Urges U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to prioritize transitional housing for homeless individuals and families, including survivors of domestic violence.

SCR100

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 100

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges U.S. Secretary for Housing and Urban
Development to prioritize transitional housing for homeless individuals and
families, including survivors of domestic violence.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution

urging the
United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to prioritize
transitional housing for homeless individuals and families, including survivors
of domestic violence.

Whereas
, Homelessness is defined as
any individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence; is in imminent risk of losing their primary nighttime residence; is
considered homeless under federal statutes; or is fleeing or attempting to flee
domestic violence (DV); and

Whereas,
DV is defined as violent or
aggressive behavior within the home, usually perpetrated by the violent abuse
of a spouse or partner; and

W
hereas,
Those who have experienced
DV often face long-term
physical and mental health
issues stemming from their abuse
; and

W
hereas,
Finding new housing provides
a pathway for victims of DV to escape their abusers, many often encounter
financial barriers that prevent them from obtaining or maintaining safe and
affordable permanent housing; and

W
hereas,
Most

emergency shelters do not allow homeless individuals and
families, including those fleeing DV, to stay for more than 90 days; and

W
hereas,
More than half of DV victims
who identified a need for housing services did not receive them; and

W
hereas,
Transitional housing
programs provide safe harbor for homeless individuals and families, with
housing for up to 24 months and support services that include financial
education, life skills training, counseling, employment, and housing
assistance; and

W
hereas,
Transitional housing is
particularly important to DV victims, who need the time and support that
transitional housing provides in order to obtain and maintain permanent
affordable housing; and

Whereas,

The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has further exacerbated the
struggle that homeless individuals and families face in obtaining and
maintaining stable housing, especially in high-rent communities where other
forms of short-term rental assistance are inadequate for long term stability;
now, therefore:�

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

���� 1.��� The Legislature of the
State of New Jersey urges the United States Secretary for Housing and Urban
Development to prioritize transitional housing for homeless individuals and
families, including those fleeing domestic violence.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Secretary
of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution urges the
United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development to prioritize
transitional housing for homeless individuals and families, including survivors
of domestic violence (DV).

���� Homelessness presents a
variety of needs and challenges, and for many, time and support is needed to
obtain and maintain permanent and affordable housing.� For victims of DV, who
often face physical and mental health issues stemming from their abuse, financial
barriers often prevent them from obtaining such housing. �

���� Transitional housing programs
allow homeless households, including those who have fled DV, up to 24 months of
safe housing and supportive services that include financial education, life
skills training, counseling, employment support, and housing assistance.� Transitional
housing is particularly important for DV victims, who need time and support in
order to obtain and maintain permanent affordable housing.

���� Over the past year, the
coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) has further exacerbated the need for
transitional housing programs, with millions of Americans crippled with
unemployment, underemployment, and uncertainty.� In high-rent communities,
homeless households recovering from the financial impacts of COVID-19 will need
time to regain employment, locate suitable childcare, pay off debts and repair
credit, before they will be able to obtain new housing.� Transitional housing
programs are equipped to provide the time and resources that it will take to
get households back on their feet permanently.

���� Urging the Secretary for
Housing and Urban Development to prioritize transitional housing can provide
homeless individuals and families, including survivors of DV, with the
opportunity to achieve financial self-sufficiency and safe, permanent housing.