HUDSON COUNTY — Federal funding used to help bolster the county’s homelessness relief programs was cut by $917,000, Hudson County Freeholders learned as a result of questions asked in the public comment period at the Jan. 13 meeting.
Carol Ann Wilson, director of social services for the county, said the county homeless programs had three funding streams in 2009 to support various programs: a Social Block Grant from the state Division of Youth and Family Services, funding from the state Department of Human Services, and federal stimulus funds. This year, the county did not receive the federal money.
Freeholder Chairman Bill O’Dea said this was news the freeholders had not been informed of and urged that a resolution be drawn up and federal legislators contacted urging the federal government to restore the funding.
Wilson said federal legislators have already been contacted about the matter.
Within Hudson County, the towns of Hoboken, Union City, and Jersey City have homeless shelters, and there are various programs and food banks for the homeless.