Hoping to aid its most vulnerable citizens, local elected officials, faith-based leaders and non-profit groups have joined forces to form The Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness, New Jersey's third and largest public-private merger to develop a ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness. The initiative, entitled, 'Keys To Ending Homelessness in Hudson County,' was announced on September 22, 2006 at St. Lucy's Homeless Shelter in Jersey City. Joining the ceremony was Philip Mongano, Executive Director, of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness The Alliance consists of Hudson County, the City of Jersey City, United Way of Hudson County, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and the Archdiocese of Newark. Funding to create the Alliance was made possible through the Hudson County CDBG Program and the United Way of Hudson County.

From left to right: Daniel Altilio, President, United Way of Hudson County - Co-Chair Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness; Bishop Robinson, President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance - Co-Chair Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness; Philip F. Maggano, Executive Director, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Mayor of Jersey City- Co-Chair Hudson County Alliance to end Homelessness; Thomas DeGise, Hudson County Executive, Co-Chair Hudson Alliance to End Homelessness; Chanda Gibson, Vice President in Corporate Services & Real Estate, Golman Sachs, Co-Chair of the Hudson County Alliance to end Homelessness;

The announcement sought to inform the public of the efforts being made to combat chronic homelessness as well as interest community members to get involved in the ten-year planning process. The Alliance will establish five (5) task forces focusing on the root causes of homelessness. These task forces will meet separately to discuss specific issues and then bring their analyses and recommendations back to the larger group. Information will then be compiled to draft the ten-year plan. The plan will include specific recommendations on how the existing system can be strengthened to prevent homelessness and more effectively link people to needed resources. Most importantly, the plan will identify new and innovative ways that system components can be brought together to provide everyone in the county with a safe, decent, and affordable permanent residences.

"Through the partnership made possible by the Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness, various stakeholders have made a commitment to work collectively to bring the tools and resources necessary to rebuild the lives and self esteem of homeless men, women, and families," said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T.Healy. "We can gain valuable insight into what strategies may work for Jersey City by taking a hard look at the issue of homelessness and the model approaches that have proven successful for other urban areas around the country."