Initiatives
LEASED APARTMENTS PROGRAM
IAC leases private apartment units to offer temporary residency, stabilization, and supportive services to Salem County individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In the safety of stable housing, alongside supportive case-management services, participants will identify, secure, and achieve their goals for permanent housing and transition to the permanent housing solution.
The IAC Team is excited and privileged to offer this program. The program is newly launched as of October 2023. At this early start, we have a very limited number of units available. We are working hard to acquire more units. If you are a landlord interested in leasing with us, please contact the IAC Housing Programs Coordinator. Additional program information for Continuum of Care members, service providers, community-based sites, potential participants, and interested persons is included in the FAQs below.
No, this is not an emergency shelter program. If in need of emergency housing, please contact Salem County Board of Social Services during normal business hours at 856-299-7200 and dial NJ 2-1-1 after business hours
No, this is not a rental assistance program. Participants in this program move into apartment units for which IAC holds the leases. The participants’ stay in the units is temporary, expected to last no more than three months for a period of stabilization and transition into permanent housing. A list of rental assistance programs available to Salem County residents should be up to date on NJ211.org
- Complete in-person application and interview process
- Work with Coordinator to complete documentation required for enrollment
- Temporary residency in apartments must comply with terms outlined in Occupancy Agreement
- Coordinator will work with participants to develop personalized action plan, goals, and benchmarks for transitioning to permanent housing
- Coordinator will provide a detailed program orientation during enrollment
Category One: Literally Homeless
(1) Individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning: (i) Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation; (ii) Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels/motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local gov programs); or (iii) Is exiting an institution where (s)he has resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution
Category Two: Imminent Risk of Homelessness
(2) Individual or family who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence, provided that: (i) Residence will be lost within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance; (ii) No subsequent residence has been identified; and (iii) The individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing
Category Three: Homeless under other Federal statutes
(3) Unaccompanied youth under 25 years of age, or families with children and youth, who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition, but who: (i) Are defined as homeless under the other listed federal statutes; (ii) Have not had a lease, ownership interest, or occupancy agreement in permanent housing during the 60 days prior to the homeless assistance application; (iii) Have experienced persistent instability as measured by two moves or more during in the preceding 60 days; and (iv) Can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time due to special needs or barriers
Category Four: Fleeing/Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence
(4) Any individual or family who: (i) Is fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence; (ii) Has no other residence; and (iii) Lacks the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing
*Definition of Chronically Homeless
(1) A “homeless individual with a disability,” who (i) Lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; and (ii) Has been homeless, as described above, continuously for at least 12 months or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years, as long as the combined occasions equal at least 12 months (Occasions must be separated by a break of at least 7 consecutive nights. Stays in institutional care facilities for fewer than 90 days will not constitute as a break in homelessness unless the individual was living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or an emergency shelter immediately before entering the institutional care facility); or (2) An individual who has been residing in an institutional care facility, including a jail, substance abuse or mental health treatment facility, hospital, or other similar facility, for fewer than 90 days and met all of the criteria in paragraph (1) of this definition, before entering that facility; or (3) A family with an adult head of household (or if there is no adult in the family, a minor head of household) who meets all of the criteria in paragraphs (1) or (2) of this definition, including a family whose composition has fluctuated while the head of household has been homeless.
- No income requirements
- Must meet federal definitions of homelessness
- Salem County resident
- Due to volume of need in Salem County and limited program capacity, there may be a waiting list
IAC will publicize open periods when inquiries and referrals can be accepted, and screenings will be conducted. Screenings determine eligibility to apply for the program or be added to the waitlist. The Waitlist utilizes a vulnerability index- service prioritization decision assistance tool methodology.
Open periods will be announced when a unit is expected to become available within 30 days. During an open period, a Screening and Referral form dated with the acceptance period is dispersed to the Salem County community of homelessness, emergency, and community service providers. This means any homeless individual or family seeking assistance from or enrolled with any provider will be informed of the opportunity to be screened.
Persons may call IAC to be screened over the phone or may complete a Screening and Referral form themselves and submit through several ways detailed on the form. A case-worker, loved one, or any representative may also complete a Screening and Referral form and submit on a household’s behalf. All forms submitted during open periods will be reviewed and responded to.
Wonderful! Please contact our Housing Programs Coordinator at [email protected] or 856-935-7510 ext 8318
The expected length of stay is three months
A flyer with a brief description of the program and FAQs is available by clicking the green button below
No. This program cannot accept inquiries, referrals, and applications at all times. This program cannot conduct screening at all times. There are specific openings when referrals can be made, screening is conducts, and applications are conducted. The openings occur when units are expected to be available and/or there is room on our waiting list. Please read:
IAC will publicize open periods when inquiries and referrals can be accepted, and screenings will be conducted. Screenings determine eligibility to apply for the program or be added to the waitlist. The Waitlist utilizes a vulnerability index- service prioritization decision assistance tool methodology.
Open periods will be announced when a unit is expected to become available within 30 days. During an open period, a Screening and Referral form dated with the acceptance period is dispersed to the Salem County community of homelessness, emergency, and community service providers. This means any homeless individual or family seeking assistance from or enrolled with any provider will be informed of the opportunity to be screened.
Persons may call IAC to be screened over the phone or may complete a Screening and Referral form themselves and submit through several ways detailed on the form. A case-worker, loved one, or any representative may also complete a Screening and Referral form and submit on a household’s behalf. All forms submitted during open periods will be reviewed and responded to.
POINT-IN-TIME COUNT, ANNUAL WINTER OUTREACH TO THE HOMELESS
Findings from 2023 PIT Count
- On the night of January 24, 2023, a total of 52 households, including 67 persons, were experiencing homelessness in Salem County according to the 2023 Point-In-Time Count. Of the 67 total homeless persons, 54 were unsheltered. The remaining 13 persons were sheltered either at the Salem County Women’s Services (SCWS) shelter or in hotel/motels paid by the Salem County Board of Social Services. The 54 unsheltered persons represent 80.6% of the total 67 persons reported as homeless on the night of January 24, 2023.
- Of the 67 homeless persons counted, 36% reported a disability. Of the disabilities reported, mental health issues was most frequent (75%), followed by substance abuse disorder (62.5%), chronic health condition (13.2%), physical disability (8.8%), and developmental disability (6.6%).
- When asked to share the factors that contributed to, or caused, their homelessness, more households attributed their homelessness to loss or reduction of job income (11 households, 17.5%) than any other cause, followed by household breakup/death in household (15.9%).
- When households were asked ‘what issues have you encountered when trying to get access to services?’ more said lack of transportation than any other type of barrier (18 households). The top reported barriers for those residing in unsheltered locations were lack of transportation (17 households), followed by having no ID/documents and no physical mailing address (10 households, each).
