Overview
Bergen County is one of only three communities in the country that have reached functional zero for both chronic and veteran homelessness. It is a part of Built for Zero, a movement of more than more than 100 communities committed to measurably ending homelessness, one population at a time. The local team worked with Community Solutions from the days of its 100,000 Homes Campaign and then joined Built for Zero at its inception in 2015.
In August of 2016, Bergen County became the first community in the United States to end chronic homelessness. Six months later, Bergen County reached functional zero for veteran homelessness, demonstrating that there are fewer veterans experiencing homelessness than can be routinely housed within a month, which is five veterans in the community.
Key Milestones
January 2015
Joined Built for Zero
Bergen County joined Built for Zero, a national movement committed to measurably ending homelessness.
February 2016
Achieved quality by-name data (Veterans)
Bergen County built a comprehensive real-time, by-name list of all veterans experiencing homelessness in the community.
February 2016
Achieved quality by-name data (Chronic Adults)
Bergen County built a comprehensive real-time, by-name list of all single adults experiencing chronic homelessness in the community.
August 2016
Achieved functional zero for chronic adult homelessness
Homelessness is solvable.
Communities in the Built for Zero movement are proving it.
