The National Association of Counties (NaCo) presented Monmouth County of New Jersey with a 2006 NaCo Achievement Award for its 'Homeward Bound' rental subsidy and case management program, the Independent reported on June 28.

Since the program began two years ago, 93 chronically homeless individuals and families with substance use or mental health disorders have qualified for housing assistance through the program, and 89 of them remained successfully placed in permanent housing and attending treatment.

'The program recipient is an active partner in the program, rather than someone who simply receives a benefit,' said Robert Clifton, liaison to the county's Department of Human Services. 'They must agree to treatment in order to get the housing subsidy.'

'This is a difficult population to serve; the pattern of substance abuse, discontinuance from medication and withdrawal from treatment usually leads to aberrant behavior,' said Lynn Miller, director of the county's Department of Human Services. 'Yet we have been able to show that with our help through the Homeward Bound program, these individuals and families can get the housing and treatment they need.'

The subsidies are funded by a $1,005,480 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Of over 3,000 counties in the nation, only 95 received NaCo awards.