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Bill > A1956


NJ A1956

NJ A1956
Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for the homeless.


summary

Introduced
01/11/2022
In Committee
01/11/2022
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2024

Introduced Session

2022-2023 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill would require the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to allow operators of shelters for the homeless and others who place persons in homeless shelters to have access to real-time information about the occupancy status of shelter beds, as collected by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), to determine the availability of shelter beds in the vicinity. Each homeless shelter operator would be required to update information about available shelter beds not later than one hour after a bed becomes available, or an available bed has been filled. These provisions will allow operators of homeless shelters that are currently full to ascertain whether there are available beds in nearby shelters so as to enable them to direct individuals in need of emergency shelter to locations that can accommodate them. This bill also requires a shelter for the homeless to cooperate in providing any necessary information to the database, as determined by the HMFA, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Human Services, as a condition of being eligible to receive funding for the shelter from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services. The bill would not apply to shelters for victims of domestic violence.

AI Summary

This bill would require the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to allow operators of homeless shelters and others who place people in homeless shelters to access real-time information about the occupancy status of shelter beds, as collected by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Shelter operators would be required to update the HMIS about available beds within one hour of a bed becoming available or being filled. This would enable shelter operators at full facilities to direct individuals to nearby shelters with available beds. The bill also requires homeless shelters, except for those serving domestic violence victims, to cooperate in providing necessary information to the database as a condition of receiving funding from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (9)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Community Development and Affairs Committee (on 01/11/2022)

bill text


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