Massive Rise in Homelessness Rates for NJ Families

by Rich Lombino & Elizabeth Lombino · 2011-01-12 07:02:00 UTC
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Homeless children. Those are two words that should never be in the same sentence. Yet family homelessness is increasing.

A new report by the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness (ICPH) has found that since 2008, family homelessness in New Jersey has increased by over 40 percent. There has been an increase in the number of homeless children by nearly 14 percent.

The reasons cited for the increase in homelessness include unemployment (31.3 percent), eviction (25.7 percent), and the high cost of housing (22.3 percent). In Essex County, home to the city of Newark, there was more than a 136 percent increase in family homelessness.

Please sign the petition to end homelessness in New Jersey!

There are some positive things going on in New Jersey. Mercer County, home of the state capital Trenton, has a plan to end homelessness, led by the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness. Middlesex County, home to Rutgers University, also has a plan to end homelessness, led by Coming Home of Middlesex County. There is also the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness, comprised of homeless advocates from around the state who have organized annual congressional receptions in Washington, D.C.

Even with these inspiring advocates working tirelessly to effect change, more help is needed. Join us in demanding that New Jersey Governor Christie make ending homelessness a priority of his administration!

The authors also recently published an Op-Ed for ICPH, and Rich spoke at their national conference on homelessness last year. Photo Credit: Rian Rannu

Rich Lombino & Elizabeth Lombino are a husband and wife team dedicated to effecting social change.

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