Op-ed: A better way to address homelessness
In an October 2024 op-ed published in NJ Spotlight, our Associate Director of Harm Reduction Programs argues that supporting programs like Housing First leads to better outcomes than criminalization.
Housing First
Housing and support for participants experiencing chronic homelessness.
To get where I wanted to be, I had to put myself in a new place where there was no negativity, and no drugs are around me, so I could stay clean, stay healthy, and be productive. It’s a blessing.
Housing First is a widely used, evidence-based housing model that ends homelessness for individuals facing long-term housing challenges.
With the help of our community partners, the Camden Coalition introduced the model in South Jersey in 2015. We use data from the Camden Coalition Health Information Exchange as well as referrals from partners to identify eligible participants. Permanent housing that meets participants’ needs is funded through 50 project-based Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
Our team of community health workers (CHWs), licensed clinical social worker, registered nurse, and consulting physician provide ongoing wraparound services to participants — as well as support for landlords — including:
- Voucher applications and submission
- Identification of an apartment
- A safe move-in process
- Care coordination for ongoing healthcare and social services
Participants are also able to connect to legal support through our Medical-Legal Partnership.
Our Housing First program is a multi-agency collaborative in partnership with:
- South Jersey Behavioral Health Resources
- Volunteers of America—Delaware Valley
- Saint Joseph’s Carpenter Society
- OAKS Integrated Care
- Corporation for Supportive Housing.
Current funders:
- NJ Department of Community Affairs
- Camden County Homelessness Trust Fund
- Virtua Foundation
- Camden County
- South Jersey Behavioral Health Innovation Collaborative
- UnitedHealthcare
- NeighborWorks America
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
Since 2015, our Housing First program has seen:
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95 people housed -
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71% average reduction in emergency department visits and 32% drop in inpatient admissions
Housing First patient stories: Robert Jackson
Related resources
The Camden Coalition’s Housing First program
For almost ten years, the Camden Coalition has operated a Housing First program in South Jersey, helping break the cycle of chronic homelessness for individuals with complex health and social needs.
Care management & redesign Strengthening ecosystems of care Homelessness & housing