The number of homeless people in New Jersey declined by 12.4 percent this year compared to a year earlier
WASHINGTON -- The number of homeless people in New Jersey declined by 12.4 percent this year compared to 2015, according to the states's annual count.
The count, conducted on Jan. 26, found 8,941 homeless men, women and children, down from 10,211 in 2015, according to the count coordinated by Monarch Housing.
"This year's count shows a significant decrease of individuals experiencing homelessness in New Jersey," said Katelyn Cunningham, associate at Monarch Housing.
Essex County had the largest number of homeless people, 1,782, or 19.9 percent of the statewide homeless population. Next was Burlington County, with 928 people, or 10.4 percent of the count; and Hudson County, with 829 people or 9.3 percent.
N.J. homeless population declines
Monarch Housing said there still were barriers to ending homelessness, including a shortage of shelter beds, a lack of rental apartments, low-paying jobs and the failure of Congress to increase funding for vouchers that help cover the cost of housing.
One concern was the increase in the number of individuals living on the street, in cars, in train stations, in abandoned buildings. These "unsheltered" individuals are distinct from those who have temporary lodging in a shelter.
That number rose by 48 percent to 1,442 in 2016 from 974 persons in 2015.
"The increase in the unsheltered population shows us that there is still a great deal of work to be done to expand the resources needed," Cunningham said.
In March, Gov. Chris Christie proposed spending more than $5 million for 500 more vouchers for the state's Rental Assistance Program. They would go to chronically homeless or people that rely on public assistance.
The Obama administration in 2010 began an effort to eliminate homelessness, and a national count is conducted on one night in January.
The report issued Tuesday said that more than one-fifth of the homeless, 21.4 percent, were asked to leave a residence they were sharing with other people; 13.5 percent lost their jobs or had their hours reduced; and 13.4 percent either were evicted or were going to be.
Last year's count showed that the number of homeless people in New Jersey declined more than in 45 other states in the last year, according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's 2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. The number of reported homeless in the state declined by 1,573, a 13.5 percent drop.
From 2007 to 2015, the state had 7,216 fewer homeless individuals, the fourth biggest drop in the country and a 41.7 percent decline. During that same five-year period, the national homeless rate dropped by 82,550, or 11 percent.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.