The City of Newark’s Office of Homeless Services on Wednesday rolled out several new initiatives — including the Metro Downtown Outreach Team and the Path Home 211 texting service — that are aimed at ending chronic homelessness in Newark.
The initiatives, designed to increase access to critical resources for Newark’s unhoused population, came on the anniversary of the city’s strategic plan to end chronic homelessness — and came with the support of many partners, including the MCJ Amelior Foundation, Port Newark Container Terminal, the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health, Rutgers Health New Jersey Medical School, the Maher Foundation and the Prudential Foundation.
Here are the basics.
The Metro Outreach Team uses a multidisciplinary outreach team to deliver psychiatric street treatment to unhoused Newarkers living downtown, with the goal of directly connecting residents to housing and supports.
The Path Home texting service provides and tool for those who live, work and visit Newark to alert appropriate, qualified service providers when they see an unhoused person in need, by enabling residents to text “PATH HOME” to (855-11).
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was obviously thrilled.
“The Metro Downtown Outreach Initiative is an important step in providing immediate and comprehensive support to those who need it most,” he said. “By enhancing this initiative with the Path Home Texting Service, we are creating a more effective system for our community to engage directly with those experiencing homelessness.”
With a total investment of $310,000, the Metro Downtown Outreach Initiative has received funding from The Prudential Foundation, Maher Charitable Foundation and RWJBarnabas Health. These contributions ensure that the initiative can provide essential services and sustained, long-term support.
Newark Alliance CEO Evan Weiss said the collaboration between the Newark Alliance and funding and delivery partners demonstrates the power of cross-sector partnerships in addressing complex issues like homelessness.
“The Newark Alliance is dedicated to the equitable economic growth of Newark; and, aligned with that broader commitment, we continue to collaborate with the City’s Office of Homeless Services to implement solutions that address chronic unsheltered homelessness,” he said.
Balpreet Grewal-Virk, senior vice president of community health, RWJBarnabas Health, said the health system is eager to help.
“We are proud to support the Metro Downtown Outreach Initiative and its role in addressing homelessness in Newark,” she said. “At RWJBarnabas Health, we are committed to providing unhoused individuals with accessible, high-quality care. This initiative plays a key role in improving the health and stability of Newark’s most vulnerable residents, helping them achieve a healthier quality of life.”
Prudential’s Lata Reddy agreed.
“As an anchor institution in the city of Newark, we are dedicated to addressing critical social issues within our community,” she said. “Our support of the Metro Downtown Outreach Initiative underscores our commitment to helping Newark’s most vulnerable residents gain access to essential services and achieve stability.”