Why Is Joe Homeless?

Those of us who have lived in Cape May County for several decades know that years back, homelessness here was unknown. While we encountered it in Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities, we did not see it here… until the last several years. 
To explore the issue, let me first tell you “Joe’s” story, then, tell you of the efforts of Cape Hope, as related by Herald correspondent, Jim McCarty, who attended one of their recent meetings. Perhaps Joe’s experiences and the efforts of the Cape Hope organization will bring us all a step closer to comprehending the issue.
Joe’s Life in the Woods:
As fate would have it, I know a homeless man, whom I’ll call Joe. Over the course of the last several years, I have had numerous occasions to talk with him and to get to know him a little. He tells me that he loves the woods, and never wants to live indoors again. I have come to take that with a grain of salt now because he once related to me that the county got him a motel room when it was cold and he luxuriated under the shower for a solid hour.
He also let it be known that he finds the rainy season outdoors unbearable. When the sun is shining, he enjoys fishing and cooking his catch over the fire. He also loves the opportunity to teach newcomers to the woods how to survive, and, for example, how to keep a fire going when the rain won’t let up.
A generous man once gave him a new bright blue tarp. He gave it right back to him, saying, “I need a tarp, but it must be camouflage. Nobody can know where my campsite is because they steal everything.”
Why is Joe homeless? Does he lack the skills necessary to make a life in the work-a-day world? No, he is a skillful man who formerly was employed by a national firm. However, alcohol became a problem, and he lost his job twice – he didn’t get a third chance.
Also, he’s told me that he’s only 50 years old but, “I can see that I’m not going to live much longer. My friends are always dying—I don’t want to bury any more of them.”
One might ask, are there no kind-hearted people who would take him in and get him back on his feet? In fact, an old friend did just that. Joe had gone through state-sponsored detox and was determined to set his life straight. He called his mother on her birthday and told her he had turned over a new leaf and had been clean for a month. Sobbing, she replied, “That was the best birthday present you could have given me.”
After a couple of weeks, unfortunately, Joe returned to his old ways, and his friend had to ask him to leave.
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Now to Jim McCarty’s article on a Cape Hope meeting:
Cape Hope Puzzled by Homeless Denial    
COLD SPRING – Cape Hope members are frustrated. Why are some municipalities unwilling to admit that they have homeless persons in their community? Are they in denial? Why is county government making promises about finally creating a homeless shelter in Cape May County while dragging its feet on specific action?
These were some of the sentiments expressed at a recent meeting of Cape Hope, a faith-based homeless outreach group that was formed in 2015 as a New Jersey non-profit homeless advocate in Cape May County.
According to Assistant Director Marty Montgomery, Cape Hope exists to try to catch those homeless people who “fall through the cracks” that exist in the social services system.
“We try to build transitional housing for the homeless, but we seem to be getting nowhere because of a lack of funding,” Montgomery explained. He referred to a permanent county homeless shelter.
Communications Committee chair Barbara Collins also lamented the lack of communication with freeholders. “It saddens me to see that this group is getting no support” (from the freeholders),” she said.
Other members expressed frustration with seasonal employers who allegedly pay workers below minimum wage as part-time employees and then lay them off a week before the 20-week threshold that would make them eligible for unemployment benefits.
There is no chance for economic stability under such circumstances, noted Kit Marlowe.
Director Denise Venturini South added, “For us to help, homeless clients must find employment so that we can provide emergency shelter, but the seasonal employment issue makes this extremely difficult.”
Montgomery noted the lack of public awareness about the existence of homeless in their communities. He cited Wildwood’s mayor denied the existence of homeless persons in his community. Montgomery noted that he had personally conducted intake interviews with several Wildwood homeless residents very recently. Donna, a new volunteer, and teacher who offered to help organize a daycare center in any future shelter facility, acknowledged that she was from Ocean City and was not aware of any homeless population in that city. Subsequently, she learned that Ocean City has one of the largest homeless populations in the county.
Marlowe spoke about the need for transitional housing for homeless residents who need a physical hub where they can be taught skills that could help them achieve “economic sustainability.”
He envisioned a building like the vacant Chapin House, a former assisted-living complex in Rio Grande. It would be an excellent site to provide not just short-term assistance but to serve as a central location where life skills like learning to cook, clean, and maintain their own housing units could ensure economic sustainability after they leave the center.
According to Marlowe, the county government has not provided strong support for any county shelter. Cape Hope sees that Rio Grande site as a viable answer to the issue of Cape May County finally getting a shelter, but the financial challenges to acquire and maintain the site are beyond Cape Hope’s capability.
Cape Hope works closely with other agencies and organizations such as Family Promise and Cape Assist.
“We make referrals to them, and they do the same when warranted” Venturini-South added. For information about fundraising or volunteering, visit www.capehopecares.org. To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.
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Can homelessness be solved? Our hats have to go off to those who are making an effort. Whatever the solutions, we need to go about the search with our eyes wide open.