1. New Jersey Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Housing Supports
2018 National Conference on Ending Homelessness
Tameko Webster
Department Of Human Services
Division of Family Development
Office of Special Projects

2. Helping Keep People in Their Homes
New Jersey has the nation’s highest property taxes, so helping keep people in their homes is always a concern.
This year Governor Phil Murphy increased the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit to 40 percent of the federal credit, helping 510,000 working families.
Governor Murphy also restored a property tax relief credit that had been cut in previous years.

3. Emergency Assistance in New Jersey
Emergency Assistance (EA) is temporary housing and shelter-related assistance for people who are eligible for Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
It helps to:
prevent homelessness by paying for back rent or mortgage;
provide temporary support for ongoing housing costs for up to one year, with the possibility of two six-month extensions; and
set up a household, by paying for moving expenses, security deposits, furniture.

4. to long-term housing

5. Leveraging Resources

6. Mercer County Board of Social Services Rapid Rehousing
A specialized rapid rehousing unit screens and assesses each families need, then develops a housing stability plan.
Families are placed in shelter and moved directly to Temporary Rental Assistance (TRA).
Case management is provided with a focus on employment.

7. Mercer County Rapid Rehousing Stats
Since 2012, Mercer County has reduced family homelessness by 74%.
Over 900 families have been rapidly rehoused within 54 days of entering the homeless system.
Over 2000 children, who were once homeless, are now living with their families in their own apartments.
Families have increased their earned income by 50%, reducing the length of time on public assistance from one year to 6 months on average.
Rapid Rehousing decreases the length of stay in emergency shelter by 36%, meaning that families are able to be back in their own homes more quickly.
94% of families who have been rapidly rehoused have not become homeless again.