This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $1.5 million from the General Fund to support the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, specifically allocating $1 million to the Department of Health for the Pledge to Connect Program and $500,000 to the Department of Community Affairs for the Housing First Program. The Pledge to Connect Program aims to link patients with behavioral health needs in emergency departments to community-based outpatient care, thereby reducing future emergency room visits. The Housing First Program focuses on providing permanent housing and comprehensive services to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, addressing the urgent need for low-barrier housing options in Camden.
The bill includes new legal language designating these funds as GRANTS-IN-AID for both the Department of Health and the Department of Community Affairs. The appropriations are intended to restore state support for these critical programs in the fiscal year 2026, as they did not receive funding in recent years. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.