A New Jersey township is dealing with criticism after slicing down the timber in its city sq. to stop homeless individuals from congregating within the shade.
The timber in Lakewood Township’s city sq., also referred to as Pink Sq., have been chopped to the bottom earlier this month, native information outlet The Lakewood Scoop reported on the time. However the story gained renewed consideration after the Asbury Park Press lined the scenario this week.
Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles instructed the APP that the township determined to do away with the timber as a result of an unspecified variety of complaints about homeless individuals “harassing” others within the sq., in addition to the presence of human feces. The police division’s “High quality of Life Unit” then beneficial that the township chop down the timber, in line with Coles.
The story went viral on Twitter this week, with many individuals condemning the choice and in addition observing that along with not serving to homeless individuals, it additionally made the sq. worse for anybody else who loved shade.
Rev. Steve Brigham, an advocate for unhoused individuals who runs Lakewood Outreach Ministry Church, blasted the choice as merciless and unhelpful.
“These timber have been over forty years outdated, and supplied shade to the poor and homeless that will come there to search out respite and to socialize with their neighbors,” Brigham wrote on Fb shortly after the timber have been minimize alongside a video exhibiting the barren sq.. He posted further video two days later of extra timber being cleared at a public car parking zone throughout the road from the sq..
Brigham additionally accused the township of repeatedly taking away sources that homeless individuals used, together with by demolishing a neighborhood heart that folks beforehand used for showers.
Coles defended the choice, suggesting that homeless individuals apply for Part 8 vouchers, which assist individuals with low incomes afford housing. However Richard Uniacke, president of the nonprofit Bridges Outreach, famous to the APP that making use of for these vouchers is “not a simple elevate” and that many individuals don’t have the required paperwork.