Today at 10 a.m. the Board of Commissioners will be hosting a homeless services and resource fair to provide free necessary services to those in need. This fair will feature on–site showers and haircuts, breakfast and lunch, and access to several organizations to help with employment and housing, among other things.

“These events are incredibly important because they deliver critical services directly to people currently experiencing homelessness,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, liaison to the Department of Health and Human services. “Combatting homelessness is a top priority for the Board of Commissioners and these resource fairs are a crucial component in doing that.”

The event also coincides with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) annual Point in Time Count of the homeless. Attendees will be required to answer a brief survey upon arriving at the resource fair.

 The following service providers will at Thursday’s event:

• Camden County Board of Social Services
• Camden County Office of Mental Health & Addiction
• Camden County Division of Community Development
• Volunteers of America
• Sanctuary Foundation for Veterans
• Catholic Charities
• Senior Citizens United Community Services (SCUCS)
• Center for Family Services
• Camden County Office of Economic Opportunity

• Hispanic Family Center
• Rutgers Behavioral Health
• The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office
• US Veteran’s Administration

To further support the board’s mission to address the ongoing issue of homelessness, the Commissioners and Camden County Office of Homeless Services have created a six-point plan that utilizes programs and partnerships to combat and eliminate homelessness in Camden County. The plan will be executed with the help of several community partners and organizations from throughout the county.

Each municipality within Camden County will be involved in the efforts and the goal is to end homelessness and reach functional zero by 2030. Functional zero is reached when the number of homeless people, sheltered or unsheltered, is no greater than the monthly housing placement rate.