Sherrill said Wednesday that when the Trump administration moved to cut housing support for people experiencing homelessness, New Jersey challenged the move in court.
Her administration is also using the state budget to expand programs designed to keep vulnerable residents from losing their homes in the first place.
$35 Million for Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention
New Jersey’s FY 2027 budget includes $35 million for the Department of Community Affairs’ Homelessness Response program.
According to the governor’s office, the funding is intended to expand rapid rehousing for households that are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness, helping people move more quickly into stable housing and preventing others from falling into homelessness.
The final $35 million allocation was higher than the $25 million originally included in Sherrill’s proposed budget earlier this year.
Federal Housing Policy Is Moving in a Different Direction
The Trump administration has been moving away from the long-standing federal Housing First approach, which prioritizes placing people in permanent housing without first requiring treatment, employment or sobriety.
The administration has instead promoted a model emphasizing transitional housing and mandatory participation in treatment or job-readiness programs. Housing advocates and some local governments have challenged parts of that shift, warning that reduced federal support for permanent supportive housing could push vulnerable people back into homelessness.
Trump administration officials argue that the Housing First model has not done enough to address addiction, mental illness and long-term self-sufficiency.
New Jersey Expands Its Own Housing Strategy
The homelessness funding is part of a broader housing push by the Sherrill administration.
This week, Sherrill unveiled a five-part housing plan that includes doubling the state’s goal for new homes on state-owned land from 20,000 to 40,000, accelerating permitting and using tax-credit auctions to generate additional funding for affordable housing.
The administration has also increased down-payment assistance and directed additional state resources toward affordable and workforce housing.
Sherrill framed the homelessness initiative as both a housing and affordability issue, arguing that helping people remain housed can prevent families from entering a much more difficult and costly cycle of homelessness.
Tags: Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey, Homelessness, Housing, Rapid Rehousing, Affordable Housing, NJDCA, Trump Administration, Housing Policy
Sources: Office of Gov. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey FY 2027 Budget, Associated Press
By NJ RADAR Team