Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma

If you are being treated for mental illness, you are entitled to live a quality existence with dignity as you move through recovery process. The stigma of mental illness - particularly self stigma - leaves individuals living with mental illness feeling powerless, causing them to settle for less than they deserve. That is unacceptable. The search for housing should be no different for those living with mental illness than for those not living with mental illness and as such, basic guidelines apply.

When looking for housing, factors that need to be addressed are affordability, quality and safety of the neighborhood, condition of residence, compatibility with roommates, transportation accessibility, daily support needs, and landlord competency. Housing options for people with severe mental illness include public housing, private residential housing, commercial boarding homes, supported independent living, personal care group homes, community residential rehabilitation centers, structured residential programs, and 24-hour care homes and nursing facilities.

The deinstitutionalization movement held the promise of community reintegration for those receiving treatment for mental illness. The goal was to create a transition for individuals from psychiatric hospitals to a community health system, and then provide them with housing and services in towns and neighborhoods where they could rejoin their community. The concept was sound. The evolution of the concept has not lived up to the promise. Instead, people with mental illness face a variety of housing challenges including unaffordable housing options and scarcity of services and support. Furthermore, because of mental health stigma, communities are frequently unreceptive to the idea of housing for those in recovery from mental illness in their neighborhoods - a viewpoint known as NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).

The NIMBY syndrome is a significant barrier to successful deinstitutionalization. According to SAMHSA, the absence of sufficient housing for people with mental illnesses can result in homelessness. Some estimates indicate that 40 percent of the nation's homeless population consists of single adults with severe mental illnesses. The NIMBY point of view is an unfortunate outgrowth of inaccurate media portrayals of and lack of knowledge about individuals living with mental illness. Even individuals sincerely sympathetic to the housing issue sometimes draw the line on compassion when the housing is proposed in their communities. When we read about the emotionally charged protests against supportive housing in our neighborhoods we hear shocking statements like "send them to Mars." It is important to remember that the term "them" in actuality represents our neighbors, our friends and our families.

Education is the first step to enlightenment. Helen Keller, a woman who overcame overwhelming social stigma said, "The highest result of education is tolerance." The public is bombarded by falsehoods and sensationalism. The media plays a complicit role in the housing issue when they choose to sensationalize isolated incidents, fueling fears and misconceptions. What is almost never publicized is the fact that the vast majority of those in recovery from mental illness rejoin their communities with great success. They have genial relationships with their neighbors, live productive lives and positively contribute to their communities.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Database of all housing authority offices in New Jersey - This should be the first contact for people seeking housing assistance

PHA Name, Phone & Fax Number	Address
Asbury Park HA Phone: (732) 774-2660 Fax: (732) 774-0643	1000 1/2 3rd Avenue Asbury Park NJ 07712
Atlantic City Housing Authority Phone: (609) 344-1107 Fax: (609) 344-1015	227 N Vermont Avenue Atlantic City NJ 08401
Bayonne HA Phone: (201) 339-8700 Fax: (201) 339-1766	549 Avenue A Bayonne NJ 07002
Berkeley HA Phone: (732) 269-2312 Fax: (732) 269-7709	44 Frederick Drive Bayville NJ 08721
Belmar HA Phone: (732) 681-1795 Fax: (732) 530-1739	710 8th Avenue Belmar NJ 07719
Warren County HA Phone: (908) 475-3989 Fax: (908) 475-8637	415 Front Street Belvidere NJ 07823
Beverly HA Phone: (609) 387-0250 Fax: (609) 387-7349	100 Magnolia Street Beverly NJ 08010
Bloomfield HA Phone: (973) 680-4035 Fax: (973) 680-4510	1 Municipal Plaza Room 200 Bloomfield NJ 07003
Boonton HA Phone: (973) 335-0846 Fax: (973) 335-0955	125 Chestnut Street Boonton NJ 07005
Brick HA Phone: (732) 920-9400 Fax: (732) 920-7604	165 Chambers Bridge Road Brick Town NJ 08723
Bridgeton HA Phone: (856) 451-4454 Fax: (856) 451-0226	110 E. Commerce Street Bridgeton NJ 08302
Burlington HA Phone: (609) 386-0246 Fax: (609) 386-2465	800 Walnut Street Burlington NJ 08016
Camden HA Phone: (856) 968-2700 Fax: (856) 964-8610	2021 Watson Street, 2nd Floor Camden NJ 08109
Cape May HA Phone: (856) 884-8703 Fax: (856) 884-9028	639 Lafayette Street Cape May NJ 08204
Carteret HA Phone: (732) 541-6800 Fax: (732) 541-2867	96 Roosevelt Avenue Carteret NJ 07008
Cherry Hill HA Phone: (856) 661-4744 Fax: (856) 661-4746	820 Mercer Street PO Box 5002 Cherry Hill NJ 08034
Clementon Housing Authority Phone: (856) 784-1134 Fax: (856) 784-1324	22 Gibbsboro Road Clementon NJ 08021
Cliffside Park HA Phone: (201) 941-0655 Fax: (201) 941-4038	500 Gorge Road Cliffside Park NJ 07010
Clifton HA Phone: (973) 470-5846 Fax: (973) 471-1837	City Hall 900 Clifton Avenue Clifton NJ 07013
Collingswood HA Phone: (856) 854-1077 Fax: (856) 854-8283	30 Washington Avenue Collingswood NJ 08108
Gloucester County HA Phone: (856) 845-4959 Fax: (856) 348-9044	100 Pop Moylan Boulevard Deptford NJ 08096
Dover HA Phone: (973) 361-9444 Fax: (973) 361-6204	215 E Blackwell Street Dover NJ 07801
East Orange HA Phone: (973) 678-0250 Fax: (973) 414-0756	160 Halsted Street East Orange NJ 07018
Edgewater HA Phone: (201) 943-6000 Fax: (201) 943-0416	300 Undercliff Avenue Edgewater NJ 07020
Edison HA Phone: (908) 561-2525 Fax: (908) 561-7517	14 Rev. Samuel Carpenter Boulevard Edison NJ 08820
Union County HA Phone: (908) 527-4227 Fax: (908) 352-3980	1 Elizabethtown Plaza 5th Floor Administration Building Elizabeth NJ 07207
Elizabeth HA Phone: (908) 965-2400 Fax: (908) 965-0026	688 Maple Avenue Elizabeth NJ 07202
Englewood HA Phone: (201) 871-3451 Fax: (201) 871-5908	111 West Street Englewood NJ 07631
Bergen County HA Phone: (201) 569-7454 Fax: (201) 569-8074	25 Rockwood Place Suite 205 Englewood NJ 07631
Hunterdon County H A Phone: (908) 788-1336 Fax: (908) 806-4896	PO Box 2900 Flemington NJ 08822
Florence HA Phone: (609) 499-0575 Fax: (609) 499-0888	620 W. Third & Eyre Street Florence NJ 08518
Fort Lee HA Phone: (201) 947-7400 Fax: (201) 947-9710	1403 Teresa Drive Fort Lee NJ 07024
Monmouth County Phone: (732) 431-6027 Fax: (732) 431-6267	PO Box 3000 Freehold NJ 07728
Freehold HA Phone: (732) 462-2421 Fax: (732) 409-7075	107 Throckmorton Street Freehold NJ 07728
Cec Phone: (732) 780-1175 Fax: (732) 780-8977	11 Spring Street Freehold NJ 07728
CSPNJ Phone: (732) 780-1175 Fax: (732) 780-8977	11 Spring Street Freehold NJ 07728
Garfield HA Phone: (973) 340-4170 Fax: (973) 772-7804	71 Daniel P Conte Court Garfield NJ 07026
Glassboro HA Phone: (856) 881-5211 Fax: (856) 863-8692	737 Lincoln Blvd. Glassboro NJ 08028
Gloucester City HA Phone: (856) 456-5772 Fax: (856) 456-6894	101 Market Street Gloucester City NJ 08030
Guttenberg HA Phone: (201) 861-0900 Fax: (201) 861-4521	6900 Broadway Guttenberg NJ 07093
Hackensack HA Phone: (201) 342-4280 Fax: (201) 342-5044	65 First Street Hackensack NJ 07061
Hamilton Township HA Phone: (609) 890-3675 Fax: (609) 890-3532	2090 Greenwood Avenue PO Box 00150 Hamilton NJ 08650
Harrison HA Phone: (973) 483-1488 Fax: (973) 483-4277	Harrison & Schuyler Avenue Harrison NJ 07029
Highland Park HA Phone: (732) 572-4420 Fax: (732) 985-6485	242 S 6th Avenue Highland Park NJ 08904
Highlands HA Phone: (732) 872-2022 Fax: (732) 291-8743	215 Shore Drive Highlands NJ 07732
Hightstown HA Phone: (609) 448-2268 Fax: (609) 426-9440	131 Rogers Avenue Hightstown NJ 08520
Hoboken HA Phone: (201) 798-0370 Fax: (201) 798-0164	400 Harrison Street Hoboken NJ 07030
Irvington HA Phone: (973) 375-2121 Fax: (973) 375-4581	101 Union Avenue Irvington NJ 07111
Jersey City Housing Authority Phone: (201) 547-6750 Fax: (201) 547-6702	400 U.S. Highway #1 (Marion Gardens) Building #7 Jersey City NJ 07306
Jersey City Episcopal Cdc Phone: (201) 209-9301	779 Bergen Avenue Jersey City NJ 07306
Keansburg HA Phone: (732) 787-6151 Fax: (732) 787-5204	1 Church Street Keansburg NJ 07734
Lakewood Rap Phone: (732) 367-0660 Fax: (732) 367-6645	600 West Kennedy Boulevard PO Box 856 Lakewood NJ 08701
Lakewood Housing Authority Phone: (732) 364-1300 Fax: (732) 367-3299	317 Sampson Avenue Lakewood NJ 08701
Linden - City Phone: (908) 298-3820 Fax: (908) 298-6990	1601 Dill Avenue Linden NJ 07036
Linden Housing Authority Phone: (908) 298-3820 Fax: (908) 298-6990	1601 Dill Avenue Linden NJ 07036
Lodi Housing Authority Phone: (973) 470-3650 Fax: (973) 778-1429	50 Brookside Avenue Lodi NJ 07644
Long Branch HA Phone: (732) 222-3747 Fax: (732) 222-7501	Garfield Court Long Branch NJ 07740
Madison HA Phone: (973) 377-0258 Fax: (973) 377-5237	15 Chateau Thierry Avenue Madison NJ 07940
Manville HA Phone: (908) 725-8943 Fax: (908) 231-0955	325 Main Street Manville NJ 08835
Middletown HA Phone: (732) 671-2990 Fax: (732) 671-4828	1 Oakdale Drive Middletown NJ 07748
Millville HA Phone: (856) 825-8860 Fax: (856) 825-5283	1153 Holly Berry Lane PO Box 803 Millville NJ 08332
Buena HA Phone: (856) 697-4852 Fax: (856) 697-2642	600 Central Avenue Minotola NJ 08341
Montclair HA Phone: (973) 509-4936 Fax: (973) 509-4946	205 Claremont Avenue Montclair NJ 07042
Morris County HA Phone: (973) 540-0389 Fax: (973) 540-1914	99 Ketch Road Morristown NJ 07960
Morristown HA Phone: (973) 292-4186 Fax: (973) 292-4156	31 Early Street Morristown NJ 07960
Burlington County HA Phone: (609) 261-1000 Fax: (609) 261-0737	795 Woodlane Road Mount Holly NJ 08060
Neptune HA Phone: (732) 774-7692 Fax: (732) 774-9456	1810 Alberta Avenue Neptune NJ 07753
New Brunswick HA Phone: (732) 745-5157 Fax: (732) 253-7799	7 Van Dyke Avenue New Brunswick NJ 08901
Middlesex County Phone: (732) 745-3025 Fax: (732) 745-4117	Administration Building John F. Kennedy Square New Brunswick NJ 08910
Newark HA Phone: (973) 273-6600 Fax: (973) 273-6636	500 Broad Street Newark NJ 07102
Newton HA Phone: (973) 383-5191 Fax: (973) 383-1181	32 Liberty Street Newton NJ 07860
North Bergen HA Phone: (201) 868-8605 Fax: (201) 295-3098	6121 Grand Avenue North Bergen NJ 07047
Ocean City H A Phone: (609) 399-1062 Fax: (609) 399-7590	204 Fourth Street Ocean City NJ 08226
Old Bridge HA Phone: (732) 607-6383 Fax: (732) 679-0894	2000 Route 18 North Suite 100 Old Bridge NJ 08857
Orange Housing Authority Phone: (973) 675-1250 Fax: (973) 675-6843	340 Thomas Boulevard Orange NJ 07050
Passaic HA Phone: (973) 365-6330 Fax: (973) 365-0017	52 Aspen Place Passaic NJ 07055
Paterson HA Phone: (973) 345-5650 Fax: (973) 977-9085	60 Van Houten Street Paterson NJ 07505
Passaic County HA Phone: (973) 881-4370 Fax: (973) 684-0317	401 Grand Street Paterson NJ 07505
Paterson DCD HA Phone: (973) 345-5650 Fax: (973) 977-9085	Housing Authority of the City of Paterso 60 Van Houten Street Paterson NJ 07505
Penns Grove HA Phone: (856) 299-0101 Fax: (856) 299-6736	Penn Towers South 40 South Broad Street Penns Grove NJ 08069
Pennsauken HA Phone: (856) 663-0514 Fax: (856) 665-6641	2400 Bethel Avenue Pennsauken NJ 08109
Perth Amboy HA Phone: (732) 826-3110 Fax: (732) 826-3111	881 Amboy Avenue Perth Amboy NJ 08862
Phillipsburg DCD Phone: (908) 454-5500 Fax: (908) 213-9214	675 Corliss Avenue Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Phillipsburg HA Phone: (908) 859-0122 Fax: (908) 859-1574	530 Heckman Street Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Plainfield HA Phone: (908) 769-6335 Fax: (908) 753-2232	510 E Front Street Plainfield NJ 07060
Pleasantville HA Phone: (609) 646-3023 Fax: (609) 272-1405	156 N Main Street Pleasantville NJ 08232
Princeton HA Phone: (609) 924-3448 Fax: (609) 924-1663	50 Clay Street Princeton NJ 08542
Rahway HA Phone: (732) 499-0066 Fax: (732) 499-0070	165 E Grand Avenue Rahway NJ 07065
Red Bank HA Phone: (732) 741-1808 Fax: (732) 741-0104	52 Evergreen Terrace Red Bank NJ 07701
Salem HA Phone: (856) 935-5022 Fax: (856) 935-5290	205 7th Street Salem NJ 08079
Sayreville HA Phone: (732) 721-8044 Fax: (732) 721-0062	650 Washington Road Sayreville NJ 08872
Secaucus HA Phone: (201) 867-2957 Fax: (201) 867-9113	700 County Avenue Secaucus NJ 07094
Franklin Township HA Phone: (732) 545-9430 Fax: (732) 545-3667	1 Parkside Street Somerset NJ 08873
Franklin HA Phone: (732) 545-9430 Fax: (732) 545-3667	1 Parkside Street Somerset NJ 08873
Somerville HA Phone: (908) 725-2300 Fax: (908) 725-2859	25 West End Avenue Somerville NJ 08876
South Amboy HA Phone: (732) 721-1831 Fax: (732) 721-0377	250 S Broadway South Amboy NJ 08879
Summit HA Phone: (908) 273-6413 Fax: (908) 273-3618	512 Springfield Avenue Summit NJ 07901
NJ DCA Phone: (609) 292-4080 Fax: (609) 633-8084	101 South Broad Street PO Box 051 Trenton NJ 08625
NJ HMFA Phone: (609) 278-7400 Fax: (609) 278-1173	637 South Clinton Avenue PO Box 18550 Trenton NJ 08650
Trenton HA Phone: (609) 278-5042 Fax: (609) 599-9827	875 New Willow Street Trenton NJ 08638
Union Township HA Phone: (973) 761-0059 Fax: (973) 761-0086	1976 Morris Avenue Union NJ 07083
Union City HA Phone: (201) 864-1515 Fax: (201) 864-7163	3911 Kennedy Boulevard Union City NJ 07087
Vineland HA Phone: (856) 691-4099 Fax: (856) 691-8404	191 W Chestnut Avenue Vineland NJ 08360
Weehawken HA Phone: (201) 348-4188 Fax: (201) 348-4457	525 Gregory Avenue Weehawken NJ 07086
West New York HA Phone: (201) 868-6100 Fax: (201) 868-3393	6100 Adams Street West New York NJ 07093
West Orange HA Phone: (973) 325-4110 Fax: (973) 325-6359	66 Main Street West Orange NJ 07052
Haddon HA Phone: (856) 854-3700 Fax: (856) 854-7122	25 Wynnewood Avenue Westmont NJ 08108
Wildwood HA Phone: (609) 729-0220 Fax: (609) 729-4168	3700 New Jersey Avenue Wildwood NJ 08260
Woodbridge HA Phone: (732) 634-2750 Fax: (732) 634-8421	20 Bunns Lane Woodbridge NJ 07095

HUD approved housing counseling agencies

Information on how to go through the process of owning a home when you have disability

The Supported Housing Association of New Jersey, a great resource for locating housing assistance.

To File a Federal Complaint:

Fair Housing Enforcement Center

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3532
New York, NY 10278-0068(212) 264-9610 or 1-800-496-4294
TTY (212) 264-0927

To File a Complaint with your Local Office:

Trenton Regional Office
140 East Front Street, PO Box 090
Trenton, NJ 08625-0090
Telephone: 609-292-4605
Fax: 609-984-3812
TDD: 609-292-1785

Atlantic City Satellite Office:
26 Pennsylvania Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Telephone: 609-441-3100
Fax: 609-441-3578

Newark Regional Office:
31 Clinton Street, PO Box 46001
Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone: 973-648-2700
Fax: 973-648-4405
TDD: 973-648-4678

Camden Regional Office:
2 Riverside Drive, Suite 402
Camden, NJ 08103
Telephone: 856-614-2550
Fax: 856-614-2568
TDD: 609-757-2958

Paterson Regional Office:
100 Hamilton Plaza
Paterson, NJ 07501
Telephone: 973-977-4500
Fax: 973-977-4511
TDD: 973-977-1955

For legal help you can use New Jersey legal by county:
http://www.lsnj.org/

(To utilize legal aid you must meet their income requirements, which are 200% of the poverty guideline. Chances are, if you don't meet their financial guidelines you probably won't be eligible for many of the residential programs offered.)

Self-help services for legal issues in New Jersey:
http://www.lsnjlaw.org/

Information about various housing programs in New Jersey:
http://www.nj.gov/njhealthlink/housing/

Tenant rights, laws, and protections for New Jersey: http://www.hud.gov/local/nj/renting/tenantrights.cfm

Information on what to do if you have been displaced from your housing: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/library/relocation/publications/1042.pdf

Section 8 Information

General information

Funding and application information

Other housing vouchers for people or families with a disability

All other voucher programs offered though HUD

Very informative fact sheet on housing in New Jersey