DATA + RESOURCES
REPORTS ON HOMELESSNESS
In partnership with the NJ Coalition to End Homelessness, graduate students from Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy conducted a comprehensive analysis of how New Jersey and peer states invest in homeless services. The report found that New Jersey trails many comparable states in state funding dedicated to addressing homelessness, despite rising demand.
New Jersey's homeless response system is under tremendous strain, with homelessness increasing 57% in just three years and shelters operating near or above capacity. As lawmakers finalize the FY2027 State Budget, Senate Resolution #432 and Assembly Resolution #7 call for an additional $40 million investment in homelessness prevention, response, and emergency shelter stabilization.
NJCEH's 2025 State of Emergency Shelter Survey examines the experiences of 56 shelters across New Jersey and highlights the growing pressures facing the state's homelessness response system. The report identifies critical challenges related to behavioral health, workforce shortages, funding stability, and affordable housing, while offering recommendations to strengthen shelter services and support long-term solutions to homelessness.
Children experiencing homelessness face higher rates of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), yet too many are unable to access the mental health care they need. In a report commissioned by NJCEH and developed by the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, families and shelter staff identified significant barriers to care, including transportation challenges, long wait times, and services that fail to account for the realities of homelessness. The report found that New Jersey's current children's mental health system does not adequately meet the needs of children living in shelters and offers several recommendations to improve access to care and better support children and families experiencing housing instability.
SUMMARY
Can individuals experiencing homelessness register to vote? Yes, people experiencing homelessness can register to vote in New Jersey. If they meet the basic voting eligibility requirements, they can register.
What address should unhoused voters use when registering? Unhoused voters can use a place where they can be contacted or stay often like a shelter, park, or street corner. It’s best to use an address where they can reliably receive mail, such as a shelter or other social service agency. Some county elections offices allow unhoused voters to use their address as a voter registration address. This differs by location so check with your local election offices before registering.
SUMMARY
Can individuals experiencing homelessness register to vote? Yes, people experiencing homelessness can register to vote in New Jersey. If they meet the basic voting eligibility requirements, they can register.
What address should unhoused voters use when registering? Unhoused voters can use a place where they can be contacted or stay often like a shelter, park, or street corner. It’s best to use an address where they can reliably receive mail, such as a shelter or other social service agency. Some county elections offices allow unhoused voters to use their address as a voter registration address. This differs by location so check with your local election offices before registering.
SUMMARY
Ending youth homelessness is achievable through collective commitment, collaboration, and innovative solutions. This report highlights key strategies, including inclusive definitions, varied interventions, cross-sector partnerships, and practical recommendations from community leaders and youth, to guide communities in making youth homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring
Federal Funding Boots Unsheltered Homelessness Response.
SUMMARY
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development granted $420 million to support efforts in 32 communities to reduce unsheltered homelessness in 2023. A report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness' Homelessness Research Institute outlines how localities used the funding and the expected benefits from these investments.
NJ COUNTS
SUMMARY
A snapshot of NJ households experiencing homelessness in our communities.
NOTE: Due to methodological constraints this report provides a very conservative count of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a given night. Collecting data during the pandemic proved challenging. Additionally, Data from the Dept. Of Education suggests the numbers could be more than 2x as high if the definition of homelessness includes individuals who are living doubled-up in someone else’s home.
FACTS
10,267 New Jersey adults & children were identified using this methodology and definition of homelessness as experiencing homelessness on January 24, 2023.
DISMANTLING EXCLUSIONARY ZONING: NEW JERSEY’S BLUEPRINT FOR OVERCOMING SEGREGATION AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SUMMARY
This report documents how New Jersey's affordable housing model has led to the creation of more than 21,000 affordable homes since 2015. The report also demonstrates how enforcement of court-imposed requirements for local governments to provide affordable housing is addressing regional inequities.
DISMANTLING EXCLUSIONARY ZONING: NEW JERSEY’S BLUEPRINT FOR OVERCOMING SEGREGATION AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SUMMARY
This report documents how New Jersey's affordable housing model has led to the creation of more than 21,000 affordable homes since 2015. The report also demonstrates how enforcement of court-imposed requirements for local governments to provide affordable housing is addressing regional inequities.
NJ COUNTS
SUMMARY
A snapshot of NJ households experiencing homelessness in our communities.
NOTE: Due to methodological constraints this report provides a very conservative count of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a given night. Collecting data during the pandemic proved challenging. Additionally, Data from the Dept. Of Education suggests the numbers could be more than 2x as high if the definition of homelessness includes individuals who are living doubled-up in someone else’s home.
FACTS
8,754 New Jersey adults & children were identified using this methodology and definition of homelessness as experiencing homelessness on January 25, 2022.
New Jersey True Poverty Tracker
SUMMARY
Comprehensive overview of True Poverty in New Jersey in 2019, the latest year for which quality data is available from the U.S. Census Bureau. The True Poverty Level (TPL) is the minimum income families need to afford basic necessities without any public or private support, and without making tradeoffs.
FACTS
Nearly 2.9 million or 33.3% of NJ residents experienced deprivation in 2019.
New Jersey had the third highest median gross rent in the continental United States – $1,376 per month.
GAP: A Shortage of Affordable Homes
SUMMARY
This report shows that the nation’s lowest-income renters have long faced a severe shortage of affordable housing, particularly exacerbated by record-high
FACTS
In New Jersey, only 43 affordable homes are available for every 100 very/extremely low income renter
SUMMARY
NJ's plan for allocating the federal American Rescue Plan money the state received designated to assisting New Jersey individuals or households who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter, to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.
EMERGENCY SHELTER & HOUSING
Includes listings of available resources with contact details for New Jersey residents experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Resource guides for the nine counties designated by the federal government as hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy are also available in Spanish.
Visit the website linked above, or dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211. Depending on which county you live in, 211 operators may be able to connect you directly to shelter resources.Search this site by typing "housing/shelter" in the search box to find a listing of shelters and emergency housing.
An online, housing information clearinghouse designed to help all New Jerseyans with their housing-related needs, provides valuable information. NJHRC is completely free and accessible from any computer with an Internet connection. The website is easy to navigate and offers a searchable registry of currently available housing in New Jersey, including
- Affordable Rental Housing
- Affordable For-Sale Housing
- Housing with Accessibility Features
Searches on the database can be narrowed to limit your results to include a specific type of housing unit and the site includes maps and pictures and is updated bi-weekly to give an accurate reflection of housing availability in our state. In addition to this, the NJHRC site is an excellent source for housing-related information. Here you can find information about the basics of buying, renting and maintaining a home as well as learn about state subsidy programs and housing-related services that are available in our state.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Programs provide services to individuals suffering from serious mental illness; or suffering from serious mental illness and from substance abuse; and are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
The PATH program provide outreach case management services to homeless adult individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, and assists them in obtaining housing and access to mental health services. Support and coordination of additional necessary services, such as assessment, service planning, service linkage, ongoing monitoring, ongoing clinical support, and advocacy is also provided through the program. Services an eligibility can vary.
Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)
(from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs)
Includes listings of available resources with contact details for New Jersey residents experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Resource guides for the nine counties designated by the federal government as hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy are also available in Spanish.
Additional Prevention Resources:
Includes listings of available resources with contact details for New Jersey residents experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Resource guides for the nine counties designated by the federal government as hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy are also available in Spanish.
Housing Related Coordinated Entry
OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE HELP
This site helps to see if you are eligible for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (WFNJ/TANF or WFNJ/GA), and health insurance (NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid). From there you can apply for services or learn about additional resources.
Find food resources by county or city by clicking on the link above.
The link above provides useful information to consumers in need of social services in New Jersey including tax assistance, health programs, employment help, childcare, re-entry programs, energy assistance programs, public benefits information, and more.
LEGAL
LSNJ provides free legal assistance to low-income people in New Jersey. Their website, linked above, provides resources for those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness as well as access to numerous research reports on poverty in New Jersey.
VLJ provides free legal services throughout the state with more than 1,500 attorneys and paralegals who volunteer their time for one or more of VLJ’s legal programs. Their mission is to improve the lives of economically-disadvantaged adults, children, and families in New Jersey by empowering them with tools, advice, and pro bono representation with the goal of securing fair and equal treatment within the legal system.
HEALTH / DISABILITIES
The NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) contracts with and provides funding to residential and supportive housing providers in each county. These services are listed in their publication of services under Residential Services, Homeless Services and Supportive Housing. The list of agencies is linked above.
This site helps to see if you are eligible for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (WFNJ/TANF or WFNJ/GA), and health insurance (NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid). From there you can apply for services or learn about additional resources.
Take action to help us grow