Homelessness in Sussex County grew by 137% in 2023

Newton, NJ—Sussex County has a homelessness problem and it’s growing. Last year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) count found a 137% increase in homelessness in Sussex County.

The PIT count is an annual measure of homelessness in New Jersey, including individuals in emergency shelters and transitional housing. In January 2022, the PIT count recorded 67 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in Sussex County while the January 2023 count documented 159 people experiencing homelessness. To put this into perspective, the state of New Jersey saw a 17% increase, and nearby Warren and Morris counties both saw homelessness increase by about a third, compared to Sussex County’s 137% increase.

In recent years the Sussex County area has experienced an explosion in housing costs as an influx of new renters moved into the area to escape New York City congestion both during and after the pandemic. In fact, Fair Market Rent for Sussex County, as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has gone up $400 since 2019, from $1,188 to $1590 for 2024, leaving many people with extremely limited or no housing options.

Lack of affordable housing isn’t the only cause of increased homelessness in the area. Two of the most cited causes in the 2023 PIT count were domestic violence and eviction or threat of eviction. The Covid-19 eviction moratorium was lifted in January 2022, and as the courts continue working through their eviction backlog, more people are finding themselves with nowhere to go. Likewise, multiple sources reported increases in domestic violence during the pandemic, and incidents have remained high.

But there is hope for people struggling with housing expenses and those already experiencing homelessness. Family Promise of Sussex County provides a range of services to help people stay in their homes or find new homes, including an emergency shelter, mobile outreach services, eviction prevention and financial support for utility bills, rent payments, back-rent costs and security deposits and supportive services like a food pantry and computer lab. FPSC also provides supportive housing for people with disabilities or chronic illness, transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence and rapid rehousing for people who need a little extra help to get back up on their feet.

Family Promise of Sussex County is located at 19 Church Street in Newton with satellite offices at 32 Main Street in First Presbyterian Church in Sparta and 15 Bank Street in Sussex United Methodist Church. If you need help, please call us at 973-579-1180, email at [email protected] or visit our website at https://familypromisesussex.org/.

About Family Promise of Sussex County

The mission of Family Promise of Sussex County is to secure housing stability and sustainability for those in crisis…because everyone deserves a home. Our vision is that every individual and family shall have a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. We offer many services and a dedicated team of individuals that are available to assist our clients in attaining these goals.