Homelessness declining in NJ

Homelessness is decreasing overall in New Jersey, but the number of people living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, train stations, or similar locations jumped by 48 percent since 2015.

That's according to the NJCounts 2016 report released Tuesday by Monarch Housing Associates. The report was compiled from data collected in each county during a statewide point-in-time survey in January. Surveyors found 8,941 homeless men, women and children living in New Jersey, a 12 percent decline from 2015. Most were found in shelters, transitional housing, and in hotels or motels paid for by charitable organizations or government programs. But 1,442 people were unsheltered, a 48 percent increase from the year before.

RELATED: Counting South Jersey homeless not easy

In South Jersey, Camden County's homeless population increased nearly 12 percent since 2015 to 683 people, a five-year high. Surveyors found 150 unsheltered people in the county, or about 10 percent of the state's unsheltered population.

Burlington County saw a 31 percent decline in its homeless population over the past year, down to 928 people. Gloucester County's homeless population dropped by nearly 7 percent to 112 people. Cumberland County also saw a 30 percent decrease in its homeless population, down to 140 people. Salem County surveyors counted 40 homeless people, about the same as last year.

Essex County accounts for the highest percentage of homelessness in New Jersey. Surveyors there found 1,782 homeless people, nearly 20 percent of the state's total homeless population.

Statewide, the number of chronically homeless people declined by about 41 percent since 2015. Nearly 60 percent of homeless adults over 18 said they had some kind of disability; the most common was a mental health condition.

There were 559 homeless veterans found statewide, a decrease of nearly 20 percent. About 75 percent of homeless veterans said they had some kind of disability, most commonly a mental health disorder, substance abuse disorder, or chronic health condition.

Katelyn Cunningham, an associate at Monarch Housing, said the increase in the number unsheltered people "shows us that there is still a great deal of work to be done to expand the resources needed to assist the homeless individuals and families that are entering the homeless system.”

“Unfortunately, proposed cuts in funding from Congress come at a time when it is more expensive than ever for New Jersey families to afford housing,” Cunningham added. Barriers to reducing homelessness include a shortage of rental housing, shelter space, and federal housing vouchers, according to Monarch officials, as well as a high number of foreclosures and low-wage jobs.

In order to afford rent on a two-bedroom apartment in New Jersey during 2015, a family needed to earn $26.52 an hour, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Kim Mulford: (856) 486-2448; kmulford@gannettnj.com