New Jersey
Trenton, NJ 08618
609-393-3752
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Housing Coalitions Testify to Support
$200M Special Needs Trust Fund
TRENTON, N.J. -- A broad coalition of business, religious and community leaders supporting better housing in New Jersey testified today in support of Acting Governor Richard Codey's proposed $200 million Special Needs 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 Special Needs Housing Trust Fund," Tim Touhey, Chairman of Homes for New Jersey, said in testimony today before the Senate and Budget and Appropriations Committee. "This bill is just one step in a long journey, but it is an important step forward. We share a responsibility to do something to provide homes all New Jerseyans can afford. This is especially true for those among us who require extra attention and care to thrive in our communities."
"We are facing a genuine housing crisis in New Jersey -- so much so that we have to wonder if our children and grandchildren will be able to afford to live here," 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. "Given that the situation is desperate across the board, we must concede that those with lower incomes and special needs have zero chance unless we step up to the plate and do something now."
"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."
Members of the Homes for New Jersey coalition also participated in a pre-hearing rally to show their support for the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund. They said the measure will help provide needed homes in the community for people with mental illness and other disabilities and is desperately needed because New Jersey is the third costliest housing market in the country.
Codey unveiled the proposal during his State of the State address in January and formally introduced legislation in late May. The Special Needs Housing Trust Fund would create permanent, affordable housing over the next 10 years for 10,000 people with mental illness, physical and other disabilities who are able to live in their communities. Funded by state-issued bonds, the Trust Fund would also leverage other potential funding resources.
Homes for New Jersey (www.homesfornj.com) is a multiyear effort to expand and reform state government's role in ensuring that lower- and middle-income residents are able to find and access homes they can afford.