Veterans' homelessness effectively ends in Middlesex County

• In 2012, the freeholder created a Veterans Housing Program.
• In Middlesex County, there is a 42 percent decrease in veterans' homelessness.

EDISON - Middlesex County has been certified by three federal agencies as having effectively ended veterans' homelessness in the county, Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said Thursday.

"We have obtained Functional Zero," Rios said. "To put it in laymen's terms, we have the infrastructure and systems in place to ensure that any veteran experiencing or at risk of homelessness will get the support he or she needs to quickly obtain a permanent home. Those of you that know me know that helping our veterans is a passion of mine and this achievement in particular is so very close to my heart."

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Rios said this has been certified by three federal agencies — the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The announcement was made at the Middlesex County Veterans Memorial at Roosevelt Park, where Rios was joined by Freeholders Blanquita B. Valenti, Charles E. Tomaro and Charles Kenney; Maria Maio-Messano, New Jersey field office director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; veterans; and others. The event included the presentation of colors.

In 2012, at his behest, the freeholder board created a Veterans Housing Program to assist veterans and their families at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness, Rios said. The freeholders have committed $100,000 each year since to fund the program.

"This commitment will continue," he said.

Rios explained that county staff works with the nonprofit Coming Home of Middlesex County, two federally funded programs (Soldier On and Community Hope), and a network of veterans organizations and community and faith-based partners. In addition to the county's funds, the partners use voucher programs, including HUD VASH, which is administered through the Veterans Administration.

So far, 300 veterans and their families have been assisted through this program — receiving funds to help with down payments, security deposits, rental assistance and other costs that had been obstacles to finding permanent homes, Rios said.

In addition, in September 2014, the freeholders passed a resolution endorsing first lady Michelle Obama's Mayor Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness.

"As it does with our program to end all homelessness in the county, our program for veterans embraces the Housing First philosophy," he said. "This is to say the county attempts to offer permanent housing in the first instance, then add any social services that may be needed, rather than placing people in transitional housing with no support."

County staff works with its partners to do a coordinated assessment of each homeless veteran to see what programs and services he or she may need, Rios said.

"We look at the whole picture when helping our veterans," he said.

"It's a team effort," he said. "But when you think about what each of these men and women have done for each of us, you realize that helping them transition back home after serving our country is the absolute least that we all can do."

Rios thanked Valenti, who spearheaded the county's initial program to end homelessness in the county and was the force behind the establishment of the county's Homelessness Trust Fund, which predates the county's Veterans Assistance Program. He also thanked the federal, state and community partners and county staff.

"Lastly, I thank and applaud  all the veterans here today and every man and woman who has served this country," he said. "Your sacrifices have made the United States the best nation in the world. Without you and your fellow servicemen and women, we would not enjoy the rights and freedoms that we have."

Valenti, whose husband and brother are veterans, said, "What would we do without our veterans."

"You have saved us in war and in peace and we owe you a great debt — all of our veterans," she said. "Today is a day of celebration. It is only through the collaboration and commitment of many that this milestone could be reached."

Valenti said she will continue to work with the partners "to meet the needs of our veterans, who are so deserving of our help."

Maio-Messano also thanked the veterans for their service.

She explained that early on, when the idea of ending veterans' homeless came up, people were cynical.

She said when she came to HUD, one of the first events she attended was at Kilmer Homes, where a number of units are dedicated to homeless vets. She said she was given the task of going around New Jersey and talking to mayors about joining the Mayor's Challenge. She said she talked to Rios and found the county was already working on the issue of veterans' homelessness.

Middlesex County was "the first county to sign on"  and will now serve as a model. There is a 42 percent decrease in veterans' homelessness in the county.

In a statement, Maio-Messano said homeless in New Jersey is down 20 percent over last year.

"That is remarkable," she said.

She presented a letter sent to the freeholder board to Rios acknowledging they have successfully ended veterans' homelessness.

Air Force Veteran Jim Hixon of Dunellen was at Thursday's event.

"It's about time," he said. "The vets seem to be forgotten. We are forgotten, but we don't forget our veterans. I have a lot of friends that are having trouble, and this is a step in the right direction for a lot of veterans."

Staff Writer Susan Loyer: 732-565-7243; sloyer@gannettnj.com