director of the Housing and Commmunity Development Network of New Jersey and a member of the Homes for New Jersey coalition. "The Housing Trust Fund will help provide homes in the community for people with mental illness and other disabilities, and it is desperately needed because we are the third costliest housing market in the country."
The Housing Trust Fund bill (S2583) has been referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Codey unveiled the proposal during his State of the State address in January and formally introduced legislation late last week. The Housing Trust Fund would create 10,000 homes over the next 10 years for people with mental illness, physical and other disabilities. Funded by state-issued bonds, the Trust Fund would also leverage other potential funding resources.