N.J. Stat. Ann. § 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-281a
Information on homeless prevention programs, services made available on Internet website, Department of Community Affairs
Operative Text
1. a. The Department of Community Affairs shall prepare and make available on the department's Internet website, in an easily printable format, or contract with a third party to prepare and make available, information on all county, State, and federal homeless prevention programs and services that are available to a homeless person or to a person who is at imminent risk of homelessness. The department shall update the information whenever new information about the programs and services becomes available. The information shall include, but not be limited to, a list, by county, of: (1) grant programs and homeless intervention programs, including the "Homeless Veterans Grant Fund" established by section 4 of P.L.2013, c.239 (C.54A:9-25.33), "Statue of Liberty Trust Fund," established by section 3 of P.L.1987, c.57 (C.32:32-3), "County Homelessness Trust Fund," created by P.L.2009, c.123 (C.52:27D-287a et al.), and the Homeless Intervention Program in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, that supply grants and provide referral assistance services to homeless veterans, homeless persons, and persons at imminent risk of homelessness, as applicable; (2) homeless youth programs and other homeless services provided to teens and young adults by the Division of Children's System of Care and Office of Adolescent Services in the Department of Children and Families; (3) homeless prevention services provided by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families to families involved in the child welfare system; (4) homeless services provided by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services to persons suffering from mental illness or co-occurring addiction and mental health disease; and (5) other county, State, or federal housing and homeless prevention programs that provide financial and other supportive services to homeless persons or those at imminent risk of homelessness. b. The department shall notify each county welfare agency, Division of Child Protection and Permanency local office, veterans service office, emergency shelter for the homeless, health care facility, State psychiatric hospital, crisis intervention unit, screening service, library, and community-based outreach program and nonprofit organizations providing housing and homeless prevention services in the State of the requirement to: (1) post the information specified in paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section in a conspicuous public place in the agency, office shelter, facility, hospital, unit, screening service, library, or place where housing and homeless prevention services are provided; and (2) provide the information, at no cost, to homeless persons or persons at imminent risk of homelessness. c. The department shall ensure, in consultation with the Departments of Children and Families, Health, Human Services, and Military and Veterans Affairs, that: (1) the information posted on its website is made available on the websites of the Departments of Children and Families, Health, Human Services, and Military and Veterans Affairs, and is updated as necessary; and (2) a website link to the information is posted to the Internet website of every county welfare agency, Division of Child Protection and Permanency local office, and veterans service office in the State. d. As used in this section, "homeless person" means a teen, a young adult, a veteran, as defined under N.J.S.11A:5-1, N.J.S.18A:66-2, section 6 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C.43:15A-6), or section 1 of P.L.1983, c.391 (C.43:16A-11.7), an unemployed or underemployed person, a person with mental illness, or a person with developmental disabilities who is living outside, or in a building not meant for human habitation or which the person has no legal right to occupy, or in an emergency shelter, in a temporary housing program which may include a transitional and supportive housing program if habitation time limits exist, or temporarily in the home of another household, or in a motel. L.2021, c.437, s.1.
Under N.J.S.A. 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-281a, New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs is required to compile and publish—on its website in an easily printable format—a county-by-county directory of homeless prevention programs and services available to homeless individuals and those at imminent risk of homelessness. The information must be kept current and must cover a broad range of programs, including grant funds, veteran services, youth programs, mental health and addiction services, and other housing assistance. The law also directs the department to coordinate with other state agencies and to notify a wide range of local offices, shelters, libraries, and nonprofits to post and distribute this information at no cost.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Although N.J.S.A. 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-281a primarily places obligations on state and county agencies rather than private landlords, property owners and managers who work with housing nonprofits, shelters, or community outreach programs should be aware that those partner organizations may be required to post and distribute the department's homeless prevention resource information. Operators of housing programs that serve individuals at risk of homelessness generally stay informed about the publicly available county-by-county resource lists the department maintains. Familiarity with these resources can support referrals when residents face housing instability.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 52:27D-280 et seq. § 52:27D-281a establishes a right for homeless individuals and those at imminent risk of homelessness to access a free, regularly updated directory of county, state, and federal assistance programs through the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs website. Tenants facing housing instability can look for this information posted at county welfare agencies, local shelters, libraries, veterans service offices, and similar community locations, where it must be provided at no cost. Those who believe the required information is not being made available may consider reaching out to the Department of Community Affairs directly or contacting a local tenant-rights or housing nonprofit organization for guidance on available resources.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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