This past Tuesday, the League hosted a Lunch and Learned with Mike Callahan, the Director of the Office of Homelessness; Taiisa Kelly of Monarch Housing Associates; and Pamela Baker, the Deputy Director of Homelessness Services, on core strategies of encampment resolution.
The webinar focused on connecting residents to housing rather than displacing them. The multi-system approach included several vital steps, which included forming a core strategy team with members such as Continuum of Care (CoC) leadership, housing providers, outreach leads, property owners, and law enforcement. Several best practices and evidence-based approaches, including the Housing First approach, prioritize providing permanent housing without preconditions such as sobriety or treatment and collaborative efforts involving various providers and government partners.
By building strong partnerships and prioritizing housing solutions, communities can effectively address encampments, help individuals secure stable housing, and improve their quality of life.
The webinar was recorded and is on the League’s website.
Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.