Monarch Housing’s Blog!

Somerset County hosted their second Project Homeless Connect event for the year on June 18, 2008. From 8:30am - 2:00pm participants were able to access various services as well as receive food, clothing, toiletries. Held at the SHIP Drop In Center in Somerville, volunteers from throughout Somerset County greeted attendees with a smile while providing services, goods and engaging in conversation. The Somerset County Project Homeless Connect II was a great success serving as an example of engaging the community throughout the year.

These are some of the twenty (20) photos from the Somerset County Project Homeless Connect II.

You can click on any photo to see it full size or click here to view all of the photos. To save a photo right click on the photo.

To view a slide show click here.

The County section of The Star Ledger spoke of the Project Homeless Connect Event that took place in Somerset County and the events to take place in Hunterdon County on January 30, 2008. Below is an excerpt from the article.

A HEAD COUNT OF THE HOMELESS
Counties conduct

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
BY RALPH R. ORTEGA
Star-Ledger Staff

Volunteers went outdoors yesterday to do a census of Somerset County’s homeless population, and will conduct a similar, smaller scale effort in Hunterdon County today.

Both are part of a statewide count, encouraged by the Corporation for Supportive Housing to provide data New Jersey’s counties need for addressing the needs of the homeless, and to later apply for funding grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD, which distributes the money to counties for shelters, permanent and transitional housing, and support services for the homeless, will require all of the state’s 21 counties to do a similar, biannual census in 2009.

However, most counties agreed to conduct the census this year, which helps in keeping better data, said Allison Recca-Ryan, the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s New Jersey director.

The last count on Jan. 25, 2007, reported 284 adults and 61 children who were homeless in Somerset County. The total number of homeless households was 49 percent higher than the number identified in 2005.

To view the full article click here.

On September 18, 2007, the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the Homeless Trust Fund. In the photo on the left are (seated, left to right) Freeholder Deputy Director Denise Coyle, Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski and Freeholder Peter S. Palmer; (standing, left to right) Freeholder Rick Fontana and Freeholder Jack M. Ciattarelli.

They became the sixth county to endorse the Homeless Trust Fund. They join Hudson, Mercer, Passaic, Salem and Middlesex. In addition the New Jersey Association of Counties has also endorsed the Homeless Trust Fund.

Millie Gaupp, the Director of the Somerset County Department of Human Services said “We in Somerset County are hopeful that the recent passage of the Homeless Trust Fund resolution will help to move the legislation forward”.

To read the resolution click here. To find out more about the Homeless Trust Fund click here.

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