Great news for Tent City residents

April 4, 2013

Today is a great day for the homeless of Tent City, and for all advocates for the homeless who have worked so hard, for so long.  The first attachment to this email is a letter that we just submitted to the Court, which encloses the final Consent Order relating to the litigation with Lakewood.  Among other things, this Consent Order:  (1) guarantees that all of Tent City’s current residents (including anyone who is living in Tent City and counted in a census that will soon be done) may not be ejected by Lakewood unless and until those residents are first offered a plan that provides for (and actually provides) safe and adequate housing for at least a full year; (2) gives this right -- without any “disqualifiers” or set deadline for the closing of Tent City -- to all of the current residents (at least those who cooperate in an agreed-upon census and screening process, which includes strict protections for privacy and confidentiality); and (3) requires Lakewood to dismiss all of the charges that it filed in municipal court and elsewhere about supposed “code violations” in Tent City.  In short, this Consent Order gives the people of Tent City everything they wanted, and more, given that a year or more of housing equates to the federal definition of permanent housing, not just emergency shelter.  And the news gets better.

The second attachment to this email is a letter agreement that supplements the Consent Order and imposes additional obligations on Lakewood until the last current resident has obtained housing.  Lakewood is now required to:  (1) provide pick-up of trash deposited for collection by Tent City’s residents (including regular and adequate collections by Lakewood from the trash containers and 30-yard dumpster); (2) permit the servicing of the portable toilets in Tent City; (3) allow supporters of the current residents to deliver food, clothing and other necessary supplies into Tent City (so long as any supporter’s vehicle departs from Tent City after the delivery has been completed); and (4) permit the holes in the main dirt road to be filled with dirt and leveled, in order to make the road passable for emergency vehicles (after receipt and approval by Lakewood of a written proposal for this work, which approval cannot be unreasonably withheld).  Lakewood has also agreed that Minister Steve Brigham has the option of continuing to live in Tent City until the day comes when all of the current residents have housing.  The Court will also retain jurisdiction to enforce the Consent Order and make sure Lakewood complies with all of its obligations.

Finally, after decades of refusing to do so, Ocean County and the Board of Social Services have agreed to sit down to discuss establishing the first housing center (shelter) in Ocean County.  As a show of good will, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission (the “Mission”) has dismissed its claims against the County “without prejudice,” meaning that the Mission is free to file suit again in the hopefully unlikely event that the discussions with the County about cooperation do not yield progress.  Given, however, the substantial new funding that is becoming available post-Sandy, the opportunities for cooperation seem greater than ever before.  The Mission will also welcome input from other non-profits about possible ways to develop a housing center in Ocean County.

This is a great day, but much work remains to be done.  We will continue to stand with the people of Tent City, and continue to work for the day when homelessness in Ocean County is no more.

(As soon as I figure out how to insert the attachments I'll post them for your reading pleasure.  Larry)

Report on Court Hearing: Possible Break-Through With Lakewood

For years, our Coalition has stood side by side with the homeless men and women forced to live in the woods of Lakewood’s Tent City.  Together, we have stood up for some basic principles.  For example, we believe that the homeless have a right to survive on public land until the government gives them a better place to go -- that is, the safe indoor housing that everyone deserves.  Now, we are on the verge of a break-through.

Late Friday, after years of trying -- unsuccessfully -- to eject the homeless, Lakewood finally agreed with what our Coalition has been saying all along.  Under a settlement-in-principle announced by the Court, Lakewood would be barred from ejecting any of Tent City’s current residents unless and until those residents are given housing -- not just a motel room for a night or two, but safe and adequate housing for at least a full year.  Below is a link to one of the many news reports about this major development:
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/judge_homeless_at_lakewoods_te.html

As a first step, the parties would cooperate in a census of Tent City’s residents -- approximately 100 men and women by some estimates -- as well as a screening of the residents for possible governmental benefits.   At the same time, the litigation against Ocean County and its Board of Social Services (the “County”) will continue -- that is, at least until the County stops turning away large numbers of homeless men, women and children, and finally makes emergency shelter available in the County.   In addition, the County continues to face a claim for more than $2 million in damages alleged by the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, to which the County for years has “exported” large numbers of its homeless without fair reimbursement.

Much work remains to be done, including finalization of the settlement-in-principle with Lakewood.  However, thanks to you and the Coalition, we are making tremendous progress.  The residents of Tent City are safe from ejectment -- and, finally, moving closer to the housing that this case has always been about.

OC Freeholders: Demands on social services increase

Programs Help Those Affected by Ailing Economy
3/13/2013

TOMS RIVER – Families and individuals living in Ocean County that have been negatively affected by an ailing economy continue to find help at the Ocean County Board of Social Services.

"Over the last five years we have seen increases of more than 100 and 200 percent for some of our social service programs," said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Board of Social Services. "Many of our citizens in Ocean County have been affected by the downturn in the economy. These programs and services provide a lifeline as they work toward regaining employment and keeping a roof over their head."

Little noted that since 2007, the number of people accessing services and programs provided by the Board of Social Services have increased in some cases more than 200 percent.

He said applications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families were up 94 percent while General Assistance was up 103 percent and requests for food stamps increased by almost 263 percent from 2007 with 60,297 people receiving the help. As of January 2013, 2,554 people were accessing General Assistance, and 3,979 are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Little noted that the increases seen over the last five years have been related to negative changes in the economy with many residents losing jobs and as a result losing income.

He added there is a concern that with federal assistance expected to come to an end following Superstorm Sandy that there may be another increase in the number of people seeking assistance from the Ocean County Board of Social Services.

"Now, in particular, the programs and services administered by the Board are increasingly seen as a financial lifeline for many families who are affected by unemployment and loss of income," Little said. "It's important our residents – whether affected by the storm or the economy - know they have a place to turn to during these difficult times."

The Board of Social Services administers more than 60 programs to assist needy and under-privileged families and individuals living in Ocean County. In 2012, the Board of Social Services saw 121,481 people.

"Funding for these programs comes from federal, state and county sources," he said.

Little said more than $600 million in state and federal funds flow through the Board of Social Services for programs and services. In addition, Ocean County earmarked $20 million for assistance programs.

He added that about 3,900 persons, on any given night, are receiving help from social services including temporary rental assistance, temporary shelter, back rent/mortgage assistance and other rental assistance programs.

Little noted that since 2007, households being provided homeless services increased by more than 105 percent with 882 people receiving help in 2007 while 1,842 accessed the services in 2012.

"We have seen a spike in the number of people that have reached out to the after hours special response provided by social services," Little said. "The number increased from 1,335 in 2009 to 1884 last year. We make every effort to accommodate everyone who needs help no matter what the time - day or night."

Little commended the staff at the Board of Social Services for making every effort to help those who need assistance.

"The staff at the Board of Social Services is working hard to provide the support and help needed during these difficult times," Little said. "The Board of Freeholders commends the Social Service staff for the thorough job it is doing."

News to Food Stamp (SNAP) recipients in Ocean County

From the Ocean County Board of Social Services:

The state of New Jersey has committed to issuing an additional amount of food stamps to all food stamps households that received food stamps in October 2012 in order to help replace food lost during the recent hurricane, based on an agreement with Ocean County.

Every food stamp “SNAP” household active in the month of October will receive an additional amount equal to 25% of the amount they received in October.

This will be an automatic issuance.  You do not have to come to or call the agency to receive these enefits.  The benefits will be automatically added to your family’s first account “after” November 26, 2012 when the state system will automatically issue the benefit.

Households that are not active in the month of October and wish to apply for disaster related food stamp benefits, cannot do so at this time. Instructions are pending from the state and will require applications and verifications, since those persons are not food stamp households.

Thank you for your cooperation.