News

February 13, 2019

NEWARK AGENCIES PROVIDE 20 HOMELESS RESIDENTS WITH SHELTER DURING STORM

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Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Department of Health and Community Wellness Director Dr. Mark Wade announced today that the City of Newark, working with its community partners, transported 20 homeless residents from Newark Penn Station to shelters yesterday, to protect them from the snowfall that created “Code Blue” conditions in Newark.

The organizations that supported in this effort (224 Help Center, Irvington Neighborhood Corporation, The Restoration Center, and United Community Corporation) expanded their sheltering capacity in response to the City’s Code Blue activation. A Code Blue Alert is called when temperatures fall below 25 degrees or 32 degrees with precipitation.

“Nature’s wrath falls most heavily on the most vulnerable residents in our city, and those are usually our homeless population. It is moving to see how Newark’s caring community displays its strength and love when it unites to care for those most in need. I thank them for their commitment in time of crisis,” Mayor Baraka said.

With support from the Departments of Public Safety and Recreation, the Department of Health’s Social Services Division was able to provide unsheltered individuals with direct transport to warm shelter beds from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

“Thanks to effective interdepartmental coordination and the support of our local sheltering network, the City of Newark was able to ensure that our most vulnerable residents had access to warm shelter beds and other supportive services,” Dr. Wade said.

During yesterday’s snow event, 20 homeless individuals were picked up from Newark Penn Station and transported to the following locations:

·         United Community Corp., 31 Fulton St. Newark.

·         Irvington Neighborhood Corp., 346 16th Ave., Irvington.

·         The HELP Center 224 Sussex Ave.

·         The Restoration Center, 284 South 12th St., Newark.

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