12,680 people were homeless in New Jersey on January 23, 2024, which is a 24% increase from 2024, 78 of them lived in Hunterdon County.
While there are many causes of homelessness, some of the most common include the lack of affordable housing, the need to escape domestic violence, and long-standing structural racism, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
As per the Department of Community Affairs State of Homelessness report, the leading cause of homelessness in New Jersey in 2023 was being Asked to Leave Shared Residence. We encounter family breakup as one of the most prevalent causes of Homelessness in Hunterdon County. The most prevalent cause is a lack of affordability.
Eviction was listed as the second most common cause according to the State of Homelessness report. Job Income Loss/Reduction and Domestic Violence completed the top five reasons for homelessness in NJ.
On a single night in 2023, more than 34,700 people under the age of 25 experienced homelessness on their own as “unaccompanied youth.
Importantly, the data challenge several stereotypes about homelessness:
Homelessness is firstly a housing issue: The top cause of homelessness is being “Asked to Leave Shared Residence,” which signals shifting household compositions and precariousness of living arrangements. This could include a variety of complex social and familial issues.
Substance abuse is not the primary cause for a household’s experience of homelessness: While “Drug/Alcohol Abuse” is present, it ranks 10th, suggesting that substance abuse is not the leading cause of homelessness. In fact, it showed a decrease from the previous year.
Homelessness is not primarily caused due to mental illness: “Mental Illness” is ranked 20th, which counters the stereotype that a majority of homeless people suffer from mental health issues.