Breaking Cycles, Building Futures
In January 2024, the annual Point-in-Time count revealed a staggering 2,451 individuals experiencing homelessness in Essex County, representing a dramatic 54% increase from the previous year. This sharp rise underscores the worsening housing crisis and the urgent need for sustainable, community-driven solutions to prevent more individuals from falling into homelessness.
Newark’s Share of the Crisis
Newark, the largest city in Essex County, accounts for the overwhelming majority of the homeless population. Of the county’s total, 2,089 people, 85.4% were living without stable housing in Newark alone. This concentration highlights the city as the epicenter of the crisis, where limited resources are stretched thin and the need for focused intervention is greatest.
The data shows that single adult men make up 58.8% of the homeless population in Essex County, making them the largest demographic group affected. Among chronically homeless households, a staggering 97.5% are adult-only households, and 67.3% are male-only households. This means the majority of those facing long-term homelessness are single men, a group that often falls through the cracks of traditional social services.
Service Gaps: Men vs. Women and Families
Despite single adult men representing the majority of the homeless population, many existing programs prioritize families, youth, or women. While there are numerous shelters and services designed for women and children, there are far fewer resources specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of single men. This gap leaves many men with limited pathways to stability, making them more vulnerable to chronic homelessness and repeated cycles of displacement.
Disproportionate Impact on Black and Brown Men
The crisis also disproportionately affects Black and Brown men. In Essex County, 70% of the homeless population identifies as Black or African American, despite making up a smaller portion of the general population. Systemic inequities in housing, employment, and incarceration have left many men of color without the support systems needed to avoid homelessness or successfully transition back into stable housing.
How EVP Fills the Gap
Epiphany Venture Partners (EVP) closes a critical gap in Newark’s homelessness crisis by focusing on the most underserved group single men aged 18 to 45. Through structured transitional housing, mental health support, mentorship, and workforce development, EVP creates a clear path to independence. Our Learn-and-Earn construction apprenticeship empowers residents to gain trade skills, earn stipends, and help renovate properties that become affordable housing for others. By transforming overlooked men into stable, self-sufficient leaders, EVP reduces homelessness and recidivism while building safer, stronger, and more resilient communities.
