TRENTON, NJ — The Office of Homelessness Prevention (OHP) has released its comprehensive Annual Report for 2022, alongside findings from the 2023 Point-In-Time Count, revealing significant insights into New Jersey’s homelessness situation. The data presents a nuanced picture of the state’s efforts to tackle homelessness, highlighting both the challenges and progress made over the past year.
In a concerning trend, the total homelessness census, including both unsheltered and sheltered individuals, increased by 20% in 2022 and into the early winter of 2023. This uptick has prompted a concerted response from the Homelessness Prevention and Services Ecosystem (HPSE), which has significantly increased system access by 28.9% this year. This enhancement has enabled more at-risk individuals to avoid homelessness through upstream prevention programming and improvements in existing services.
The Division of Housing and Community Resources, through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), has been pivotal in distributing over $1.3 billion in emergency rental assistance. This funding, coupled with eviction diversion assistance through the Office of Eviction Prevention, has successfully prevented and diverted over 90,000 households from entering homelessness. These measures underscore the conclusion that the most effective way to combat homelessness is by preventing households from reaching a state of housing crisis.
The introduction of the Diversion Pilot Program by OHP has diverted over 2,300 households from homelessness, averaging a cost of $650.54 per housing exit. Furthermore, a 23.4% year-over-year decline in unsheltered homelessness across the state highlights the success of targeted interventions to house and assist the most vulnerable populations.
This observed reduction aligns with the multiyear expansion of street outreach services into the rural and suburban areas of New Jersey, a key initiative of OHP’s Rural and Suburban Outreach program. An interesting outcome of these efforts is the 12% year-over-year increase in sheltered homelessness and emergency hotel utilization through October 31, reflecting a shift towards providing more stable housing solutions.
The state has witnessed a slight decrease (1.37%) in overall homelessness compared to last year, attributable to aligned prevention, diversion efforts, and increased resources for permanent housing. In a strategic move to align constituent access to long-term housing programs, the opening of the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist was timed with the Point-In-Time Count of 2023, resulting in 11,542 households being selected. These households had either experienced homelessness in the past year or were at risk within the last three years, with over 6,000 having faced at least one night of homelessness in 2022.
Statistical Highlights from the 2023 Analysis:
- The total population accessing HPSE services increased by 21% YoY, indicating a growing demand for homelessness and at-risk population support.
- A 28.96% growth in prevention and supportive services programs reflects a successful increase in preventive measures.
- A notable 23% decrease in unsheltered homelessness demonstrates effective shelter and housing support efforts.
- Sheltered homelessness saw a 12% increase, indicating an expansion of shelter services and a move towards more permanent housing solutions.
- Transitional housing and Permanent Supportive Housing services experienced moderate growths of 2% and 6% respectively, highlighting ongoing initiatives to provide stable and supportive housing options.
The comprehensive data from the OHP’s annual report and the Point-In-Time Count of 2023 offers a detailed look at the shifts in New Jersey’s homelessness demographics, underscoring the importance of continued efforts in prevention, support, and housing solutions to address the multifaceted issue of homelessness.