Newark Sees Huge Drop In Unsheltered Homeless Population, State Says

NEWARK, NJ — The latest state data shows that Newark has seen a “staggering” drop in people experiencing homelessness over the past year, officials announced Tuesday.

Newark officials pointed to a 57.6 percent reduction in the city’s unsheltered homeless population, as seen in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) annual report. Currently, there are 1,627 people experiencing homelessness in Newark – down from 3,841 on this date in 2022.

The latest statistics show that Newark is on track for its previously announced goal of “ending chronic homelessness” by 2025, officials said.

The city’s plan to attack the long-running problem of homelessness – announced last year – was developed in partnership with more than 100 community leaders, nonprofits and people who have experienced homelessness themselves. It has three major parts:

• “Better Address Street Homelessness” - Work with consultants to get real-time data about who comes in to support facilities (and when/where). Enhance street outreach efforts. Create multiple entry points to shelter and services. Coordinate with mobile behavior health services to reach homeless people on the street-level. Strengthen health care partnerships.
• “Improve Access and Services Throughout the Shelter System” - Address peoples’ complete range of needs, including temporary shelter, health care, job training and employment. Integrate coordinated entry into emergency shelters. Improve access to behavioral health services in shelters. Develop more flexible space options in shelters.
• “Expand Prevention and Housing Services” - Develop a public and private funding plan to expand housing and services. Create a Landlord Task Force. Secure additional Rental Subsidy Vouchers. Support “creative housing solutions.” Expand the number of Permanent Supportive Housing units.

As the latest numbers show, that plan is paying big dividends, officials said Tuesday.

DCA Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez said that Newark’s progress is “truly an achievement.” Suárez’s optimism was matched by Luis Ulerio, director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services.

“Newark’s reduction in unsheltered homelessness proves that cities can successfully address homelessness with strategy, direct investments and collective work,” Ulerio said.

“Although we are excited about this news, we remain steadfast in our work and will introduce additional services and projects in the next year that will bring us closer to our goal,” Ulerio added.

• See Related: Here's The Plan To End 'Chronic Homelessness' In Newark (Video)

Mayor Ras Baraka said that shelter – along with food – is one of the most basic necessities for people to live with dignity.

“Newark has so many transformative initiatives underway throughout our city, but none have the gravity of the focus we give to the basic necessity of safe, comfortable housing,” Baraka said.

The latest statistics also got a round of applause from Bridges Outreach, one of the nonprofits that have been working for years to attack the problem of homelessness in New Jersey’s largest city. Read More: Coronavirus Can't Stop Nonprofit's Homeless Outreach In Newark

“We have lots still to do, but this reduction is proof positive that it is working,” Bridges Outreach executive director Richard Uniacke said.

• See Related: Newark, NYC Reach Agreement On Homeless Relocation Program
• See Related: Former School Reborn As Massive Homeless Shelter In Newark
• See Related: Newark Transforms Empty Storage Containers Into Homeless Shelters

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH

Essex County – which is home to Newark and nearly two dozen other municipalities – routinely leads the state in the number of homeless residents, other research shows.

There were 1,712 people experiencing homelessness in Essex County on the evening of Jan. 24, 2023 – about 17 percent of the entire state’s total. The vast majority of them (1,361 people) were counted in Newark, according to Monarch Housing Associates, which released the results of its latest “point in time count” in August.

When asked why they were homeless, the most commonly cited reason was “being asked to leave a shared residence” (35 percent). The next most-common reasons were “eviction or risk of eviction” (20%), and “loss or reduction of job income” (9%).

• See Related: Essex County's Homeless Total Drops, But Still Leads New Jersey, Study Says

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