Today, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, alongside Senator Vince Polistina, Assemblyman Don Guardian and Assemblywoman Claire Swift, jointly announced a collaborative effort to better address homelessness in the county with the unveiling of a comprehensive online survey and call for human service providers throughout Atlantic County to complete the survey immediately.
“Our communities thrive when we come together and work cooperatively to address its most pressing issues,” said Michael Chait, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber. “This survey represents a pivotal first step in understanding homelessness in Atlantic County and will guide our efforts to combat homelessness. By developing effective, impactful solutions that are guided by firsthand knowledge and experience, we hope to address issues at the core and affect lasting change that will help improve our communities for generations to come.”
The easy-to-navigate online survey aims to gather detailed insights into the work being done by various agencies, nonprofits, shelters, and service providers throughout Atlantic County who are actively working to support individuals experiencing homelessness. By compiling and analyzing this critical data, the Chamber and District 2 legislators hope that the information will:
- Address the needs of individuals who are currently unsheltered in Atlantic County;
- Spur a more comprehensive, thorough understanding of the services provided in Atlantic County for individuals experiencing homelessness;
- Identify gaps in current services and resources;
- Create a more cohesive, collaborative environment between residents and providers; and
- Inspire effective strategies, while improving and increasing support systems.
“Tackling homelessness requires a unified and informed approach. By gathering data from those on the front lines, we can develop strategies that are both compassionate and effective,” said Senator Vince Polistina. “I am confident that this collaborative effort will bring us closer to ensuring that every resident of Atlantic County has a safe place to call home.”
“Collaboration is key to tackling homelessness in Atlantic County. This survey will help us identify gaps, share best practices, and ultimately, create a more coordinated response,” said Assemblyman Guardian. I strongly encourage all service providers to participate and contribute to this essential initiative.”
“Addressing homelessness is a shared responsibility, and this survey is a critical tool in our efforts to understand and alleviate this complex issue,” said Assemblywoman Claire Swift. “We need the insights and experiences of all our community partners to drive meaningful change and provide better support for those in need.”
The online survey is one step of many being taken to address and combat homelessness in Atlantic County. The idea for this survey stems from the Human Services Summit organized by the Legislators and held earlier this year (April 29, 2024).
“We urge all individuals who are working daily with our unsheltered populations to candidly share their experiences and valuable insights, as these perspectives are essential for developing long-lasting, effective solutions,” continued Chait.
Those interested in participating in the survey can access it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/736PSDB. NOTE: The survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete; all responses are strictly confidential and will only be used for this study.
