[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO UNITED WAY OF HUDSON COUNTY

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                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2008

  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the good work of 
the United Way of Hudson County in the 130th District of New Jersey, 
which I have the honor of representing in Congress. The United Way of 
Hudson County has a distinguished history of working with its partners 
to help the homeless in Hudson County. Hudson County has about 300 
chronic homeless and another 2,700 people who are in and out of 
homelessness, representing nearly 1 percent of the residents in our 
community.
  I would like to highlight just a few of the good things the United 
Way of Hudson County is doing in my district. They are responsible for 
providing funding to many social services agencies working with the 
homeless, including a Bayonne facility for homeless men, a program for 
the elderly in Jersey City, a training program for 59 shelter 
residents, housing for Hudson County individuals with HIV/AIDS, meals, 
transitional housing, a soup kitchen, and educational services for 
homeless persons. In 2005, the United Way of Hudson County created an 
Emergency Shelter System for the Homeless that was widely honored by 
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of New 
Jersey, and the State Association of Community Development Directors. 
In 2006, the United Way of Hudson County was awarded the county's first 
``Housing First'' grant for $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development. This grant provided housing and social 
services for 26 disabled individuals. Their Housing First focus, 
championed by the United Way of Hudson County and County Executive Tom 
DeGise, will provide housing, hope, and a better future for the 
homeless of Hudson County.
  Please join me in honoring the United Way of Hudson County as we 
celebrate their good work at the Second Annual New Jersey Congressional 
Reception on July 30, 2008.

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