Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) works to prevent and end homelessness through a range of support services including mental health and substance use referrals, supportive housing and assistance with applications for permanent affordable housing. We use a low-barrier, housing-first approach when working with individuals to meet them where they’re at and prioritize the needs their identify for their health and wellness.
Peer support is well recognized by professionals in mental health and addiction services, where peer support has been widely used over the past few decades and considerable knowledge has emerged about the approach. CSPNJ offers peer support as a service, given that many individuals experiencing homelessness also often live with co-occurring mental health problems, substance use, and traumatic stress disorder.
CSPNJ’s permanent supportive housing is an intervention that combines affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services to address the needs of chronically homeless people. The services are designed to build independent living and tenancy skills and connect people with community-based health care, treatment and employment services.
CSPNJ operates Hudson County’s Warming Center providing emergency shelter for the homeless from November 15th through March 31 at their facility in Kearny, New Jersey. The goal of the Warming Center is to provide a warm and safe place for unsheltered homeless individuals to spend the night during the winter months. CSPNJ serves the needs of the overflow homeless population that are forced to live on the streets and in train stations during the winter months.
During the summer months, the Hudson County’s Cooling Center – at the same location in Kearny – and Ocean County Cooling Center in Toms River, NJ open their doors to provide emergency shelter and safety from extreme heat during business hours.
CSPNJ’s staff are trained professionals able to assist with the special needs of individuals who are homeless, and may experience mental health issues, substance abuse issues, or intimate partner/domestic violence issues.
CSPNJ was awarded to serve Region 1: Gateway (Bergen, Hudson and Passaic Counties) for the Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) project in collaboration with Department of Community Affairs. Our BVH outreach teams serve unhoused individuals in New Jersey who meet either federal or state definitions of Veterans eligible for homelessness services, as well as service members and National Guard members experiencing homelessness. This program offers street outreach, diversion, rapid rehousing, housing navigation, emergency shelter, and regional coordination to those qualified.
CSPNJ conducts street outreach to engage with people experiencing homelessness who may be disconnected and alienated not only from mainstream services and supports, but from the services targeting homeless persons as well. This is incredibly important work designed to help establish supportive relationships, give people advice and support, and hopefully enhance the possibility that they will access necessary services and supports that will help them move off the streets. Our Urban Outreach Team works hand in hand with our community wellness centers in Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties to ensure warm transfers to those living unhoused seeking support to meet their wellness and recovery needs.
Our Rural and Suburban Outreach Team is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate essential services and overcome barriers to stability. We provide hands-on assistance with obtaining vital documents such as birth certificate, Social Security cards, and state IDs. Our team also provides assistance applying for mainstream benefits including social service programs. We also offer housing assistance, diversion and prevention programs. Additionally, we offer direct connections to substance use treatment, mental health care, and medical services-meeting people where they are with compassion, respect, and practical support. We currently provide services to and offer hotline support to the following counties: