Press Room

In what aides describe as proactive steps to prevent homelessness and hunger in New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine Tuesday signed legislation in a ceremony at Cathedral Kitchen in Camden.

"The two bills signed Tuesday, combined, further advance core priorities during this past budget year: providing for the most vulnerable, and those hit hardest by the global recession," Corzine said. "The issue of homelessness and hunger is always of particular concern, especially in challenging economic times. I remain proud and inspired by the willingness of New Jerseyans to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate and the most vulnerable in our society."

Corzine launched his economic recovery plan for New Jersey last year, which laid the ground work, in part, to expedite efforts to set in motion human services initiatives in New Jersey.

The first of the two bills, A-3101/S2354, authorizes county governments to create homelessness prevention trust funds and authorizes county-operated programs to meet the needs of homeless individuals and families. The bill would also require the creation of a Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force to set up the funds.

Under the bill, counties that have created a homelessness fund would be able to collaborate with another county that has established a fund in order to provide joint funding for homelessness. Counties that create a homelessness prevention fund will be required to use the fund solely for the operation of a homelessness housing grant program. Additionally, counties will be permitted to impose a surcharge of $3 on each document recorded by the county clerk for deposit into the fund.

Money deposited into a homelessness fund would be required to be spent within four years of collection; remaining unspent money would be transferred to the state Department of Community Affairs, which would be required to contract for homeless services in that county that failed to spent the money.

"The number of homeless, in New Jersey - especially women and children - is unacceptably high and may go even higher as more families face the very real and scary prospect of losing their homes due to sudden economic hardship," said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer). "State and local governments must work together to provide more funding and better services to provide access to affordable housing and ensure families have another option to living in a shelter or on the street."

"Helping the hopeless is at the very core of what government should be about, and this new law provides a helping hand to those folks who have nowhere else to turn," said Sen. Dana Redd, (D-Camden). "At a time when the economy is struggling, many hard-working State residents are slipping through the cracks , unable to keep their heads above water. By authorizing counties to create a trust fund to assist the homeless, we are throwing those people a life preserver in their time of greatest need."

"Through this law, we're allowing counties to partner with municipal social service agencies and non-profit community activists to provide real support and assistance to homeless people living within their borders," said Sen. Jim Beach, (D-Camden). "This bill mixes compassion with common sense, recognizing that no one agency or organization can do it alone, and creates a seamless safety net for the homeless population living in the Garden State.''

"The measure does more than reduce homelessness," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer). "It also supports those on the precipice of being homeless, which is why I'm especially enthusiastic about the supportive services that will help families at risk of becoming homeless."

The second bill, A2513/S2430, gives New Jersey residents the opportunity to make voluntary contributions on their tax returns in support of community food pantries and for pet neutering.

Specifically, the bill establishes the "Community Food Pantry Fund" and the "Cat and Dog Spay/Neuter Fund" in the state Department of Treasury and allows taxpayers to donate a portion of their income tax refunds, or to make other voluntary contributions, to those funds by indicating on their state income tax return that a portion of their tax refund, or an enclosed contribution, is to be deposited into either fund.

Under the "Community Food Pantry Fund" bill, the Legislature must annually appropriate all funds deposited into the fund to the state's Department of Agriculture for distribution to community food pantries through the state food purchase program. All funds received by food pantries must be used exclusively for the purchase of food.

Since 2007, Corzine has made feeding the hungry of New Jersey a priority. The "Governor's Hunger Initiative" has included funding in the state budget for the distribution of money for the purchase of foods for the pantries.

Additionally, in December, Corzine signed legislation to boost state aid to food banks by $3 million in addition to the $4 million that was allocated in the state's 2008-09 budget.. The state's 2009-10 budget also includes $3 million for the food purchase initiative.

"The global economic meltdown means hunger isn't being limited to the poor," said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen). "New Jersey is a generous state, and we can and should make it easier to spread that generosity and do whatever we can to ensure no one in this state goes to bed hungry."

Through the state food purchase program, funds are distributed to the six regional emergency feeding operations. The food banks use state funds to buy food from New Jersey farmers and farmer cooperatives during growing season and then distribute the items to a network of 793 food pantries, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens.

While Democratic legislators were praising the legislation, Republican gubernatorial challenger Chris Christie offered criticism of what he sees as Corzine administration policies that fed the problem.

"As Jon Corzine signs the bill creating county homelessness trust funds, it should not go unnoticed that his string of failed economic policies made this emergency intervention necessary,'' Christie said. "Governor Corzine's inaction has led to home foreclosures in New Jersey rising over 30 percent while his tax hikes have escalated our state's unemployment, forcing families out on the streets. It should be our first priority to help New Jerseyans who are hurting the most, but we need to give these people long-term stability by putting in place effective and efficient policies that will help them to find jobs that20will allow them to stay in their homes."