newjerseynewsroom.com

Legislation that would counties the ability to establish grant programs to provide affordable housing and support services for the formerly homeless and those at risk of losing their home was approved Thursday by the Senate 36-0.

The bill, A-3101, would permit counties to create homeless prevention trust funds and establish grant programs to address homelessness. The trust funds would be financed through a document recording surcharge not to exceed $3 dollars per recorded document. Grants awarded by the county would be used to support projects that demonstrate government cost savings over time. If the funds not spent within four years would be transferred to the New Jersey Interagency Council on Homelessness, which would contract with community-based organizations to help safeguard families from homelessness.

The legislation is sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assembly members Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden), Mila Jasey (D-Essex), Elease Evans (D-Passaic) and Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer).

"The number of homeless, in New Jersey - especially women and children - is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure," Watson Coleman said. "State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street."

The measure will return to the Assembly for final approval.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM