The driving force of poverty in the State of New Jersey is the cost of living.
New Jersey families are facing the third highest costs of living in the nation. Experts agree the
maximum a family should pay for housing is 30% of their gross income. Households paying more
than that percentage are considered to be overburdened. In Sussex County, 54.2% of households who
rent are overburdened (affordablehousingonline.com), which means they often find themselves
making tough choices when it comes to paying for food, clothing, transportation and a place they can
call home. Now, more than at any other time, there is a lack of affordable housing resulting in families
facing eviction, instability and homelessness.
Family Promise of Sussex County has been serving community members experiencing homelessness
and housing insecurity for over 25 years. The agency provides rental assistance, case management,
emergency shelter, life skills training, and homelessness prevention programs. In 2022, Family
Promise of Sussex County served 1,362 individuals and 741 households, of which 84% achieved stable
housing.
Family Promise of Sussex County is currently looking for items to be donated that can be auctioned
off at our upcoming event, Bid with Us to Build a Better Future Auction. This event will take place in
late May-early June, at our main office, 19 Church Street, Newton, New Jersey, at 5:00 in the evening.
The funds gathered from this event will be used to fund our programs and services that aid our
community members that are facing homelessness or a housing crisis. We thank you for your
consideration!