Montclair Needs Overnight Shelter For Homeless, Fundraiser Says

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair is in “dire” need of a shelter for homeless residents facing frigid winter nights. And a recently launched fundraiser can help make it happen, organizers say.

Last month, the nonprofit Montclair Police Foundation (MPF) started a GoFundMe campaign to fund the construction of a $30,000 shelter at Union Baptist Church on Midland Avenue.

As of Dec. 30, the effort has raised more than $2,400 towards its goal. See the campaign or make a donation.

According to the 2019 "Point In Time" count for New Jersey, 67 homeless people were counted in Montclair on Jan. 22. Researchers said 13 of those people were unsheltered.

• See related article: Essex County Homeless Population Rises For 4th Straight Year

Union Baptist Church has lent aid to homeless people in the past, serving as one of the locations for Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless (MESH), a nonprofit that organizes overnight respite at local churches and synagogues when temperatures drop to 20 degrees or rise above 100 degrees.

• See related article: Montclair Police Need Help Building 'Mitten Tree' For MESH

Writing on behalf of the MPF, fundraiser organizers Steven Plofker and Michael Bateman offered the following explanation about the need that’s driving the campaign:

“As you may know, the MPF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity whose purpose is to support the community outreach efforts of the Montclair Police Department. Inspired by Police Chief Todd Conforti and Lieutenant Tyrone Williams Jr., the MPF has embarked on several community projects, and we are reaching out to secure your assistance with a new, meaningful initiative that we are looking to launch in the coming months.”

Organizers continued:

“The police department has identified Montclair's homeless population as greatly underserved and in dire need of a respite shelter during extremely cold winter nights. We have secured a suitable site (Union Baptist Church on Midland Avenue), obtained development plans, building permits, and have commenced construction which includes the installation of fire and safety systems, construction of stairs, ramps, and bathrooms that comply with handicap codes, and other necessary cosmetic upgrades. The cost of this work is estimated at $30,000.”

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