Newark Is Exceeding ‘House America’ Goal For Homeless, Mayor Says

NEWARK, NJ — Newark is meeting the goals set in the federal House America program, which aims to “address the crisis of homelessness” with American Rescue Plan funds and other resources, Mayor Ras Baraka announced Tuesday.

Baraka said that Newark committed to House America last year. Since then, the city has housed 539 formerly homeless people and funded more than 1,500 affordable units with the aid of federal funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Newark is one of 105 communities across 31 states and territories and the District of Columbia that joined the initiative. According to a statement from the mayor’s office:

“House America encouraged communities to deploy a historic level of federal resources to address homelessness. In particular, House America’s 105 communities received a funding boost through the American Rescue Plan Act to expand permanent housing opportunities, including more than 20,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers and more than $1.5 billion HOME-ARP from HUD, as well as over $65 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. That sparked renewed momentum and greater deployment of available resources, including CARES Act and annual appropriations, to create permanent housing solutions.”

“We took part in HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge’s landmark initiative as part of our commitment to work to eradicate homelessness in the City of Newark,” Baraka said. “Shelter is a fundamental human need and therefore we believe housing is a fundamental human right.”

Newark had the most people experiencing homelessness in Essex County during an annual “point in time count” last year: 1,695. Read More: Essex County Leads NJ In Homelessness; See The Most Common Causes

Baraka said that Newark officials are taking “creative and pioneering steps” to address the issue of homelessness on a local level.

“Our participation in House America is an example of how collaboration can maximize impact,” agreed Luis Ulerio, Newark’s Homelessness Czar.

“This is exactly what our new strategic, data-driven plan to end chronic homelessness in Newark will accomplish,” Ulerio added.

• See Related: Here's The Plan To End 'Chronic Homelessness' In Newark (Video)
• See Related: Former School Reborn As Massive Homeless Shelter In Newark
• See Related: Newark Transforms Empty Storage Containers Into Homeless Shelters

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