Group Seeks Aid For Howell Homeless As Land Sale Nears Completion

HOWELL, NJ — Efforts are underway to raise funds for people who will be ousted from a piece of land in Howell that has been home to a homeless encampment for three years, following the sale of the property.

The property at 5998 Route 9 in Howell was auctioned off May 21 by the township, a sale authorized by the Township Council back in April. The winning bidder and the details of the contract have not yet been announced. Howell officials had set a minimum bid of $1,355,000 for the land.

The next township council meeting is scheduled for July 12.

The site has been home to a group of people who are homeless since 2015, a year after the previous encampment in Lakewood was razed by that town. In April, Howell officials promised they would not allow a similar result for the residents; a clause in the resolution approving the public auction included a requirement that the purchaser relocate the homeless residents but did not place any parameters on the help. (READ MORE: Howell Homeless Encampment Land To Be Auctioned Off)

According to the GoFundme campaign set up by Howell resident Cheryl Copp-Eins, the purchaser reportedly has offered the encampment's residents $1,000 each. That figure could not be independently confirmed as details of the sale have not yet been publicized or approved by the council.

"The prospective buyer offered ($1,000) which is 2 weeks in a hotel," Copp-Eins says on the GoFundme, which seeks to raise $25,000 to help the homeless residents.

There are 12 residents in the encampment, according to the post, many of whom have jobs that do not pay enough to cover the cost of housing and who ride bicycles to get to and from their employment.

"Any help would be greatly appreciated and I know these humble lost souls trying to make tiny housing a reality will be so very thankful and blessed knowing our people do care about our homeless," the GoFundme campaign notes.

Destiny's Bridge Transitional Encampment supplies basic needs for the homeless in the area. It is the only government-approved homeless camp in the northeastern United States, according to Steve Brigham, a longtime advocate for the area's homeless.

Destiny's Bridge also has been fighting to see the creation of "tiny homes," to help create a truly transitional housing through a project that would create a community of tiny homes. On Monday, the state Senate Community and Urban Affairs committee unanimously approved the bill and sent it to the Senate, according to photographer Sherry Rubel, who has been advocating for the Tiny House Pilot Prgram for several years. (READ MORE: Photographer Renews Crusade For Tiny Houses To Help Homelessness)

Copp-Eins said the goal is to provide the homeless residents of the encampment enough money for a head start to truly transition out of the encampment, with enough to cover housing for a year, a used vehicle to get to work and a smidge for emergencies.

"This amount can definitely improve their lives to be productive and dignified citizens," she said.

Click here to contribute.

Photo via GoFundme. GoFundme is a Patch promotional partner.