Public Policy
Memo
To:
Mayor Ras J. Baraka
From:
Chainah Street
cc:
Professor Warner
Date:
December 5th, 2022
Re:
Our Neighbors With No Addresses
Homelessness has been a long-standing issue in the city of Newark, however, it has increased at an alarming rate that can no longer be swept underneath the rug. We can no longer afford to turn the other eye while thousands of our neighbors without addresses are seeking shelter. This issue is requiring full attention and immediate action to reduce and resolve the concerns around homelessness. Thankfully, this is not a problem without a cure, as there are solutions that can be fostered to make improvements for our community and ourselves. Temporary emergency funding will no longer suffice as it doesn’t provide a permanent long-term resolution and only works as a band-aid to the problem, causing our neighbors with no address to return to the streets.
As of January 2021, 1,695 of our neighbors were identified as homeless and this has only increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is 90% of Essex County’s entire total.
You have passed an ordinance, § 2:2-103.3 in which the Homelessness Czar would manage policy initiatives and programs that advance the City’s homelessness initiatives. However, much has yet to be done. Most local shelters are understaffed, unkept, bare security issues, and/or require a referral from the Department of Health and Human Services. Many of our neighbors without addresses decline to go into a shelter because of past experiences where they were treated poorly, harmed, have their belongings stolen, and/or placed in unclean shelters. This is contrary to the ordinance which states§ 2:2-20.1 where the Commission further exists to promote the safety and well-being of homeless persons, and those at risk for homelessness, in a manner that respects their dignity and worth. These ordinances have not been carried out thoroughly since their implementation and remain a consistent issue and threat to our economy.
Many of our neighbors without addresses are without a home due to poverty, and mental health issues, some due to the war on drugs, and others are even respectable veterans that fell on hard times. However, our neighbors without addresses reserve the right to be treated fairly and equally as other citizens. They are also entitled to a warm, safe, and respectable place to reside.
Currently, 26.3% of Newark’s population lives below the federal poverty line and the average household income is $37,476. The current cost of living in the city of Newark is 23% higher than the national average. This means that many people of the city’s population will gradually become homeless if they become unable to afford their homes.
As we enter into winter months, a time when our homeless population is most vulnerable, preventative measures must be taken to prevent further increases in our homeless population.