Blog – Page 4

May 21, 2024

HUD Expands Solutions to Tackle Homelessness with Housing Vouchers

The Waterfront Project’s Housing Team is excited to share some groundbreaking news from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that promises to make a significant impact on the fight against homelessness. HUD has announced new flexibilities in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that will expedite the process of providing housing assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure…

May 15, 2024

The Critical Role of Housing Stability in Childhood Mental Health

At The Waterfront Project, we understand that the effects of childhood housing insecurity extend far beyond immediate physical needs, deeply impacting mental health into adulthood. A recent study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlights a concerning link: children who experience housing insecurity are at a higher risk for long-term anxiety and depression. Why is this important for us at The Waterfront Project? Because it underscores the profound…

May 13, 2024

Advocating for Our Seniors: Addressing the Growing Challenge of Aging and Homelessness

By Carol M. Sainthilaire, Executive Director of The Waterfront Project, Inc. At The Waterfront Project, our commitment to the senior community is driven by a pressing need to address their vulnerabilities, especially concerning housing and legal assistance. Recent discussions, such as those highlighted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, underscore the increasing risk of homelessness among older Americans, exacerbated by economic instability and health disparities. This challenge is particularly…

Addressing the Surge in Homelessness: Insights from HUD’s Annual Report and What it Means for New Jersey

**By Carol Sainthilaire, Executive Director of The Waterfront Project, Inc.** https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-featd-article-043024.html Here’s the 2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf for you to review. The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress paints a stark picture of homelessness in the United States, including in New Jersey. As we digest this report at The Waterfront Project, Inc., it is crucial to align our strategies with the emerging needs highlighted within this document. **Homelessness in New Jersey** : New…

May 1, 2024

Ensuring Fair Housing: A Commitment from The Waterfront Project, Inc.

As a HUD-Certified Housing Counselor at The Waterfront Project, Inc. (WFP) in New Jersey, I am acutely aware of the profound impact that fair housing laws have on our mission to end homelessness. This year marks the anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at eliminating discrimination in housing and promoting integrated living patterns. Yet, despite this progress, challenges remain, particularly for people of color…

April 29, 2024

A Comprehensive Approach to Housing Stability for Seniors

By Carol Sainthilaire, Executive Director, The Waterfront Project, Inc. As the Executive Director of The Waterfront Project, Inc., I am continually reminded of the critical need for comprehensive services to ensure housing stability for our community’s seniors. The alarming rise in homelessness among older adults necessitates not just attention but immediate action. Drawing parallels with successful initiatives like those in Multnomah County, Oregon, it becomes evident that a multi-faceted approach…

April 25, 2024

New HUD Regulations: A Step Towards Fair Housing for All

At The Waterfront Project, Inc., we believe that housing is a fundamental human right, and the backbone of stability and opportunity in our lives. That’s why we are encouraged by the recent proposal from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to amend regulations that have long prevented many individuals with conviction histories from accessing HUD-subsidized housing. For too long, public housing authorities and other housing providers have…

Criminalizing the homeless costs three times more than housing them

April 23, 2024

Upholding the Right to Housing—A Call for Compassion and Justice

As the Supreme Court deliberates the pivotal case concerning the city of Grants Pass’s regulations on public camping, The Waterfront Project, Inc. (WFP) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principle that housing is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. This case, which questions whether it is constitutional to penalize homeless individuals for sleeping in public when no shelter alternatives exist, strikes at the core of our advocacy—housing, not handcuffs.…

April 15, 2024

Preventing Evictions Prevents Negative Health Outcomes in Diverse Communities

In Hudson County, New Jersey, a place known for its vibrant, racially diverse communities, the shadow of housing instability looms large, with at least 10,000 eviction filings each year. This staggering number not only disrupts lives but can also have profound psychological impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations such as pregnant African American women. Listen to Matthew Rand’s interview with Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at The Ohio State University…