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Bill

S 2885

Establishes Statewide database of beds in shelters for homeless.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Raj Mukherji

Establishes a real-time statewide system to track homeless shelter bed availability (excluding DV shelters) to direct people to open beds and ties funding to cooperation.

Withdrawn from Consideration
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2885

Summary of Bill S 2885 (2026 Session, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a statewide, real-time database to track occupancy and availability of beds in emergency shelters for the homeless (excluding shelters for domestic violence victims).
  • Aims to improve efficiency in directing individuals seeking emergency shelter to available beds in nearby shelters.

Key provisions

  1. Access to real-time shelter bed information

    • The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) must allow:
      • Operators of shelters for the homeless, and
      • Selected local information and referral (I&R) providers who place people in shelters
      • To access real-time occupancy data for shelter beds collected by the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
    • Purpose: Determine bed availability within the local community or a specified geographic area.

  2. Timely updating of bed status

    • Shelter operators must update HMIS with current bed availability no later than one hour after a bed becomes available or after an available bed is filled.

  3. Non-application to DV shelters

    • Provisions do not apply to shelters dedicated to victims of domestic violence.

  4. Conditions for funding eligibility

    • Shelters (excluding DV shelters) regulated by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) must cooperate by providing necessary information to the statewide database.
    • Cooperation is a condition for receiving funding from:
      • Department of Community Affairs, and
      • Department of Human Services.

  5. Effective date

    • The act takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Who would be affected

  • Shelter operators for the homeless: Required to provide and update bed occupancy data in HMIS to reflect real-time availability.
  • Selected local information and referral providers: Granted access to the real-time bed information to assist placement decisions.
  • Shelters regulated by DCA (non-DV): Must cooperate and supply necessary information to HMIS/database as a funding condition.
  • Funding programs: HMFA, DCA, and DHS funding for the shelters would be contingent on compliance with data-sharing requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the Senate (S 2885), sponsored by Senator Raj Mukherji.
  • Referred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
  • Action history shows the bill was withdrawn from consideration on June 22, 2026, after being introduced earlier in the session.
  • Effective date is 60 days after enactment (if enacted).

Practical impact and considerations

  • Expected benefits:

    • Faster routing of individuals to available shelter beds, reducing time in homelessness and improving shelter access.
    • Enhanced coordination among shelters within a geographic area.
    • Potential for more efficient use of shelter capacity during peaks or emergencies.

  • Potential considerations:

    • Privacy and data-sharing concerns for clients, though data are handled via HMIS.
    • Burden on shelters to maintain timely updates (one-hour standard).
    • Ensuring coordination with DV shelters, which are exempt from these provisions.

This summary captures the bill’s main purpose, substantive provisions, affected entities, and the key procedural timelines and status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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