Ocean County officials announced that a $1 million grant has been awarded to help expand and strengthen homelessness prevention and housing stability efforts throughout the county.

The funding was formally presented during the April 15 Board meeting, when representatives from RWJBarnabas Health handed a ceremonial check to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

According to officials, the grant will support housing stabilization services, wrap-around case management, and connections to critical resources for individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to securing stable housing.

“We are honored to partner with Ocean County in providing housing stabilization support, wrap-around case management, and connections to critical services for individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to housing,” said Dr. Teri Kubiel.

The $1 million grant was made possible through community health resources provided by the State of New Jersey. Ocean County will administer the funding through its Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force, allowing the county to enhance existing programs and build upon current infrastructure.

Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione, who serves as co-liaison to the Homelessness Trust Fund, said the investment reflects the strong partnership between the county and RWJBarnabas Health.

“This money will allow the Task Force to continue to fund supportive services and prevention services, including the Code Blue program,” Bacchione said.

Since its launch in 2023, the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund has collected nearly $969,000 through a $5 surcharge applied to most recorded instruments with the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.

Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace said the new funding will help expand services such as Rapid Rehousing Assistance, housing navigation, and case management for residents in need.

Households experiencing housing insecurity are encouraged to contact the Coordinated Entry program for Ocean County through the Affordable Housing Alliance at 732-341-2272 for an assessment and placement on the Coordinated Entry Waiting List.

In a joint statement, the Board of Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to improving quality of life and promoting housing security across the community.

Photo Caption: During the April 15 Board meeting, Dr. Teri Kubiel and Stan Evanowski of RWJBarnabas Health presented the Ocean County Board of Commissioners with a $1 million donation to the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund to strengthen homelessness prevention and housing stability efforts.