Need help in North Jersey during bitter cold this weekend? Here's how to find shelter
Nearly all New Jersey counties are opening up additional beds and warming shelters to get people experiencing homelessness off the streets with temperatures forecasted to drop to bitter lows in the next several days.
As of Thursday, 20 New Jersey counties have activated Code Blue — an order that counties trigger when the temperature drops below freezing or a certain windchill level is reached — so more people can seek refuge.
If you need shelter, call the statewide homeless hotline at 211, or 877-652-1148.
What to do if you need shelter in Bergen County
In Bergen County, a person cannot walk into the county's Hackensack shelter to stay overnight under Code Blue without first calling or adding his name to a list during the time the shelter offers meals.
Between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., individuals should call 201-336-6480. After 4:30 p.m., they should call 211.
For those who do not have a cellphone or remaining minutes on their call plan, the shelter will allow them to use the facility's phone, according to director Julia Orlando. A case worker can also call on behalf of someone seeking shelter. The center is located at the Board of Social Services building, 120 South River St., Hackensack.
Bergen County requires a call first so operators can screen the caller and determine if a warming center is the right fit, Orlando said. For instance, if a person is older and can't sit up in a chair — the warming center offers a seat at a cafeteria table, not a bed — the county might send the person to a motel, with the stay covered by the county or state. Or if a person has open benefits in Passaic, he would be sent to a Passaic County shelter or hotel.
More:Code Blue helps NJ homeless when temps drop, but some still get left out in the cold
Living outside in the cold:NJ counties try to count, help those experiencing homelessness
Individuals can visit the shelter during lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or dinner from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and ask to be added to the Code Blue list, Orlando said.
If a person arrives at the shelter and is referred to a motel, Bergen County covers the transportation, said county spokesperson Derek Sands.
Bergen County's latest Code Blue covers Feb. 3 through Feb. 6 between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Residents can seek social services assistance between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Social Services at 218 Route 17 North in Rochelle Park.
If you come across someone who needs shelter
If you come across someone who needs help or shelter in Bergen County, Sands recommends calling law enforcement or the county outreach team called PATH, or Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, at 201-296-6008. The PATH team works with adults who have a diagnosed mental illness or substance abuse disorder and need social services help.
More:Code Blue helps NJ homeless when temps drop, but some still get left out in the cold
Shelter options in Passaic County
Passaic County will shelter extra people between Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. at four locations including the Passaic County Board of Social Services at 80 Hamilton St. in Paterson and Dignity House at 276 Broadway in Passaic. Two options for adults only include the Clifton Community Recreation Center at 1232 Main Ave. in Clifton and the Christopher Columbus Community Center at 60 Temple St. in Paterson.
Essex County shelters
Essex County's eight sites are available from Feb. 3 through Feb. 4 between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. including at the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits on the second floor of 320 University Ave. in Newark and the YMCA of Newark at 600 Broad St. The other six options have limitations. Single men can go to Joi's Angels at 114 S. Arlington Ave. in East Orange and the United Community Corporation at 31 Fulton St. in Newark. Single men and single women can go to the Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Center at 346 16th Ave. in Irvington; St. Mark's Church at 51 Elm St. in Montclair, Helping the Homeless at 269 Mt. Prospect Ave. in Newark and the H.E.L.P. Center at 224 Sussex Ave. in Newark.
Hudson County shelters
Hudson County offers Code Blue warming centers between Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Locations include the Hudson County Department of Family Services Welfare Division at 257 Cornelison Ave. in Jersey City. Two warming centers allow people in need to stay during the daytime as well: St. Lucy's Shelter at 619 Grove St. in Jersey City and the PERC Shelter at 111 37th St. in Union City.
Shuttles are available for adults at these pickup locations:
CSPNJ Drop-In Center at 422 MLK Dr., Jersey City: 5:30 p.m., line begins at 5:15 p.m.
Journal Square at JFK Blvd. and Pavonia Ave., Jersey City: 6 p.m., line begins at 5:45 p.m.
North Bergen Town Hall at 43rd St. and Kennedy Blvd. in North Bergen: 7 p.m., line begins at 6:45 p.m.
Hoboken Terminal at Observer Highway and Park Avenue, Hoboken: 7:30 p.m., line begins at 7:15 p.m.
If someone misses the final shuttle, they should call 211. People who stay overnight at a warming center will be dropped off in Jersey City or Hoboken beginning at 8 a.m.
Union County options
Union County offers a warming center at Mount Olive Baptist Church at 216 Liberty St. in Plainfield from Feb. 3 through Feb. 6 between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. The county does not offer transportation, but "on some occasions" law enforcement may drive people seeking shelter, said county spokesperson Kelly Martins. The county plans to find another warming center in the Elizabeth area within the next month, Martins said.
Individuals can visit social services buildings in Elizabeth (342 Westminster Ave.) and Plainfield (200 West 2nd St.) for motel or shelter placements until 3 p.m.
Sussex and Morris warming centers
Sussex County offers warming centers at its library branches and Division of Social Services building during daytime hours that can be found on nj211.org/njcodeblue. Masks are required. When warming centers are closed, individuals should call 211 for assistance.
The warming center locations and hours are:
Sussex County Division of Social Services at 83 Spring Street Suite 203
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Main Library at 125 Morris Turnpike, Newton
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dennis Branch at 101 Main St., Newton
Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dorothy Henry Branch at 66 Route 94, Vernon
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Franklin Branch at 103 Main St., Franklin
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Louise Child Library at 21 Stanhope-Sparta Rd., Stanhope
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sussex-Wantage Branch at 69 County Route 639, Wantage
Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If someone needs transportation help in Morris County, they can call 973-829-8264 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or 211 after hours, and may receive bus tickets to and from the warming centers, shelter or hotel, or assistance with taxi rides or rideshare costs, said Vincent Vitale, director of communications for the county.
Morris County offers a long list of warming centers between Feb. 3 and Feb. 6. Residents should call 211 or their local police dispatch to determine the best location to visit.
Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance at 340 W. Hanover Ave. in Morristown
Boonton Municipal Building at 155 Powerville Road
Butler Police Department Community Room at 10 High St.
Chatham Library at 214 Main St.
Chester Borough Town Hall at 50 North Road
Chester Library at 250 West Main St.
Chester Township Municipal Building at 1 Parker Road
Morris Township Municipal Building at 50 Woodland Ave. in Convent Station
Denville Municipal Building Community Room at 1 Saint Mary's Place
Denville Public Library at 121 Diamond Spring Road
Saint John's Episcopal Church at 11 South Bergen St. in Dover
Trinity Lutheran Church at 123 East Blackwell St. in Dover
Victory Gardens Fire House at 425 Washington Ave. in Dover
East Hanover Recreation Center at Fifth Street and Yale Avenue
East Hanover Senior Center at 96 Mount Pleasant Ave.
Mount Olive Township Senior Center at 204 Flanders Draketown Road in Flanders
Florham Park Borough Hall at 111 Ridgedale Ave.
Florham Park First Aid Squad at 60 Felch Road
Florham Park Senior Center at 111 Ridgedale Ave.
Long Hill Public Library at 917 Valley Road in Gillette
Kinnelon Municipal Building at 130 Kinnelon Road
Kinnelon Public Library at 132 Kinnelon Road
Parsippany Community Center at 1130 Knoll Road in Lake Hiawatha
Parsippany-Troy Hills Library, Lake Hiawatha Branch, at 68 Nokomis Ave. in Lake Hiawatha
Jefferson Township Municipal Complex at 1033 Weldon Road in Lake Hopatcong
Lincoln Park Borough Hall at 34 Chapel Hill Road
Washington Township Library at 37 East Springtown Road in Long Valley
Washington Township Senior Center at 50 Rock Road in Long Valley
Mendham Borough Library at 10 Hilltop Road
Mine Hill Civic Center at 12 Baker St.
Montville Senior House at 356 Main Road
Fairchild Firehouse at 2 Burnham Road in Morris Plains
Morris Plains Community Center at 51 Jim Fear Drive
Harding Municipal Building at 21 Blue Mill Road in Morristown
Market Street Mission at 9 Market St. in Morristown
Morristown Town Hall at 200 South St.
Mount Kemble Firehouse at 1 Spring Brook Road in Morristown
Mount Arlington Civic Center at 18 N. Glen Ave.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Library, Mount Tabor Branch, at 31 Trinity Park in Mount Tabor
Mountain Lakes Public Library at 9 Elm Road
Netcong Fire Co. #1 at 40 Maple Ave.
Netcong Fire Co. #2 Hilltop at 49 College Road
Netcong Municipal Building at 23 Maple Ave.
Rockaway Township Green Pond Bible Chapel at 1083 Green Pond Road in Newfoundland
Parsippany Police Athletic League at 33 Baldwin Road in Parsippany
Parsippany-Troy Hills Main Library at 449 Halsey Road in Parsippany
Pequannock Senior House at 530 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pompton Plains
Randolph Public Library at 28 Calais Road
Rockaway Assembly of God at 113 E. Main St.
Rockaway Borough Library at 82 E. Main St.
Rockaway Township Main Library Branch at 61 Mount Hope Road
Rockaway Township Marcella Fire House at 20 Upper Hibernia Road
Rockaway Township Senior Center at 19 Mt. Hope Road
Rockaway Township Townhall at 65 Mount Hope Road
Rockaway Township Marcella Community House at 831 Green Pond Road
Roxbury Public Library at 103 Main St. in Succasunna
Wharton Municipal Building at 10 Robert St.
Wharton Public Library at 15 S. Main St.
Hanover Township Community Center at 15 N. Jefferson Road in Whippany
Homeless shelters by county
Bergen County
Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center at 120 S. River St., Hackensack
Passaic County
Hope through Care Inc. at 89 First St., Clifton
Paterson Task Force at 36-38 Circle Ave., and 28-32 Circle Ave., Paterson
St. Paul's Community Development Corp. at 451 Van Houten St., Paterson
Eva's Sheltering Program at 389 Main St. and 31 Jackson St., Paterson
The Good Shepherd Mission Inc. at 336 Broadway Ave., Paterson
Hispanic Multipurpose Service Center at 911 East 23rd St., Paterson
Women and Families Ascending Association at 1009 Valley Road, Wayne
Hudson County
Community Faith for Housing Inc. at 300 Bloomfield St., Hoboken
Belmont Guest House at 188 Belmont Ave., Jersey City
Seaview Guest House Urban Renewal at 125 Seaview Ave., Jersey City
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Newark at 615 Grove St., 246 Second St. and 619 Grove St., Jersey City
York Street Project at 81 York St., Jersey City
Palisades Emergency Residence Corp., 108 36th St., Union City
Morris County
Homeless Solutions at 540 W. Hanover Ave., Morristown
Market Street Mission at 9 Market St., Morristown
Sussex County
Birth Haven Inc. at 4 Academy St., Newton
The Market Street Mission at 274 Spring St., Newton
Samaritan Inn at 901 Swartswood Road, Newston
Family Promise at 19 Church St., Newton
Essex County
Sierra House Inc. at 70 Chestnut St., East Orange
AIDS Resource Foundation at 11 S. Maple Ave., East Orange
HBP Rain Foundation at 168 Park St., East Orange
Isaiah House at 238 N. Munn Ave., East Orange
Turning Point Community SVS at 1011 Grove St., Irvington
Real House Recovery at 31 N. Mountain Ave. and 95 Grove St., Montclair
The Salvation Army Inc. at 68 N. Fullerton Ave., Montclair
The Apostles House Inc. at 18 Grant St., 22 Grant St., 30 Grant St. and 513-15 Avon Ave., Newark
Answers Moving Forward at 712 Springfield Ave., Newark
Helping the Homeless at 269 Mount Prospect Ave., Newark
URC at 689 S. 16th St. and 224 Sussex Ave., Newark
Newly Destined Inc. at 1114-1116 Broad St., Newark
Goodwill Rescue Mission Inc. at 42 Eagle St. and 79 University Ave., Newark
United Community Corp. at 31 Fulton St., Newark
Missionaries of Charity at 60 Jay St., Newark
Catholic Charities at 366-368 S. Seventh St. and 47-71 Miller St., Newark
Fairmount Health SCV Inc. at 202-206 Fairmount Ave., Newark
YMWCA of Newark Housing Dept. at 600 Broad St., Newark
Peace House Inc. at 9 Madison Ave., Newark
Covenant House NJ Inc. at 330 Washington St., Newark
Newark Transitional Living Program at 212 Peshine Ave. and 198 Clinton Ave., Newark
The Restoration Center Inc. at 272-290 South 12th St., Newark
Circle of Life Inc. at 55 Tillinghast St., Newark
Positive Health Care Inc. at 600 Broad St., Newark
Union County
The Salvation Army at 1018 E. Grand St., Elizabeth
YMCA at 135 Madison Ave. and 124 Madison Ave., Elizabeth
Raphael's Life House at 231 Court St., Elizabeth
Visions and Pathways, 1371 Park Ave., Plainfield
The Dudley House, 930 Putnam Ave., Plainfield
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Here are the Code Blue warming stations in North Jersey