A new bill that will allow counties to create a trust fund to prevent and address homelessness was signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine last week. Details of the bill include permission for counties to impose a $3 surcharge on each document recorded with the clerk of courts in Hudson County. Such documents can include marriages, divorces, and appeals. Counties will be allowed to use five percent or 15 cents for each $3 charge for administration costs of the trust fund.
The rest will be required to go directly to a fund that must be used under the bill’s guidelines and in many cases, overseen by a homelessness trust fund task force.
“The issue of homelessness and hunger is always of particular concern, especially in challenging economic times,” said Corzine.
The bill was introduced in November of last year and was primarily sponsored by Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack (D-33rd Dist.) and Sen. Dana Redd (D-5th Dist.)
PERC is the only family shelter available in Hudson County. Besides serving homeless individuals, it has room for a family of six.
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“This bill strives to implement measures which will keep residents off the street,” said Stack.
Affordable housing and wages
In Union City, some on the frontlines of homelessness feel that although the bill is a nice gesture, they are unsure how much assistance the bill will prove to those who need it most.
That is what Director of Programs at the Palisades Residency Emergency Corporation (PERC) Thomas Harrigan said when he first heard that the bill seeks to provide affordable housing to homeless individuals. PERC is a non-profit shelter and food kitchen in Union City that was founded in 1981. Every evening at 6 p.m., PERC takes in individuals who are willing to commit to finding a job or find training or continue working while saving 30 percent of their paycheck for a chance to be self-sufficient. The shelter assists in referring individuals with substance abuse issues and mental illnesses.
“Listen to that word – ‘Affordable housing.’ There is none. It’s very sad,” said Harrigan, who noted that the majority of the people who use PERC’s services are working individuals who can not afford rent in the area on minimum wage.
Harrigan, who said he has worked with the homeless population for the past 17 years, said that homelessness can seem like a daunting cycle of barely living paycheck to paycheck for those that are lucky.
He went on to calculate the costs of renting an apartment in the area versus what could be afforded with the monthly paycheck that a minimum wage, 40-hour a week worker, hopes to receive.
Harrigan also said that the waiting list for Section 8 vouchers, a federal program that pays an eligible individual’s rent except for 30 percent of their monthly earnings, had clients waiting for the vouchers for years.
“A man, nice guy, no substance abuse, worked his whole life; he’s waiting to get called in for Section 8 senior housing,” said Harrigan. “He’s on the list. Now he’s living here in the shelter.”
Harrigan’s skepticism remains, as he is not sure if the money will be used appropriately by counties to fund programs that will create an impact in the lives of homeless individuals.
Raising funds
Hudson County Spokesman Jim Kennelly was not available for comment on whether the county will take part in charging the additional $3 to put toward a homeless trust fund.
In the meantime, PERC must acquire funds to keep its organization in operation via government funding, private donations, and through fund raising efforts.
On Oct. 15, PERC will host a “Dreams Come True,” Gala dinner at the Graycliff Inn in Moonachie, N.J. Honored guests will include Hudson County Sheriff Juan Perez. For information on the event, contact PERC at (201) 348-8150.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com