The milestone was reached through the Bringing Veterans Home initiative, a coordinated effort involving the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, federal agencies and veterans service organizations. State officials said the initiative has created enough permanent housing capacity for veterans to enter stable housing faster than new homelessness cases occur. The program is designed to make veteran homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring across New Jersey. “If a New Jersey veteran experiences a housing crisis, Bringing Veterans Home is the backstop preventing full-scale homelessness,” Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez said. Staff members assess each veteran’s housing needs, identify potential barriers and develop an individualized placement plan.