Homelessness in New Jersey has increased 45% over the past two years. This crisis is only anticipated to get worse: massive proposed federal cuts to HUD, if enacted, will put another 45,552 New Jersey households at imminent risk of homelessness.

Our shelters and homeless emergency services are the frontline services that give people a place to go when they have nowhere else. But currently, there is no dedicated line item in the budget for the operations of homeless shelters. Generally, around 70% of a shelter's operations budget goes toward staffing.

Frontline shelter staff are the backbone of every shelter operation and do extraordinary, life-saving work.

Please contact Governor Murphy and your state legislators to urge them to include $10 million in the budget to pay and retain critical frontline homeless services workers, so we can keep the shelter doors open. It just makes sense!