Sherrill Kicks Off Second Annual Community Project Tour at Family Promise of Morris County
Morris Plains, NJ— Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) held a press conference at Family Promise of Morris County (FPMC) to highlight the Community Project funding she secured for their Housing is Healthcare for Economic Development Project. This grant is one of the 14 Community Projects the Congresswoman submitted on behalf of NJ-11 through the House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2023 bill, which passed in December 2022.
Watch a recording of the press conference here.
Speakers at the press conference included: FPMC CEO Joann Bjornson, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, and Zufall Health CEO Frances Palm.
“Being responsive to the concerns of my constituents is a top priority for me and guides my work in Washington. The Community Project program allows me to work closely with local officials and organizations to bring our hard-earned tax dollars back to the district to meet the needs of residents, without placing a burden of cost on local municipalities,” said Rep. Sherrill. “With this federal funding, FPMC will launch their ‘Housing is Healthcare for Economic Development’ project to address the housing and healthcare crisis exacerbated by the pandemic and help families get back on their feet.”
"Family Promise is addressing the intersection of housing and healthcare by working with local community and health care partners across systems. Our agency recognizes that safe, stable, and affordable housing is key to ensuring long-term stability in a variety of areas, including one’s health and economic wellbeing. Ultimately, addressing health concerns helps ensure stable housing and stable housing helps maintain good health. We are incredibly grateful for Congresswoman Sherrill’s support of this critical project," said FPMC CEO Joann Bjornson, LSW.
Housing is Healthcare for Economic Development is a pilot program to provide pathways to affordable, safe housing and preventive healthcare. Through this "no wrong door" Housing First policy, coupled with case management support and access to resources, housing insecure families and individuals will experience better health and economic outcomes.
By addressing the housing crisis as well as providing critical wrap-around services, this program is expected to have an economic impact on families and individuals, but also for the community. There is a notable cost savings from reduced healthcare, prison, and hospital visits that has a direct positive impact on the community. Per the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, studies have found that leaving a person to remain chronically homeless costs taxpayers as much as $30,000 to $50,000 per year. This pilot project will include a study on homelessness, jail and hospital stays and the cost to these systems.
The project received letters of support from the Housing Authority of the County of Morris, Borough of Madison Housing Authority, Housing Authority Town of Dover, NJ State Senator Anthony Bucco, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Morris County Board of County Commissioners, and the Morris County Department of Human Services. In its implementation, this project will engage with local partners such as Zufall Health, Atlantic Health System, Hope One, the Morris County Department of Human Services, Interfaith Food Pantry Network, and Morris Habitat for Humanity.
To read more about all of Rep. Sherrill’s Community Projects, click here.
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