RWJBarnabas Health has donated $1 million to Ocean County to expand homelessness prevention and housing stability programs, the health system announced during the last Board of Commissioners meeting.
The grant, funded through community health resources provided by the State of New Jersey, will be administered by Ocean County’s Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force to enhance existing services and build on established infrastructure in the region.
“We are honored to partner with Ocean County in providing housing stabilization support, wrap-around case management, and connections to critical services for individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to housing,” said Dr. Teri Kubiel, RWJBarnabas Health Vice President of Community and Government Affairs. “RWJBarnabas Health is deeply committed to the Ocean County community and to every community we serve across New Jersey.”
The funding will support a range of services including the Code Blue program, Rapid Rehousing Assistance, housing navigation, and case management for residents experiencing housing insecurity.
The grant represents a major expansion of Ocean County’s homelessness prevention efforts. Since its creation in 2023, the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund has collected $968,687.81 through a $5 surcharge applied to most recorded instruments with the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.
“This investment reflects the strong partnership that Ocean County has with RWJBarnabas Health,” said Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifer Bacchione, who serves as co-liaison to the Homelessness Trust Fund. “This money will allow the Task Force to continue to fund supportive services and prevention services, including the Code Blue program.”
Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, also a co-liaison to the Task Force, noted the breadth of services the funding will support.
“Ocean County has a wealth of resources and services to assist residents, whether through County programs or nonprofits,” Arace said. “These funds will allow us to expand upon things such as Rapid Rehousing Assistance, housing navigation, case management and more to assist our residents.”
Households experiencing housing insecurity can contact Ocean County’s Coordinated Entry program, Affordable Housing Alliance, which serves as a centralized hub to streamline access to various housing programs and supports. The program provides assessments and placement on a waiting list for services.
For more information or to request an assessment, residents can call 732-341-2272.
