Middle Twp. Sponsors Resolution Calling on State to Address Homeless Issues

COURT HOUSE — At its monthly meeting held Feb. 23, the Cape May County League of Municipalities passed a resolution supporting Cape May County’s use of the Atlantic City Rescue Mission (ACRM) for Emergency Housing. The resolution, introduced by Middle Township, seeks to expedite the NJ Department of Human Services’ approval of Cape May County’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ACRM. Cumberland, Ocean and Atlantic counties currently have approved MOUs with the ACRM; however, the approval of Cape May County’s has been delayed at the state level.
In Jan., Middle Township Mayor Michael Clark, Police Chief Christopher Leusner and Business Administrator Connie Mahon met with Dan Brown, President of the ACRM. When asked why Cape May County’s current MOU has not yet been signed, Brown stated that the NJ Department of Human Services is holding it up. He reported that he had been making great progress with the previous DHS administration but received diminished cooperation from the current administration. Brown indicated that it is his opinion that counties should not be in the business of operating homeless shelters and that he would prefer that instead of providing staff or a building, counties instead help to fund the shelter through vouchers. According to Brown, Cumberland County currently sends homeless families to the AC Rescue mission and funds 100% of the cost through vouchers. Brown stressed the importance of municipalities utilizing a facility that provides comprehensive services, stating that simply feeding the homeless but not providing job training, treatment for addictions or ongoing support leaves the homeless population helpless, vulnerable and in a cycle that cannot be broken. He added that a large part of the homeless population is mentally ill, making assistance dangerous without proper training.
Middle Township Committeeman Tim Donohue spoke in support of the resolution.
“The hard work on this Memorandum of Understanding was completed close to two years ago,” Donohue explained. “Similar agreements between the Rescue Mission and both Atlantic and Cumberland counties have been very successful in aiding the homeless in those areas. Tonight, in the cold and rain, the homeless here in Cape May County are being denied acres to these same services due to bureaucratic red tape in Trenton. I hope every elected official in our county will join us in demanding prompt action from our state legislators to bring to bear whatever pressure is necessary to finally make this assistance available to our most vulnerable residents.”