PIT Count Reveals Continued Need for Homelessness Services in County

By: Ashley Helaudais

Earlier this year, on January 23, 2024, housing case workers around the state counted the unsheltered individuals and families in their counties, including households in emergency shelters or transitional housing. This information was submitted to Monarch Housing, a housing nonprofit contracted by the state, who compiled and analyzed it to get a picture of homelessness in our state. The results, which were released today, indicated a 24% increase in homelessness across New Jersey.

In Sussex County, the PIT count found 106 individuals in 51 households in our county were experiencing homelessness. While this is a 33% decrease from 2023, it’s still a 58% increase over 2022. Sussex County’s immediate neighbors all saw increases in homelessness in 2024, with a 42% increase in Warren County, 46% in Morris and 81% in Passaic.

Further, while the overall number of people experiencing homelessness in Sussex was lower in 2024, the percentage who were living in tents, their cars, makeshift shelters, etc. almost doubled, from 6% in 2023 to 11% in 2024. Additionally, more than a fifth (22%) of unsheltered people in Sussex County were found to have been homeless for a year or more, up from 16% in 2023. This suggests that individuals and families in Sussex County are experiencing homelessness for longer and more households are struggling to find shelter beds.

Many of those counted included families with children (38% were under 18), and almost a third of those children were under six years old. Children who experience homelessness tend to miss more school and sometimes struggle to keep up with their peers, often experience separation from their families, and are at greater risk for developmental delays and poor health.

A similarly high number of respondents (39%) reported having at least one disability. Disabilities include chronic health conditions, mental health conditions and physical and developmental disabilities, and often make it more difficult for people to find suitable housing.

Domestic violence continued to be one of the most reported causes of homelessness this year, tied with loss of employment or reduction in earned income. While the number of unsheltered individuals and families that were domestic violence survivors decreased from 36% in 2023 to 17% in 2024, that domestic violence has been the topmost cause of homelessness for four years running suggests that more housing programs are urgently needed for survivors.

Even when households try to get help, there are often barriers that make it very difficult to obtain support. The top barriers reported in 2024 included households not qualifying for specific services, being placed on a waitlist, and lacking transportation. This echoes the 2023 PIT Count and 2020 County-Wide Human Services Needs Assessment for Sussex County, which both cited waitlists and lack of transportation as the most common barriers.

For those experiencing homelessness, help is available. Family Promise of Sussex County (FPSC) provides housing services to unsheltered and at-risk households in Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Morris counties. The agency is located at 19 Church Street in Newton, has offices in Sussex Borough and Sparta, and can also be reached at 973-579-1180, fpsc@familypromisesussex.org and www.familypromisesussex.org.

Want to help? FPSC is always looking for volunteers and new members for our Board of Trustees, contact Tori Young to find out more at tyoung@familypromisesussex.org.

Donate here: https://familypromisesussex.charityproud.org/Donate