The Camden County Board of Commissioners organized a homeless services and resource fair on Wednesday, offering free services to individuals experiencing homelessness. The event included on-site showers, haircuts, meals, and access to organizations that provide support with employment, housing, legal matters, and mental health.
“Our homelessness resource fairs help to deliver critical wraparound services directly to people who are experiencing homelessness,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services. “This is just one step in towards our goal of ending homelessness in Camden County once and for all.”
Organizations participating in the fair included the Camden County Board of Social Services, Camden County Office of Mental Health & Addiction, Camden County Division of Community Development, Volunteers of America, Cooper University Hospital Center for Healing/Department of Addiction Medicine, Rutgers University Free Books Project, Hispanic Family Center, Camden County Prosecutors’ Office, South Jersey Legal Services, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Senior Citizens United Community Services (SCUCS), Center for Family Services and the Camden County Office of Economic Opportunity.
Earlier this year in April 2024, the Board of Commissioners together with the Camden County Office of Homelessness Services introduced a six-point plan aimed at ending chronic homelessness within the county. The plan brings together programs and partnerships across all municipalities in Camden County with an objective to reach “functional zero” by 2030—a point where the number of homeless individuals does not exceed the monthly rate at which people are placed into housing. More information about this initiative can be found at www.camdencounty.com/service/end-chronic-homelessness-in-camden-county/.
