ASSEMBLY HOUSING COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 1239
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 5, 2022
The Assembly Housing Committee reports favorably Assembly
Bill No. 1239.
This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs,
in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, to promulgate
regulations establishing standards for publicly-supported transitional
housing for former prisoners who are reentering the community. The
standards are based on core features of the Fortune Academy, a model
prisoner reentry transitional housing program in New York City,
intended to help former prisoners successfully transition back into
their communities.
The bill requires the regulations to include standards for:
(1) ensuring the physical safety of the residents;
(2) providing emergency and longer-term housing;
(3) counseling and support services including substance abuse
treatment, medical services, independent living skills training,
education, career development, family services, and recreation;
(4) personalized care management, including targeted care for
residents who served long terms of incarceration; and
(5) assisting residents obtain permanent housing.
As reported by the committee Assembly Bill No. 1239 is identical
to Senate Bill No. 771, which was also reported by the committee on
this date.