NJ state legislature passes housing bill for
mentally ill
The Philadelphia Inquirer
By Robert Moran
Inquirer Trenton Bureau
Originally published July 2, 2005
TRENTON - The state Legislature gave final approval yesterday to a bill that would create a $200 million housing fund for the mentally ill.
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey is expected to sign the measure.
The Assembly gave final approval to a measure that would create a $200 million housing trust fund for people with mental illness and other special needs.
The bill, sponsored by Codey in his dual role as Senate president, would authorize borrowing the money to pay for the creation of 10,000 housing units over 10 years.
Codey, a longtime mental-health advocate, had introduced the idea in his State of the State address in January.
Advocates and people living with mental illness and other needs have testified to the difficulty of finding appropriate housing.
In April, the state was sued because a lack of housing and other services was keeping nearly 1,000 patients in psychiatric hospitals past their discharge dates - some for years.
Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 609-989-9016 or bmoran@phillynews.com.