The expiration of programs started during the pandemic to alleviate child poverty and homelessness could reverse gains made in these areas in recent decades.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Avenel Joseph said we can’t afford to let gains like these slip away.
“In the New York-New Jersey area we’ve seen decreases by more than 50% over that 25 or so year period on childhood poverty but we still see very high homelessness rates,” she said.
The 25 years she refers to are 1993 to 2019.
Joseph said there are too many in New Jersey with no place to live.
“The homelessness rate in New Jersey is about just shy of 10,000 people, which is still pretty high and I think that’s reflective of the cost of living in New Jersey, the cost of rent and homes,” she said.
A survey shows New Jersey’s homelessness rose 8% this year after sharply decreasing in 2021. Joseph said one program especially must be revived, especially with inflation making it harder for families to make ends meet.
“We need to put the child tax credit back on the books, the expanded child tax credit,” she said. “Congress has an opportunity to do that when they resume after the election period. Putting that on the top of the agenda for Congress is incredibly important.”