Trenton, NJ (Mercer) — Homelessness is not an abstract policy issue in the City of Trenton. It is something we see every day, whether we travel by the Train Station, near City Hall, under various overpasses, in our parks, or in the doorways of our downtown businesses. These are our neighbors, and when extreme weather hits, their lives and in some cases, their pet’s lives, are put at even greater risk.
Considering the unhoused population in the city, I was very pleased to learn that Senate Bill 4832, sponsored by Senators Nicholas P. Scutari and Troy Singleton, has been passed and enacted into law. I believe strongly that as the administration prepares for the next budget cycle; this must be taken into strong consideration.
Additionally, our city has experienced increasingly dangerous weather patterns in recent years, including bitter cold snaps in winter, like the one we are experiencing this week, excessive heat in summer, and severe storms that flood low-lying areas of the city. When we think about people without a place to call home, these conditions are not mere inconveniences but threats to survival and can even be deadly…