Burlington Review

Burlington County is set to begin construction on its first emergency shelter, located at the Burlington County Human Services campus on Woodlane Road. The facility will provide 60 beds for adults facing urgent housing needs. A groundbreaking ceremony marked the occasion, attended by officials from various government levels and social service providers.

"Burlington County will not ignore those in need or the most vulnerable living amongst us," stated Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. She emphasized the necessity of an emergency shelter, noting that Burlington is currently the only New Jersey county of similar size without one.

The 2024 Point in Time Count by Monarch Housing reported 1,005 homeless individuals in Burlington County on January 24, highlighting a significant need for such a facility. The new shelter will offer temporary accommodations with services like meals, showers, and case management to help residents transition to stable housing.

The building will be a two-story structure with security and medical triage facilities. It may also serve as an emergency site during disasters. Planning for this project began several years ago under Hopson's leadership.

Construction contracts totaling $18.3 million were awarded last month to Deandrea Construction Co. and M&M Construction Inc., with completion expected within 16 to 20 months.

Funding includes a $3 million federal grant from HUD secured through Congressman Andy Kim and Senator Cory Booker, along with other grants and county funds. "Today’s groundbreaking is a culmination of incredible planning and leadership," said Congressman Kim.

New Jersey Senator Troy Singleton also supported the project through a legislative grant as part of the state budget: "With this new homeless shelter, we will have a safe, secure place for our residents."

This initiative follows previous efforts by Burlington County to address housing insecurity, including opening the Housing Hub in 2019 and investing over $2 million in affordable housing units since then.

"We are working to address the root causes of housing insecurity," said Hopson. "Building a shelter will address that need and aid all our communities."