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As part of Mayor Ras Baraka’s “The Path Home” initiative, Newark announced the launch of new, innovative programs aimed at ending chronic homelessness in New Jersey’s largest city.

Leaders, officials, stakeholders and key partners gathered during a Jan. 15 press conference to discuss the new programs. According to speakers, the moves aim to increase access to critical resources for Newark’s unhoused population.

The Path Home is a data-driven, comprehensive plan. It was developed with more than 100 public, private and nonprofit partners, including those with lived experience. The latest announcement comes on the tail of the program’s two-year anniversary.

“We are here to mark another milestone in Newark’s ‘The Path Home’ initiative, which, to date, has introduced several new and innovative strategies that has helped reduce street homelessness,” said Baraka. “Today we celebrate one of those strategies, with an expanded staff and broader services for precise, responsive care for those without the safety and comfort of a roof over their head.”

New measures include:

• A Clinical Downtown Metro Outreach Team. Launched in partnership with Newark Alliance, along with support from RWJBarnabas Health, Maher Foundation and Prudential Foundation, the team will provide psychiatric street treatment to unhoused residents in downtown Newark. Those organizations invested $310,00 in funding for the initiative.
• A texting hotline with NJ 211. The resource allows anyone to text “PATH HOME” to 855-11 to report an unhoused person on Newark city streets who needs non-emergency assistance
• Expanded 24/7 Outreach Program. Creating two new concurrent teams in collaboration with Bridges Outreach Inc. and Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) staff. They will support 24/7 coverage, serving the entire city and working with NJ Transit Police to address homelessness at Newark transit stations
• Expanded partnerships with Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Department of Psychiatry to deploy street medicine teams
• Expanded Newark Office of Homeless Services Street Outreach Team with added licensed social workers and drug counselors

Newark officials noted a 57.6% reduction in its unsheltered population since the launch of The Path Home in 2022. The program has received international recognition.

The city also announced a partnership this month with the Newark Housing Authority. That initiative will designate 200 public housing units as transitional housing for the city’s chronically homeless.

Ready to respond

“We know that our unsheltered Newark residents experience high rates of chronic disease, serious mental illness, and substance abuse,” said Newark Office of Homeless Services Director Luis Ulerio. “These conditions are further exacerbated by the persistent state of housing instability that many experience on our streets. Their highly complex needs demand a comprehensive housing and health care service approach.”

Ulerio said that under Baraka’s leadership, the city is tackling this issue head on – bringing services directly to those that need them most.

“We have enhanced street outreach efforts, introduced multi-disciplinary teams, expanded our reach, and deepened our collaboration,” said Ulerio. “Today, with all of our partners, we stand together ready to respond to this urgent need.”

The power of partnerships

“The Newark Alliance is proud to help to expand access to critical services for unhoused residents in Newark’s downtown Arts and Education District,” said Newark Alliance CEO Evan Weiss. “Through the support of our partners, the MCJ Amelior Foundation, Port Newark Container Terminal, the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health, the Maher Foundation, and the Prudential Foundation – we are partnering with the City’s Office of Homeless Services to facilitate the implementation of two innovative initiatives: the Downtown Metro Outreach Team and the 211 Path Home texting service.”

Weiss said this collaboration demonstrates the power of cross-sector partnerships to address complex issues like homelessness.

“The Newark Alliance remains staunch in our commitment to partner with the city, Essex County, the state, and our members to end chronic homelessness,” said Weiss.

Finding love

“At RWJBarnabas Health, we are committed to providing unhoused individuals with accessible, high-quality care,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, senior vice president of community health, RWJBarnabas Health. “This initiative plays a key role in improving the health and stability of Newark’s most vulnerable residents – helping them achieve a healthier quality of life.”

“As an anchor institution in the City of Newark, we are dedicated to addressing critical social issues within our community,” said Lata Reddy, senior vice president of Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial, chair of The Prudential Foundation and chair of the Newark Alliance board of directors. “Our support of the Metro Downtown Outreach Initiative underscores our commitment to helping Newark’s most vulnerable residents gain access to essential services and achieve stability.”

“In politics and policy, we don’t use the word ‘love’ much,” said Baraka. “But look around at the people gathered here, the medical and behavioral professionals, the addiction specialists, the outreach experts who lay the groundwork for trust that becomes the path to housing. If you don’t see love in this room, you won’t see it anywhere.”

Expanded efforts:

• Atlantic City launches new effort to end unsheltered homelessness
• New Jersey commits $30M to combat veteran homelessness