Hoboken Task Force Will Combat Local Homelessness

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken city officials have announced the formation of a task force that will tackle homelessness in the city.

On Thursday, Hoboken Mayor Ravinder released a list of the task force members and partner organizations. The task force will “develop comprehensive strategies for Hoboken’s homeless community and ensure the quality of life for Hoboken residents.” It will present its plans to the public later this summer.

The task force consists of:

• Chief of Staff John Allen
• Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Freeman
• Constituent Affairs Chief Caroline Caulfield
• Community Development Director Brandy Forbes
• Health and Human Services Director Leo Pellegrini
• Police Chief Ken Ferrante
• Lieutenant John Orrico
• Principal Planner Chris Brown

The task force will partner with the following local organizations:

• Hoboken Faith Community
• The Hoboken Shelter
• Hudson County Housing and Community Development
• CarePoint Health
• United Way of Hudson County
• Hudson Pride Center

“We are grateful that the City of Hoboken will be expending such significant energy and resources towards the challenge of homelessness in Hoboken,” said Rabbi Robert Scheinberg of the United Synagogue of Hoboken and chair of the Hoboken Clergy Coalition. “Homelessness in Hoboken has a wide variety of causes and should be addressed through a wide variety of initiatives and through collaborations with many partner organizations, in support of our goals of compassionately helping people to move off of the streets into safer environments, and giving them the various kinds of support they need to live independently."

• See related article: This New Jersey County Has The Most Homeless People

“The LGBTQ+ community, especially our youth, face homelessness at an alarming rate,” said Hudson Pride Center CEO Michael Billy. “Our homeless community members have a difficult time finding shelters that both accept and respect gender identity or gender sexuality. We will be joining the task force to ensure those issues are addressed.”

• See related article: Hudson County Shelter Will Help Homeless Families Stick Together

“It’s simply not enough to feed and house a person one night at a time,” Bhalla said. “We need to look at giving people the resources they need to stay off the streets long-term. That means access to proper mental and physical health care, education and job training, access to good-paying jobs, affordable housing and more.”

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