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OCEAN COUNTY - During the April 15 Board meeting, RWJBarnabas Health presented the Ocean County Board of Commissioners with a check for $1 million to continue to expand and strengthen local homelessness prevention and housing stability efforts.
"We are honored to partner with Ocean County in providing housing stabilization support, wrap-around case management, and connections to critical services for individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to housing," said Dr. Teri Kubiel, RWJBarnabas Health Vice President of Community and Government Affairs. "RWJBarnabas Health is deeply committed to the Ocean County community and to every community we serve across New Jersey."
The $1 million grant was made possible through community health resources provided by the State of New Jersey. Ocean County will administer the funding through its Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force, enhancing existing programs and building on established infrastructure.
"This investment reflects the strong partnership that Ocean County has with RWJBarnabas Health," said Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione, who serves as co-liaison to the Homelessness Trust Fund. "This money will allow the Task Force to continue to fund supportive services and prevention services, including the Code Blue program."
Since its initiation in 2023, the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund has collected a cumulative total of $968,687.81 through the $5 surcharge that is applied to most recorded instruments with the Ocean County Clerk's Office.
"Ocean County has a wealth of resources and services to assist residents, whether through County programs or nonprofits," said Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, who serves as co-liaison to the Homelessness Trust Fund. "These funds will allow us to expand upon things such as Rapid Rehousing Assistance, housing navigation, case management and more to assist our residents."
Households experiencing housing insecurity are encouraged to contact the Coordinated Entry program for Ocean County, Affordable Housing Alliance, which is a centralized hub to streamline access to various housing programs and supports. For more information, call 732-341-2272 to have an assessment and be placed on the Coordinated Entry Waiting List.
"Ocean County and RWJBarnabas Health remain committed to improving the quality of life and promoting housing security across the community," said the Ocean County Board of Commissioners in a joint statement. "We appreciate the work of our Homeless Trust Fund Task Force and its partners for the continued efforts to provide help to those in need."
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