Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law legislation sponsored by Sen. Troy Singleton, D-7th of Delran, to expand the permitted uses for county homeless trust funds to sheltering purposes during Code Blue weather emergencies. Previously the funds could only be used for purposes of providing permanent housing for homeless residents or those in danger of becoming homeless.

TRENTON — Burlington County and other counties that have created a records fee in their Clerk’s Office to raise revenue to assist homeless residents can now use those funds for expenses related to Code Blue sheltering.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law legislation sponsored by state Sen. Troy Singleton, D-7th of Delran, to expand the permitted uses for county homeless trust funds to sheltering purposes during Code Blue weather emergencies. Previously the funds could only be used for purposes of providing permanent housing for homeless residents or those in danger of becoming homeless.

During a Code Blue emergency, temporary shelters run by nonprofits and volunteers are opened to provide shelter for homeless in the area. The costs for the emergency sheltering is typically picked up by the counties where the shelters are located.

Money for the trust funds is raised by a surcharge on all deeds, mortgages and other land records filed with county clerks. In addition to expanding the permitted use for homeless trust fund monies to Code Blue expenses, the new law raises the permitted surcharge from a maximum $3 per record to $5.

“It is no secret that the winter months are the toughest for the homeless, and this past winter was no exception as shelters across the state struggled to house those seeking refuge from the cold,” Singleton said in a statement Monday. “Giving shelters the flexibility to access the county homelessness trust fund during a Code Blue alert is a compassionate solution to this very real, human problem. Instead of turning people away, the shelters can instead open their doors and help more homeless find the warmth and comfort they need and deserve.”

The new law comes just after Burlington County’s Democratic-controlled Board of Freeholders voted unanimously last week to create the $3 surcharge and trust fund. County Clerk Joanne Schwartz said she anticipates the new surcharge is expected to generate at least $240,000 annually.

Homeless advocates applauded the freeholders’ decision, saying the funding is desperately needed and that prior boards controlled by the GOP refused to create the dedicated funding source.

Counties were first authorized to create the surcharge a decade ago under a 2009 law. In addition to Burlington County, nine other counties in New Jersey are believed to have created the fee and trust fund. They are: Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Mercer, Camden and Cumberland.

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