As one of Governor Murphy’s last acts he signed into law a bill sponsored by State Senators Scutari and Singleton that would allow NJ towns to increase already existing fees including building permits, licenses, etc. to create and fund a municipal homelessness trust fund.

The money collected would not only allow for a dedicated trust fund but also let municipalities adopt their own homeless housing plans. As stated in an article in Patch, the fund could support the following:

· The acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of permanent affordable housing

· Rental assistance vouchers, including tenant and project-based subsidies

· Support services to help residents obtain or maintain permanent housing

· Prevention services for individuals and families at risk of homelessness.

Senator Scutari declared, “Homelessness continues to increase across New Jersey, and local leaders need to be supported with the resources and ability to respond effectively. By giving municipalities the ability to invest directly in affordable housing, support services, and prevention programs, we can help families and individuals before they fall into crisis, and strengthen communities in the process.”

Let’s hope this new legislation and funding stream will enable us to better serve more people who are increasingly needing this kind of support.

Donor Advised Funds or DAFs are increasingly gaining in popularity for their tax benefits and flexibility in making charitable donations. So, what exactly is a DAF? It’s an investment fund, similar to what you may do to help pay for your child’s education (529 plan) or for your own future income needs (401K, 403B, etc.). In the case of a DAF, you are setting aside funds in an account that can grow tax free for the intent of charitable giving either now or in the future.

Some of the other tax benefits are the ability for an immediate tax deduction in the year you contribute and a reduction in any estate tax as the contribution would not be counted as part of the taxable estate. A DAF allows your investments to grow over time and for you to decide which organizations you would like to contribute to and when. Two of the more popular companies who can set up a DAF for you are: Fidelity Charitable and Charles Schwab now known as DAFgiving360.

So, if you are looking for an easy, cost effective way to maximize your dollars in helping out your favorite non-profits, consider opening a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). I, of course, am not an accountant or financial professional, so please first consult with a tax or financial advisor.

Every once in a while, you hear people talking about seeing a bobcat in the wild right here in Sussex County, NJ. You also hear about mountain lion sightings; however, according to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, that is not the case. But back to bobcats which we do in fact have in this great state of ours.

Recently I read online about The Last Resort Wildlife Refuge in West Milford who took in a male bobcat kitten who was injured. That article led me to The New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the history of the bobcat in NJ. Bobcats are New Jersey’s only native wildcat and about twice the size of a housecat. Their markings range from spotted patterns to “tabby” stripes, and their distinctive bobbed tail has a black tip.

Back in the late 1970s, wildlife officials trapped bobcats in Maine and brought them back to New Jersey to help with the diminishing population. From 1978 to 1982, 24 bobcats were released in sections of Warren, Sussex and Morris counties north of Interstate 80. (who knew?)

Now it is estimated that our bobcat population has grown to between 200-400, but maybe higher close to 500. Nearly all bobcats are found in the northwestern section of the state.

Lucky for us, bobcats are quite shy and elusive and really do not want much to do with us. So, if you see one (they move fast) revel in their sheer beauty that mother nature always provides.

Ever heard of a cryptid? Me either, so I looked it up. It’s actually what you call an animal that people have claimed but has never been proven to exist. Think Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster. The word cryptid comes from cryptozoology which is the study of legendary or unknown animals. Again, who knew?

New Jersey makes the list of the top five states with cryptids. Here they are in order with number of cryptids:

· California – 8

· Texas – 7

· Pennsylvania – 6

· New Jersey – 5

· Wisconsin – 4

New Jersey is known for quite a few “famous” cryptids including the Jersey Devil and the Mantis Man – which is described as an insect like creature seen in Hackettstown near the Musconetcong River…again who knew?!

What cryptids have you seen in the state? Let us know in the comments section below.

Most of us have heard of Code Blue. It’s activated when temperatures drop below the freezing point (32º F) with precipitation and below 25º F without precipitation and weather conditions pose a danger to those unsheltered. During that time counties are required to provide shelter or warming centers. For quite a few years, advocates in the state have asked for the same declaration when temperatures become unbearably hot as well as times of poor air quality, named Code Red.

As one of Governor Murphy’s last acts he signed Code Red into law. As stated in a press release from Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey (the Network), “Code Red establishes a statewide framework to ensure coordinated responses during climate emergencies, particularly for people experiencing homelessness who are disproportionately impacted by extreme weather and environmental hazards. As climate change continues to intensify these risks, the law provides a critical foundation for proactive, life-saving interventions.”

“This bill is a tremendous victory because it combines a law rooted in compassion with common sense and public safety,” said Matthew Hersh, vice president of policy and advocacy for the Network. “By signing Code Red into law, Governor Murphy has affirmed that no one in New Jersey should be left without protection during extreme and dangerous weather conditions. This law will save lives.”

We at Family Promise of Sussex County applaud this decision as well. We see firsthand the impacts of harsh weather on those who are unsheltered. It can lead to illness, exacerbate existing chronic health conditions, or worse case cause a preventable death.

Who knew but New Jersey has an official state dance…drum roll…the square dance! Really, the Square Dance was designated as the American Folk Dance of the State of New Jersey by Joint Resolution No. 1, 1983.

According to NJ 101.5 you can thank Nan and Frank Habersberger for this honor. Sadly, Nan and Frank are no longer with us and at one point moved to Colorado but as stated in Frank’s obituary, “Frank and Nan’s social life was spent almost entirely in square dancing and Scottish country dancing. They did this for most of the 64 years of married life. They became presidents of three square dance clubs and two square dance associations. In 1989 and 1991, they were co-presidents of the national Organization, United Square Dancers of America.”

In further research (I am thorough), it seems like quite a few states have square dancing as their state dance followed by the polka. I don’t know about you, but I think we may want to modernize these choices. I’m not really sure what the polka dance entails…wasn’t it featured on the Lawrence Welk show? I know polka dots are always in vogue!

What do you think? Some choices could be: hip hop, swing, tap, contemporary. Let us know in the comments section, but whatever you do…keep on dancin!

With the daylight hours being shorter in winter, many, including myself, just want to rest, maybe by taking a nap. According to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith there are seven types of rest which can help one to recharge. Here is the list, don’t feel like you have to incorporate all of them, just choose a few and see what happens.

1. Physical Rest – napping or even gentle movement like stretching or yoga can help restore energy and prevent burnout

2. Mental Rest – take breaks between tasks, set work boundaries

3. Sensory Rest – give your nervous system a break and silence notifications, spend time with reduced background noise

4. Creative Rest – boost your imagination by being outside in nature, listen to music, visit a museum

5. Emotional Rest – write in a journal, talk to a trusted friend, set boundaries with others who task your emotions

6. Social Rest – balance your time, give more to people who uplift you, less to those who drain you

7. Spiritual Rest – meditate, practice gratitude, look outside of yourself

Which types of rest speak to you? What do you do to rest? Let us know in the comments section below.

While lack of affordable housing, combined with hard (formal court notice) and soft (someone asking you to leave shared residence) evictions are the main reasons people become unsheltered, one needs to dive deeper.

I recently came across a research article from the Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness titled, “Everybody out there in the real world is one paycheck away from being homeless”. The title immediately caught my attention as I often would say similar words when I was speaking with landlords about considering one of our clients as a potential tenant, even though the law states that you must consider everyone who applies. It resonated with some, if we are honest with ourselves, we have all been in a situation where if not for the grace of loved ones or assistance from someone we may not even know; we too, could be without food and shelter.

The article points out that, “The United States has fewer labor protections and wage guarantees than most wealthy industrialized nations; thus, workers can fall into economic hardship by the loss of employment, reduction in work hours, or work-related accidents or injuries. Even when fully employed, low wage workers typically face substantial rent burdens, which place them at risk for being evicted from their homes and ultimately falling into homelessness.”

While we provide wrap around services to our clients, we need to also consider wrap around solutions and policies for the issue of homelessness. Every person has their own unique story and every person has the right to health, safety and the opportunity to build a better future.

Let’s face it we all know that weird stuff happens in New Jersey. There’s a whole industry dedicated to it with the Weird NJ franchise. But looking back to 2025, there was an extra dose of weirdness especially in our and adjoining counties! Here’s the list, compliments of Patch.com.

1. The sinkholes – who could forget the traffic, the massive chasm that seemed to develop overnight right on Route 80…Exit 34…to Route 15 – enough said.

2. Black bear visits Dollar Store, Bites Woman – do I even need to elaborate here. The store in question is in Vernon, NJ, if you saw the video, it was wild. The bear seemed to be listening to the commands of the person who ushered the bear aisle by aisle through the door. Sadly, the bear was euthanized.

3. M&M Truck Spills Candy All Over Highway – here we go again, Route 80, where thousands of bags of M&Ms spilled onto the road after an accident with a parked tractor trailer on the shoulder.

4. Six Earthquakes Shake Up Morris County – NJ not really known for its noticeable earthquakes had six tremors in 24 hours with 5 out of the 6 originating in Randolph (Morris County).

5. Most Underpants World-Record Attempt – also took place in Morris County, this time the Morristown Green. A streamer and homeless advocate attempted to put on 300 pairs of underwear to benefit Market Street Mission. Not sure what happened but apparently he did not succeed.

6. A Horror Icon Stopped by an NJ Diner For Coffee – how much more Jersey can you get?! The first Friday the 13th movie was shot at the Blairstown Diner (Warren County). Not one who like scary movies Jason Voorhees doesn’t mean anything to me, but he visited the diner last year…because why not?!

7. Live Grenade Found in NJ Backyard – this time in Passaic County. The explosive was live and believed to be a WWII era grenade that a previous owner had…why buried in the backyard? Who knows…

Time will tell what weird stories come out of New Jersey this year. One can only imagine. You can’t make this stuff up!

According to Chinese astrology 2026 is the year of the horse, more specifically the fire horse. Each animal in the Chinese zodiac is paired with an element either wood, fire, earth, metal or water. This year, 2026, the horse is paired with fire an unusual combination that happens every 60 years!

So, what does this mean? According to Saffron & Sage, “Fire governs warmth, consciousness, circulation, and the capacity for joy. When paired with the Horse—an emblem of independence and action—the result is a year that rewards clarity, resilience, and intentional movement.” It’s a time for bold moves, exploration and dynamic change.

In these uncertain times, when a lot of what we do and rely on is out of our control, the fire horse is a reminder to “stay the course” but also look at situations with a critical eye and make very strategic and thoughtful decisions.

Wishing everyone a very healthful and hopeful year ahead and when things get tough remind yourself of the fire horse.