Jersey City to allocate $165G to homeless prevention

JERSEY CITY – In what appears to be a reaction to a report by the Hudson County Freeholders showing that local homeless shelters are struggling to meet needs in Jersey City and elsewhere, Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced Thursday that the city will be appropriating $165,040 to Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation (GSECDC) to fund their homelessness prevention and outreach work over the coming year. The funding is part of the City’s efforts to work with the County of Hudson to reach the homeless community and provide needed services.
The Hudson County Department of Health & Human Services has contracted with GSECDC to provide homeless services countywide as a part of its efforts to provide access to a variety of services through a single agency. In addition to the County HHS’s funding, the city has allocated $100,000 through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funds to the non-profit agency to provide added year-round services, and will provide $65,040 in in-kind services.
“Last winter highlighted the vulnerabilities of the system in place to assist our local homeless residents,” Fulop said. “Through their contract with the County, Garden State Episcopal will be able to provide the entire array of necessary resources to the local homeless population. From direct outreach to feeding and sheltering, or even for those who are on the brink of homelessness, the same agency will be there to provide access to the help each individual needs to get back on their feet.”
A contract between the City and Garden State Episcopal will award the agency $100,000 in cash to help them pay for the services they’re obligated to provide, plus an additional $65,040 in in-kind services associated with a public health nurse, feeding programs, and other supplies on behalf of GSECDC.
“I look forward to continuing to have an open working relationship with the County Department of Health & Human Services and Garden State Episcopal to ensure every agency involved is contributing to the mission of reducing homelessness in Jersey City,” said Fulop.