Shelters Rescued 20 Homeless In Newark As Temps Plummeted

NEWARK, NJ — Local shelters recently protected almost two dozen homeless people in Newark from “nature’s wrath” amid a frigid cold wave in the city, officials said.

On Tuesday – as temperatures plummeted in the city and a New Jersey state of emergency was in effect – city officials and a network of local homeless shelters came to the aid of 20 homeless residents, transporting them from Newark Penn Station to warm beds in Newark and Irvington.

The shelters that supported Wednesday’s rescue effort – 224 Help Center, Irvington Neighborhood Corporation, The Restoration Center, and United Community Corporation – expanded their capacity in response to the city’s Code Blue activation.

In Newark, Code Blue alerts take effect when temperatures are predicted to fall below 25 degrees, or 32 degrees with precipitation.

The in-need residents were taken to the following locations:

• United Community Corp, 31 Fulton St. (Newark)
• Irvington Neighborhood Corp, 346 16th Ave. (Irvington)
• The HELP Center, 224 Sussex Ave. (Newark)
• The Restoration Center, 284 South 12th St. (Newark)

Department of Health and Community Wellness Director Mark Wade said that the successful outreach effort was due to “effective interdepartmental coordination” and the support of the city’s local sheltering network.

“Nature’s wrath falls most heavily on the most vulnerable residents in our city, and those are usually our homeless population,” Mayor Ras Baraka said. “It’s moving to see how Newark’s caring community displays its strength and love when it unites to care for those most in need. I thank them for their commitment in time of crisis.”

• See related article: Newark Taxi Drivers Give Rides To 72 Homeless In Frigid Cold

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