[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.