[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Mercer
County 3-9-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-1. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Pursuant to P.L. 2020, c. 67, effective 1-1-2021, the Code
of Mercer County has been amended to delete the term “Board
of Chosen Freeholders” and replace it with the term “Board
of County Commissioners.” In addition, the terms “Freeholder”
and “Chosen Freeholder” have been deleted and replaced
by the term “County Commissioner.”]
Upon enactment of this chapter, a surcharge of $3 for each document
recorded, which will be in addition to any other charge allowed by
law, will be established for all documents recorded by the County
Clerk.
Senior citizens and nonprofit organizations shall be exempt
from such fees.
The County Treasurer shall deposit the surcharges so collected
into a fund that shall be used by the County to fund the "Homelessness
Trust Fund."
No more than 5% of the fund may be used annually by the County
for administrative costs related to administration of the fund and
the grant program established herein, and the remainder only for homelessness
housing programs as described in this chapter.
The Mercer County Homelessness Trust Fund is established for
the operation of a homelessness housing grant program. This program
is established in order to provide:
A.
For the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing projects
or units within housing projects that supply permanent affordable
housing for homeless persons or families, including those at risk
of homelessness;
B.
Rental assistance vouchers, including tenant and project-based subsidies,
for affordable housing projects or units within housing projects that
provide permanent affordable housing for homeless persons or families,
including those at risk of homelessness;
C.
Supportive services as may be required by homeless individuals or
families in order to obtain or maintain, or both, permanent affordable
housing; and
D.
Prevention services for at-risk homeless individuals or families
so that they can obtain and maintain permanent affordable housing.
The County hereby establishes a County Homelessness Trust Fund
Task Force, which is a voluntary local committee created to advise
a local government on the creation of a local homeless housing plan
and participate in a local homeless housing program. Appointment of
members of the County Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force shall be
made by the County Executive, with the advise and consent of the Mercer
County Board of Commissioners.
The membership on the task force shall be as follows:
A.
A representative of the County;
B.
Representatives from each of the three municipalities in the County
with the largest populations of homeless people;
C.
A representative(s) of the organization responsible for developing
and/or implementing the local ten-year plan to end homelessness;
D.
At least three homeless or formerly homeless persons; and
E.
Three representatives of local private nonprofit organizations with
experience in assisting the homeless or providing low-income housing.
Disbursements from the County Homelessness Trust Fund shall
be overseen by the Mercer County Department of Human Services.
