Shelter To Open For Homeless In Essex County: Cold Weather Expected

Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless (MESH) will organize overnight shelter on Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Wednesday, Jan. 13, due to anticipated cold weather, authorities stated.

The nonprofit helps to provide overnight respite for local homeless men and women when temperatures drop to 20 degrees or below during the cold weather season or rise above 100 degrees during the warm weather season, according to its website.

According to a Nixle alert from the township of Bloomfield, MESH overnight shelter services will be held at Union Baptist Church R.C. Rice Hall located at 12 Midland Avenue in Montclair. Doors open at 9 p.m. and admission is closed at 11 p.m. The overnight respite services end at 7:30 a.m. each morning. Breakfast consisting of hot coffee/tea and a roll are provided from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Transportation will not be provided from the cafe to the overnight respite site until further notice, Bloomfield township officials stated.

Future projected shelter schedule dates include:

• Wednesday, January 13
• Sunday, January 24
• Saturday, January 30
• Sunday, January 31

“Any questions regarding change of status based on weather update can be directed to Human Services at 973-680-4017,” the release stated. “If Human Services cannot be reached, contact MESH at 862-621-9488.”

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File photo by Tom Brandt via flickr