S3190

An Act concerning veteran homelessness and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this section:

“Housing First” means an evidence-based model that uses housing as a tool, rather than a reward, for recovery and that centers on providing or connecting homeless people to permanent housing as quickly as possible. Housing First providers offer services as needed and requested on a voluntary basis and do not make housing contingent on participation in services. Housing First includes time-limited rental or services assistance, so long as the housing and service provider assists the recipient in accessing permanent housing and in securing longer-term rental assistance, income assistance, or employment.

“Veteran” means a resident of this State who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, including persons who served on active duty from the military reserves or the National Guard. For the purposes of these criteria, a veteran is any person who served in the armed forces, regardless of how long they served or the type of discharge they received.

b. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall develop and implement a plan to end veteran homelessness in the State within three years of the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) in accordance with the criteria and benchmarks for achieving the goal of ending veteran homelessness established by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. In consultation with other states and jurisdictions that have achieved an end to veteran homelessness in accordance with these criteria, the commissioner shall develop and implement a strategy to end veteran homelessness through the following means:

(1) Coordination with State and local government entities, and private community organizations to continuously assess progress in ending veteran homelessness;

(2) Management of a Statewide comprehensive, by-name list of veterans experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing homelessness, prioritized based on vulnerability;

(3) Facilitating the sharing of data among relevant service providers, including homeless shelters, State departments, and federal Veterans’ Affairs Medical Centers;

(4) Establishment of a system of priority for veterans in accessing benefits through the Homeless Prevention Program, established to implement the "Prevention of Homelessness Act (1984)," P.L.1984, c.180 (C.52:27D-280 et al.), emergency assistance benefits issued to Work First New Jersey recipients pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-51), and any other benefits and housing placement processes identified by the commissioner, for which prioritization would contribute to ensuring an end to veteran homelessness;

(5) Establishment of a system to connect veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to available health, mental health, employment, and training resources;

(6) Committing to Housing First principles through a focus on helping veterans access and sustain service-focused transitional housing as quickly as possible when in need; and

(7) Identification of funding sources, as needed from private, foundation, and other potential partners.

c. After the initial three-year period following enactment of P.L , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and every three years thereafter, the commissioner shall develop, and then implement, an updated plan to ensure that veterans do not experience homelessness in the State.

d. Not later than the sixth month after the end of the initial three-year period following enactment of P.L , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and every three years thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature on the development and implementation of the commissioners plans to end veteran homelessness in the State.

2. In consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of Community Affairs shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary to effectuate P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would direct the Commissioner of Community Affairs to develop and implement a plan to end veteran homelessness in New Jersey within three years in accordance with the criteria and benchmarks established for this purpose by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.

The bill directs the commissioner to develop and implement a strategy to end veteran homelessness through the following means:

(1) the coordination with State and local government entities, and private community organizations to continuously assess progress;

(2) the management of a Statewide comprehensive, by-name list of veterans experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing homelessness;

(3) facilitating the sharing of data among relevant service providers;

(4) the establishment of a system of priority for veterans in accessing benefits through the Homeless Prevention Program, emergency assistance benefits, and any other existing benefit and housing placement processes;

(5) the establishment of a system to connect veterans experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness to available health, mental health, employment, and training resources;

(6) committing to housing first principles; and

(7) The identification of funding sources, as needed from private, foundation, and other potential partners.

The bill would require the commissioner, after the initial three-year period and every three years thereafter, to develop and then implement an updated plan to ensure that veterans do not experience homelessness in the State. The bill would also impose reporting requirements.

This bill would take effect immediately.