Every year, a count is undertaken of New Jersey’s homeless on a single night. Called the Point in Time Count, it is the best gauge the state has of those on the streets, shelters and other emergency housing at a given time.
This year, it was Jan. 23, 2024 in the heart of winter, and the findings were worrisome. The count found 12,680 individuals experiencing homelessness from more than 9,000 households, a more than 20% increase from the previous year’s count. More than 1,700 were unsheltered, and 31 were unaccompanied children under 18.
“We continue to see a rise in persons experiencing homelessness in New Jersey,” aid Kasey Vienckowski, Senior Associate at Monarch Housing Associates, which conducts the count. “There was a 24% overall increase in persons experiencing homelessness since 2023, and a 14% increase in households with children experiencing homelessness. The continued increase highlights the critical need for more affordable housing in our communities.”