Newark cut street homelessness in half in 2023

Ending Street Homelessness: Lessons from Newark’s Path Home

Newark,New Jersey,has seen a dramatic reduction in street homelessness in just two years. In 2022, Mayor Ras Baraka launched “The Path Home,” a citywide initiative aimed at ending chronic homelessness. Within a year,the city witnessed a remarkable 57.6% decrease in the number of unsheltered individuals, dropping from 3,841 in 2021 to 1,627 in 2022.This success story offers valuable lessons for other cities grappling with homelessness.

A Strategic Approach

Luis Ulerio, director of the Newark Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, highlights the pivotal role of a dedicated office and a comprehensive strategic plan in tackling homelessness. “The mayor created the Office of Homeless Services just over two years ago,so it’s still new,but he saw that there was a need to have a dedicated office to really address homelessness in our city,” Ulerio explains. “he charged our office to create the city’s first strategic plan around homelessness, which we were really proud to launch in December of 2022. We promptly began to implement a lot of its strategies over that year, which included focusing on reducing street homelessness throughout our communities.”

Targeted Initiatives

Key initiatives within The Path Home have proven particularly effective.Enhanced street outreach teams, working in partnership with nonprofit providers and local hospitals, directly connect with individuals experiencing homelessness, offering support and resources. A new non-emergency hotline further expands access to assistance for those in need.

The Importance of Collaboration

Kelly Quirk, chief program officer of the Bowery Residents’ committee (BRC), emphasizes the collaborative nature of prosperous homelessness solutions. While acknowledging the unique challenges presented by New York city’s right-to-shelter laws, Quirk highlights the importance of coordination and interaction between organizations serving individuals across state lines. “I need to no which clients are in New Jersey and I need to know who they’re working with there, and then we can have a conversation about ‘I’m at this point in a process with them, you’re at that point in a process with them, what makes the most sense for us with this individual to get them housed as quickly as possible,’” she explains.

Personal Stories of Change

Lasheema Sanders-Edward, a regional coordinator for Collaborative Support Programs of new Jersey, personally experienced the transformative power of outreach. “They met me where I was,” Sanders-Edward reflects,recounting how consistent outreach by an advocate helped her navigate the complexities of accessing support services and ultimately transition out of homelessness. “They came there,they bought me what I needed. They helped me … get my birth certificate, as they said they would be able to do.” Her story underscores the crucial role of empathy,compassion,and personalized support in breaking the cycle of homelessness.

Lessons for other Cities

Newark’s success story offers several important takeaways for other cities striving to address homelessness. A dedicated office focused on homelessness, a comprehensive strategic plan, targeted outreach initiatives, and collaborative partnerships are all essential components of effective solutions. Moreover, personalized support and a commitment to meeting individuals where they are at can be transformative. By embracing these lessons, other communities can create their own paths to ending homelessness.

How has Newark’s Teh Path Home initiative’s focus on targeted outreach, such as enhanced street teams and a non-emergency hotline, contributed to its success in reducing street homelessness?

Archyde Exclusive: A Conversation with Luis Ulerio on Newark’s Path Home

ССР cervantes, Archyde News Editor

Newark, New Jersey, has made headlines with its remarkable reduction in street homelessness, dropping from 3,841 unsheltered individuals in 2021 to 1,627 in 2022. We sat down with Luis ulerio,director of the Newark Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services,to discuss The Path Home initiative and the lessons it offers to other cities.

SSR Cervantes: Thank you for joining us, Luis. Let’s start with the creation of the Newark Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services. How has a dedicated office advanced the city’s efforts to combat homelessness?

Luis Ulerio:

Thank you for having me. The mayor’s vision in creating this office was pivotal. It allowed us to focus solely on homelessness, develop a comprehensive strategic plan, and coordinate our efforts more effectively. Having a dedicated space for these initiatives has considerably boosted our progress.

SSR Cervantes: Can you walk us through some of the key initiatives from The Path Home?

Luis Ulerio:

Certainly. We’ve seen great success with our enhanced street outreach teams, working hand in hand with nonprofits and local hospitals to connect directly with those experiencing homelessness. Our new non-emergency hotline has also expanded access to support services. These targeted interventions have been game-changers in reducing street homelessness.

SSR cervantes: Collaboration has been a common thread in successful homelessness solutions. How have partnerships played a role in Newark’s success?

Luis Ulerio:

Absolutely. We’ve fostered strong relationships with local nonprofits and other cities. For instance,our work with the Bowery Residents’ Committee in New York has been invaluable. By coordinating our efforts, we can better serve individuals crossing state lines and ensure they receive the help they need.

SSR Cervantes: Personal stories often illuminate the human impact of initiatives like The Path Home. Can you share one that’s stayed with you?

Luis Ulerio:

Lasheema Sanders-Edward’s journey is truly inspiring.A regional coordinator for Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, she once experienced homelessness herself. Her story underscores the power of personalized support and meeting individuals where they are. We’re proud to have played a part in her transformation.

SSR Cervantes: What advice would you give to other cities aiming to tackle homelessness based on Newark’s experience?

Luis Ulerio:

Invest in a dedicated office focused on homelessness and develop a comprehensive strategic plan. Implement targeted outreach initiatives, and foster collaborative partnerships both within and beyond your city limits.Most importantly,remember that every individual’s journey is unique,and our responses should be tailored to meet them where they are.

SSR Cervantes: thank you, Luis, for your insight and new Jersey for setting a new standard in addressing homelessness. We look forward to seeing the ripples of Newark’s success in other cities.

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