Neptune official: Goal to relocate homeless people living in tent city
NEPTUNE - Township, county and state officials have been meeting to determine how best to help and support residents of a growing tent city behind the ShopRite along Route 66.
The encampment is located behind the parking lots of ShopRite and the Zen Leaf dispensary and borders residential homes on Cardinal Road. Unhoused individuals have made their homes in the woods for the better part of the last decade, and the number of people living there has grown to several dozen.
At the March 27 Township Committee meeting, Business Administrator Gina LaPlaca spoke about the township's recent private meeting with the owner of the property and government officials.
"The township hosted a meeting on March 17 with the DC office of homeless prevention, the owner of the property where the encampment is located and all representatives of all the relevant township departments having oversight of the issues occurring at the camp," LaPlaca said.
The landowner has agreed to grant access to the property to state, county and township personnel, and the township has formally requested technical assistance from the state, LaPlaca said.
She added the township is now in the data collection stage of the technical assistance process to identify who is living in the encampment, what resources are available to them based on their need, and opportunities for relocation, LaPlaca said.
She added that the goal is "finding appropriate relocation for these folks."
The next in-person meeting between township, county and state officials is tentatively scheduled for next month.
During the public comment portion of the March 27 meeting, resident Gary Brown thanked the governing body for the update and said since the last meeting "no trespassing" signs have been put up.
"How and when are they enforced and by whom? There have been more tents put up on the side of the ShopRite, and with that I appreciate what you're trying to do with helping them find new homes or help but in regard to the trash I really haven't seen much movement with that," Brown said.
"It does blow into our yards, and we would appreciate any movement with that," Brown added.
He told the committee that he also understood that last week one of the people living in the tent city was assaulted.
"So with all this nice stuff that is going on at a slower pace, just realize there are things going on there at a much faster pace," Brown said.
Charles Daye is the metro reporter for Asbury Park and Neptune, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. @CharlesDayeAPP Contact him: CDaye@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Neptune NJ officials exploring ways to find homes for unhoused people
