By Betty Berger. During September 2011, CNN’s Senior Correspondent Allan Chernoff, reported extensively on Lakewood’s “Tent City.” Mr. Chernoff interviewed the Rev. Steven Brigham, who founded Tent City in 2006 as part of his Lakewood Outreach Ministry Church. Brigham then told CNN that “It’s a community here[in Tent City], people have a sense of belonging.”
The essence of Tent City is an underlying unity where those out of work and out of luck can drop out of society while living as cheaply as possible. As of today, hundreds of homeless from across America have set up camp in all sorts of improvised, makeshift dwellings and have taken up residency. The inhabitants are proud of their new-found comradeship one amongst another, and look out for each other in a modern-day setting of one-for-all – all-for-one motto, sharing food and all else in tandem with proximity.
Various solutions to all sorts of lack of basic modern-day conveniences are readily apparent for those willing to risk a walkabout through the camp, with various objects even visible on a drive by on bordering Cederbridge Avenue. Lakewood Township offers garbage pickup once a week along with what can best be termed as reluctant permission to allow these vagabonds to remain.
What began as a small city-of-refuge however has spawned into a major nuisance for all of Lakewood’s tax-paying citizens. Throughout the winter months thick, heavy smoke from the wood and garbage fires that Tent City ignites to keep themselves warm spreads for miles. Elderly immediate neighbors are forced to relocate because of difficulty breathing, and children living nearby arriving at public school carry the distinct smoke scent the next morning. More than one traffic incident has been blamed on the smoke which severely limits visibly all along Cederbridge avenue. Dangerous are the dozen or so “tent” fires that have occurred this winter alone, and have caused severe injury, with officials wondering if the next one may just burn down the entire surrounding fire.
Most alarming is a recent spate of reported knifings and stabbings, as well as various “in house” feuds, which have prompted police and other emergency services to be called in on nearly a daily basis. As of this writing, “Tent City” has become synonymous with crime and grime, and has all residents in the vicinity and drivers who drive past on edge.
Local store owners are fed-up with the ramifications of Tent City in the area, one shopkeeper saying that it is difficult for patrons to come in for food when all they can smell is smoke. Miriam M. a woman who had in the past enjoyed the easy access of the Ceaderbridge shopping areas says she found different stores across town to shop in so that she “doesn’t have to worry about the immediate vicinity of so many unknown, unkempt people, when she goes out with my family.”
Unknown is a valid point, as who knows just who lives in Tent City, and who knows where they are from, or their history. Nearly the entire town is being irked by the amount of Township resources required to allow this encampment to continue operating in relative safety, an expense that Lakewood cannot continue to endure and which places a drain on the resources and a deep strain on local commerce and real-estate prices.
Although Lakewood Township has filed official complaints in court against the illegal settlement, most Lakewood citizens see the continued presence of this illegal settlement as a complacency of the local government to allow the status quo to continue. While suggestions have come and gone for various ordinances to deal with the situation, the Township has not taken any of it seriously and have excluded much discussion and proposition from public debate.
Talk has recently cropped up of a united citizens’ group to take back Lakewood and sue the township for its inaction in regard to what has become a very public nuisance. With the population of Tent City growing at a faster rate in proportion to Lakewood itself, it remains to be seen which piece(s) of public land Tent City will annex for its use next if Lakewood cannot come up with an immediate solution.
It is to be noted that Ocean County does provide homeless shelter for those in need. Forests on township lands however are not sanctioned for shelter use.
Way too go. The article is right on point. These unfortunate people need a place to live, but not on public land, illegally, 500 feet from normal civilization.
Thank you for you’re extremely well written, to the point article. We who live in the immediate vicinity of tent city are the ones truly suffering from this illegal settlement.
What has been very frustrating about this whole ordeal is the lack of communication and straight forward answers from the township officials regarding our valid complaints. Why cant you put out those extremely pollutant and dangerous fires that compromise the local driving conditions and make it difficult to breath IN OUR OWN HOUSES?
How can open drug use, that even my kids know about, be allowed to continue uncontested? Who allowed these illegal squatters to receive garbage pickup, thus giving them a sense of entitlement, without consulting with us the neighbors?
Why are simple questions like these not receiving basic coherent answers.
To say it mildly, the local neighborhood is a bit disappointed with the local leadership shown so far. Hopefully, with the recent publicity (and we thank the scoop for keeping this outrage on the front burner) things will change for the better.
pass ordinances NOW!
thanks for this article – a very bothered-by-tent-city-my-house-always-stinks-like-smoke neighbor
Doesn’t anyone on this site read?
Until the township and the County come up with an alternate solution, ie a homeless shelter, the courts have ruled that tent city stays. No township ordinance is going to change that. The court stated, however, that TC must remain the same , which it has not. Perhaps the township can work to reduce it size in accordance with the order.
Im not certain _what_ needs to be done, but allowing tent city to remain is not an option. The Lakewood economy is suffering and they are draining resources (police, fire) that should be used for upstanding citizens. Those residing in tent city are doing something illegal…why are we allowing it?
#5 I Iagree ,you have to wonder those who keep repeating comments that the court already ruled on Dothey not comprehend the law? THERE HAS BEEN NO ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO THIS DATE .
Here’s an idea how about the town building housing on this land ,dont tell me it cant be done just look arround this town basically no zoning anymore every inch of land has some kind of structure being built on it. I can tell you why it wont happen someone is not going to profit from it thats why !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let them move into one of the Many empty buildings/dorms at Fort Monmouth. Only 1 Building nesessary.In return put them ALL to work(promotes mental health) maintaining the property and infrastructure.
Interesting how the DEP Knows that Tent City is in Wetlands/buffers (Highly Illegal to do anything on the site) . The Runoff from the site goes directly into a C-1 stream ( Metedeconk River) which is Brick’s DRINKING water. Yet our watchdog DEP turns a Blind eye. Brick should step up to the plate and complain to DEP of the environmental damage done and definite harm to their water.DEP also has many rules on Air Pollution,this site is a basket case for poor/dangerous air quality.But alas our highly paid tree huggers in DEP would rather focus their energy on the burial of tons of biodegradable paper nearby.
If tent city has the elements of nuisance, neighbors can sue the township.
so call the DEP, and CDC (control Disease center)and EPA and start makin ’em aware of this wet land tent city issue…..anyone have the numbers to these agencies??
To all of you that say “sue the Township” where do you think the award money will come from? Let me tell you…The Tax Payers!!! The Tax Payers will pay for the Township Lawyers, Court costs and everything… In truth You will be suing yourself…
DEP is aware of the flagrant violations of Their Environmental Laws in Tent City but choose to look the other way
The illegals in this town are a much bigger and pressing issue then tent city.. illegals affect every part of town.
#14 “illegals affect every part of the town” really!? Tell me why and how?
My wife had a brilliant idea…Give these poor souls free tickets to the games at the Blue Claws stadium!!
This will give them some nearby entertainment and at the same time bring their issues to the front burner of civilization…Let NJ see what it is to live/seat near people in this condition!
Anyone interested in starting a ticket drive for tent city?
In order ot receive emergency housing assistance someone must prove to the Ocean County Board of Social Services that they lost previously affordable housing through no fault of their own or have a housing situation beyond their control. Many who are homeless cannot meet this test.
So where are the members of the NJ State 30th Legislative District?
So where are the members of the Chosen Board of Ocean County Freeholders?
So where are the members of the Lakewood Township Committee?
They should be in a planning session to arrive at a plan that meets the objective of the Court. Order so that this issue can be resolved
It is not going to resolve itself. Action is needed by all of the above mentioned governing bodies. It is all of out problem, and it needs to be resolved by all of us.
Let us push, pull, or otherwise shove these governing bodies into action. They need to resolve this festering issue without further delay.
Why should Lakewood have to incur the costs of building a shelter for these folks when a majority of them aren’t even from this town anymore, or NJ for that matter…you all can thank this self-purported “Reverend” for the influx of out of state homeless- all to bring attention to his cause.
20. The County should pay for it. Noone is saying me and you have to shoulder the costs. But the shelter is the solution to the prob!
there is plenty of unused factory space in the industrial park, why not convert one of them into a homeless shelter?
To: No. 21 that is why they are in tent city, if there were factories to employ these people they would not be living in a tent, they would have jobs.
And on another thought with all the Private Schools in the industrial park you want these people setting up shop next to them????
Fascinating story, however, Ocean County DOES NOT have available shelter to everyone. For the past 5 years now I have been constantly inquiring for a place to live. Being 58 years old, working 20-32 hours week @ $15.50 is all I get. whenever i ask I am then asked “do you have a child/girfriend with child ?” I reply no. I am told “no” sorry we can not help you. if I had a girlfriend or a child then they would have a a place for me to stay. So my car is my home for now. after taxes are taken, being single, $228 give or take is not much to live on is it? If you wish, I would write a full break down on a weeks wages and then you will see why. but with with medical bills and other costs.. I cannot keep an apartment, not enough money for utilitites either.
To Truth, you are absolutely right, my comment was more in response to those saying that Lakewood itself needs to build a shelter, which isn’t true. Sure it could be located in Lakewood but this is a county expense, not something our township officials have total control over. In essence the judge is holding the residents of Lakewood hostage in making unattainable demands for the township.
why have you still not posted either of my comments about the DEP? its not slanderous, only the truth. if people are complaingin about tent city because its near a waterway- why can’t we say something about the wetlands being filled in, or the toxic dump off rt 9 that is now a development? is it because its not something negative about tent city?