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Lakewood files lawsuit to remove homeless tent city in wooded area | NJ.com
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By MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger
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on June 28, 2010 at 7:36 PM, updated June 28, 2010 at 8:35 PM
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Courtesy of Lakewood TownshipHomeless encampment in Lakewood Township.
LAKEWOOD — Lakewood officials are suing to force the removal of more than three dozen homeless people they say have been squatters on environmentally sensitive township property for the past three years.
The township said it turned to the courts today after the homeless group rejected attempts to help them find shelter rather than live in tents in wooded areas at Cedar Bridge Avenue and Clover Street and at Route 88 at the railroad tracks.
"They are refusing the help we want to give them. Unfortunately, we now have to resort to legal means to compel them to accept our help and to protect this environmentally-sensitive area," Mayor Steven Langert said.
Homeless people have lived in the woods in and around Lakewood for nearly 10 years, but the largest and most organized group, known as KP Tent City, started three years ago through the efforts of Steven Brigham, a non-denominational minister.
That encampment, at Cedar Bridge Avenue and Clover Street, has tents and tepees, an outhouse and chickens and goats.
"As far as a homeless camp goes, there is probably no other camp in the nation that’s as organized as this one," Brigham said.
Regardless of whether it’s organized, township officials contend, the Cedar Bridge camp threatens the integrity of the township-owned property because it sits on an environmentally sensitive parcel near the Metedeconk River and freshwater wetlands.
More coverage:
• Lakewood proposes relocating homeless 'Tent City' to shelters
The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Toms River, cites more than 40 makeshift structures, tents, propane grills and stoves, an untested water source and well, a drum containing oil, debris, garbage and used toilet paper strewn throughout the site, among other "unsanitary conditions."
Langert also cited safety concerns, noting the February 2009 death of community activist James Wilcox from an exploding propane tank and the serious burns suffered a month later by another homeless resident from a propane lantern at the railroad tracks site.
"Because of the situation, Lakewood is unable to protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents. We have unapproved building structures; we have unsanitary facilities; and a well built for water that has not been tested," Langert said. "This is not only bad for Lakewood and for all the residents; it’s bad for the inhabitants."
Brigham said the fires were not in KP Tent City.
"Nobody was hurt by fires in this camp," he said. "To try to mix the two is not fair to this camp. It would be a crying shame to shut this camp down with no option, no shelter in place in Ocean County."
Brigham said township residents living too near the lake at the head of the Metedeconk River violate the state’s clean water regulations. He said the township’s affordable housing construction is not meeting the needs of residents who are minorities.
Langert said the Ocean County Board of Human Services has tried to resolve the housing problem by assembling a task force of local and county agencies. The task force would find alternate housing, provide financial assistance and other social services to the homeless residents.
(please remember to copy and paste the article into your post - matt d)
By MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger Follow on Twitter
on June 28, 2010 at 7:36 PM, updated June 28, 2010 at 8:35 PM
0
LAKEWOOD — Lakewood officials are suing to force the removal of more than three dozen homeless people they say have been squatters on environmentally sensitive township property for the past three years.
The township said it turned to the courts today after the homeless group rejected attempts to help them find shelter rather than live in tents in wooded areas at Cedar Bridge Avenue and Clover Street and at Route 88 at the railroad tracks.
"They are refusing the help we want to give them. Unfortunately, we now have to resort to legal means to compel them to accept our help and to protect this environmentally-sensitive area," Mayor Steven Langert said.
Homeless people have lived in the woods in and around Lakewood for nearly 10 years, but the largest and most organized group, known as KP Tent City, started three years ago through the efforts of Steven Brigham, a non-denominational minister.
That encampment, at Cedar Bridge Avenue and Clover Street, has tents and tepees, an outhouse and chickens and goats.
"As far as a homeless camp goes, there is probably no other camp in the nation that’s as organized as this one," Brigham said.
Regardless of whether it’s organized, township officials contend, the Cedar Bridge camp threatens the integrity of the township-owned property because it sits on an environmentally sensitive parcel near the Metedeconk River and freshwater wetlands.
More coverage:
• Lakewood proposes relocating homeless 'Tent City' to shelters
The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Toms River, cites more than 40 makeshift structures, tents, propane grills and stoves, an untested water source and well, a drum containing oil, debris, garbage and used toilet paper strewn throughout the site, among other "unsanitary conditions."
Langert also cited safety concerns, noting the February 2009 death of community activist James Wilcox from an exploding propane tank and the serious burns suffered a month later by another homeless resident from a propane lantern at the railroad tracks site.
"Because of the situation, Lakewood is unable to protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents. We have unapproved building structures; we have unsanitary facilities; and a well built for water that has not been tested," Langert said. "This is not only bad for Lakewood and for all the residents; it’s bad for the inhabitants."
Brigham said the fires were not in KP Tent City.
"Nobody was hurt by fires in this camp," he said. "To try to mix the two is not fair to this camp. It would be a crying shame to shut this camp down with no option, no shelter in place in Ocean County."
Brigham said township residents living too near the lake at the head of the Metedeconk River violate the state’s clean water regulations. He said the township’s affordable housing construction is not meeting the needs of residents who are minorities.
Langert said the Ocean County Board of Human Services has tried to resolve the housing problem by assembling a task force of local and county agencies. The task force would find alternate housing, provide financial assistance and other social services to the homeless residents.
(please remember to copy and paste the article into your post - matt d)
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