Homelessness2020

HOMELESSNESS 2020

Cumberland County, New Jersey

by Robin B. Weinstein, Ed.D.

PIECING TOGETHER
THE PUZZLE:

Ending Chronic Homelessness in
Cumberland County by 2020

By: Robin B. Weinstein, Ed.D.

President & Founder, The M25 Initiative
September, 2015

“The thing we must bear in mind is that the Good Samaritan did the right thing when
he picked up the bandits’ victim, but if every day, two or three people get mugged
on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, there comes a point at which we must
realize that being Good Samaritans is not enough…In short, it’s one thing to care for
the casualties from the system, but sooner or later we have to change the system so
as to not have so many casualties in the first place.” –Dr. Tony Campolo

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Homelessness 2020

INTRODUCTION issue to be on the mantle of my life’s opposite wall, there would be dozens
work, but it has sought me out. In the of buckets and mops. The insane
The purpose of this document is faces of the homeless, I have seen would run desperately to grab a
to outline why homelessness is an myself. I have seen my addictions, my mop and bucket to keep the room
important issue for the Cumberland pathologies, and the consequences from flooding. The sane individuals
County community. Throughout my of my indifference as I recently would turn off the faucet. The way
time as a pastor, professor, government learned of the passing of a homeless in which we address issues in our
administrator, and nonprofit leader, man—my age—who was shut out of society seems to be more reflective
I have often become frustrated society by a system that kept him in of the actions of the insane; we
and disillusioned by the ignorance, poverty and hopelessness. Over 5,000 exhaust our human and financial
apathy, indifference, and complacency homeless teens are buried each year capital addressing symptoms, while
that seems to be running rampant in unmarked graves: I cannot imagine never dealing with the disease.
throughout our society, which adversely how we can continue to accept Homelessness is a symptom that, if
affects us all, especially the poor statistics like these and not be moved we courageously address it, can lead
and homeless. In an age of instant to change the system that is simply us to finding the cure for the disease
information, our inability to discern fact not working. that is plaguing us all.
from fiction is costing our society fiscally, Often I tell my students and This paper presents my story, a plan
socially, intellectually, and morally. We congregation a story about the for our story, and a chance to make
simply cannot afford to remain in the entrance exam that was once used history. We have the ability to end
caves of ideology and prejudice. We by the staff of an insane asylum. homelessness in Cumberland County
must shake loose the chains of dogma Candidates would be led into a by 2020. It is not a question of “Can we
and partisanship and walk into the light cement-lined room with a row of do it?” Rather, the question is: “Will we
of truth so that we can confront the faucets along one wall that were do it?”
issues that we face together. open and gushing water. On the

Homelessness is not a “sexy issue.”
I would not have sought out this

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THE COST OF moreover, that 13 individuals in our money, and reinvesting it into
POVERTY homeless populations are veterans. The education and jobs. This is not a dream
United States Department of Housing of an idealist because it is taking place
Cumberland County’s economy is and Urban Development defines throughout our nation and we need to
grounded on two major cornerstones: chronic homelessness as “an individual be part of it.
poverty and crime. We have allowed or family with a disabling condition who
this area to become the home to has been continuously homeless for a HOMELESSNESS:
federal, state, and local prisons and year or more or has had at least four WHY DO I CARE?
jails. Since the United States leads episodes of homelessness in the past
the world in locking up its citizens, three years.” The cost to the taxpayer The beginning of my involvement with
more prisons are always needed. for the way in which we currently deal the issue of homelessness began in
Poor communities especially embrace with an individual who is chronically 2007 while serving as Deputy County
prisons. Prisons and law enforcement homeless is between $31,000 and Administrator of Salem County. The
provide jobs while social services $40,000. And after all that money, the Board of Chosen Freeholders appointed
and non-profits provide another individual is still homeless! This number a task force to develop a ten-year plan
source of employment to take care consists of costs associated with jail, to address homelessness in the County.
of a community that is severely hospital, and social services. The task force was comprised of a
lacking economic opportunities. The Using the most conservative estimate, number of individuals from throughout
Cumberland County Board of Social the taxpayers of Cumberland County the community, including me. The
Services provides aid to approximately are spending $1.6 million, while United Way of Salem County was the
40,000 residents of Cumberland changing very little, if anything! lead agency charged with making this
County’s 157,000 residents. Twenty Imagine the possibility of transforming plan come to fruition. To be honest,
five percent of our population receives our economy by saving lives, saving I remember only a couple of the
assistance! meetings—perhaps because it has been
over eight years, or perhaps because
The 2015 Point-In-Time Homeless the attempt was unfruitful, more an
Count found that Cumberland County exercise in futility.
has over 200 individuals experience Now, let’s flash-forward to 2011. I had
homelessness, with approximately been Deputy County Administrator, while
53 individuals classified as chronically serving concurrently as a pastor in my
homeless. It should be noted, hometown of Bridgeton. Wilmington
University hired me to join their faculty
and I resigned my full-time government
position. I had been fortunate in having
been able to walk with Senators and
scholars and holding the esteem of those
much older than me, having been elected
to serve in a number of leadership

Homelessness 2020 05

capacities in the nonprofit community. I and social service agencies. Like other in Cumberland County, faces. Sitting
was content with enjoying a life outside homeless individuals, he suffers from with Lloyd in the Cumberland County
of the public sphere and decided it was addictions and mental illness. At first, Board of Social Services, I saw first-
time to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Plus, my congregation and I approached hand how ill-equipped our system is
I got to give off the appearance of being a him with skepticism. Eventually, to address the myriad of problems he
good guy by serving on nonprofit boards we began to offer him food and faced. Sitting with him for over two
that promised to change the system. I occasional assistance. On a cold night hours in a waiting room was tiring
would serve as a pastor and professor, during the Christmas season, while I enough, only to be told, finally, after
seek to be published, see the world, sat in my comfortable living room and we got to see someone, that he had to
and from time to time dabble in some watched my flat-screen television, come back again in a few days in order
intriguing social justice issues. Then along I was convicted: “How can I be a to call a phone number in Trenton.
came Lloyd, a homeless man that began follower of Jesus and be content Further complicating Lloyd’s situation
sleeping on the concrete slab behind my with just giving Lloyd our left-overs was the fact that he had no identifying
church. and leaving him in the cold?” With paperwork and could not obtain
a resolve to change Lloyd’s life I got the necessary documents without a
GOVERNMENT up from my recliner, picked him up physical address.
SOLUTIONS: AN from behind our church, and took Long story short—no one really wanted
OXYMORON? him to the motel. I told Lloyd that I, to be bothered by Lloyd. I tried to help,
along with some of the other people but he eventually dropped off our radar
Many in the Bridgeton community that are crazy enough to hang with by landing in jail and/or the hospital.
know Lloyd, since he has been a me, would walk him through the I experienced the broken system with
frequent visitor to the jails, hospitals, “system” and get him the help he Lloyd, but part of me was relieved that it
needed. After all, he clearly qualified was no longer my problem to deal with.
for Social Security disability. With my
government contacts and knowledge, THE MISSION FIELD
I thought this would be a slam-dunk. IN MY BACKYARD
THINK AGAIN…
The bureaucracy of government Lloyd sparked my conscience and
agencies and nonprofits is frustrating to tugged at my heart (and frustrated my
most of us, but it is simply impossible patience), but I was discouraged by the
for those in crisis and/or dealing with lack of any change for him or the system.
a disability. Complicating a system I decided that perhaps this project was
that is fragmented and inefficient is too big for me and someone else more
the variable of homelessness that qualified would be better suited to take
Lloyd, along with over 200 individuals on this cause. So, I decided to enjoy my
life and the fruits of my labor.
I love Disney World and relish in any
opportunity I get to go enjoy the

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“happiest place on earth.” It was during experience that my eyes were opened: have done enough, the rest is someone
my fourth trip in two years that I once Bridgeton was a city of churches that else’s problem. But this is not worthy of
again felt a conviction come over me: were closed to the public, while I, the national ideals for which we pledge
“How can I be a follower of Jesus and along with homeless men and women, our fidelity: dignity, determination,
be content with gorging myself with had no place to lay my head, go to compassion, and leadership. Code Blue
food and fun, while doing nothing the bathroom, or get a drink of clean is a grassroots band-aid for an epidemic
about the 30,000 children that die water. Following my weekend, Mayor of poverty and homelessness. It is one
everyday of hunger and preventable Albert Kelly and I began brainstorming piece of a puzzle that needs other
diseases? Go to Africa.” Now, this some ideas to utilize the churches in pieces to be completed. The necessity
was simply annoying to me because meeting some of the needs of our for its completion arises from both a
I had no interest to go around the homeless community. During our moral base and a fiscal reality.
world to a dangerous and dirty place. discussion we began envisioning a
Another long story short, I did go and Code Blue program—for the future. THE PATH FORWARD:
it changed my life. After describing Then, our community’s consciousness PUTTING THE
the trip to my congregation I felt quite was opened by the tragic death of Mr. PUZZLE TOGETHER
proud of myself. But as I unpacked Hanshaw, who suffocated in his attempt
my bags from the trip, the conviction to escape the brutal cold by seeking “The poor you will always have with
came again: “Go to the mission field refuge in a Salvation Army clothing you,” Jesus tells us in Matthew 26:11.
in your backyard.” Not only were bin. Overnight, the Code Blue program I believe that He makes this statement
these convictions annoying, they came to fruition in Bridgeton and is for several reasons: (1) we will never
were getting downright dangerous. now in all three major municipalities in do what is truly necessary to help the
Would God actually want this Cumberland County. poor; and, (2) without the poor we
recovering government bureaucrat Code Blue provides temporary warming would never learn compassion. While
turned professor and pastor to spend a centers in area churches for the we may find comfort in our apathy and
weekend on the streets of Bridgeton as homeless during extreme cold weather indifference—believing the homeless
a homeless man? conditions during the winter months. and poor to be simply lazy—it is neither
Code Blue has been a tremendous a helpful exercise, good public policy,
YES… success in that it demonstrates what nor reflective of the morality we claim
Lloyd was supposed to spend the happens when ordinary people resolve to maintain. So, where do we go from
weekend with me during this social to do something new and demanding. here? I propose that we can end
experiment as a homeless man, but It may be easy and even justifiable to
he was in jail again (probably for a rest on our laurels and say that we
failure to appear citation). There I was,
alone in a city I had called my home
since first grade. It was during this

Homelessness 2020 07

homelessness in Cumberland County documents are filed in the County help they need to rehabilitate their
by the year 2020! It is not impossible, Clerk’s office. Three dollars is less lives. Jobs are hard to come by in our
because it is being done throughout than a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and area, but they are even harder when
this country and in other parts of the these funds would be utilized to end you are dirty, hungry, lacking identifying
world. Utah has ended homelessness homelessness in Cumberland County, records because you do not have a
and if they can do it, so can we! which costs the county $1.6 million/ home, and of course you are without
We should start with our veterans that year. Some say it is another tax, and an address to put on your application.
are homeless and get them off the they are right. I do not believe taxes Getting people off the streets is the
streets by the end of 2016. Then we are the problem, however. I believe first step to getting them on a path to
can make sure that no families with inefficient and mediocre government recovery. We need to ensure that our
children are homeless by 2017. Finally, services are the problem. My efforts are grounded in empirically
we can work together to end chronic grandfather used to tell me, “Robin, if proven best practices, such as Housing
homelessness by 2020. We face a you are going to do something, do it First.
challenge not of numbers, but of our right the first time.” The problem with Over the past couple of months I have
own will and resolve. government is that it keeps doing the been working with a team of people
Church and Civic Engagement. Code wrong thing, and repeatedly at a very from the sectors of government,
Blue has demonstrated what ordinary high cost. The trust fund, then, is our nonprofit, healthcare, education,
people can do when they open up their opportunity to do something right on and finance to explore how we can
hearts, minds, wallets, and doors to both a fiscal level and a moral level. implement Housing First in Cumberland
the poor and homeless. Last year, Code The Homelessness Trust Funds would County. Many people have given
Blue provided shelter in our churches be used to implement a ten-year plan reasons why it cannot work, or at least
to over 100 individuals. Individuals to end homelessness. The Freeholder that it cannot work so quickly. My sixth
who would have otherwise been Board with the advice of a Trust Fund grade teacher once told me, “Robin:
sleeping in temperatures well below Task Force would disperse the funds Can’t means you won’t and won’t
20 degrees. What if every church and to supplement a coordinated effort of means you’re lazy!” Quite frankly, there
civic organization attempted to make all stakeholders in eliminating chronic are those in our community who do
a radical difference in the lives of our homelessness in the county. The not want this to work because it may
homeless? To assist our churches we Homeless Trust Fund could support a threaten the way we have always done
have started the M25 Initiative, a new county-wide Housing First model and business. Well, the way we have always
nonprofit with the sole goal to equip other initiatives that holistically address done it does not work and change is
and empower churches to address homelessness in our area. These not only needed, it is required. We
the problems facing our community: efforts would yield tangible results must change from a crime & poverty-
poverty, health, crime, education, and to taxpayers, as our current system is based economy to one that is based on
homelessness. M25 will provide the not equipped to tackle this growing innovation, success, and opportunity
financial resources to keep Code Blue problem. for each person.
going, while granting seed money to Housing First. All throughout the At our last meeting I was delighted
new innovative ideas of churches to nation, the practice called “Housing to announce a new Cumberland
help the poor and homeless. First” is being adopted with incredible County Housing First Collaborative
Homeless Trust Fund. Earlier, I admitted results. The idea is simple: the way to Joint Taskforce between numerous
to being a recovering government end homelessness is a home. Housing organizations: Gateway Community
bureaucrat. I got into government is a basic human right. Everyone Action Partnership, PRAC of Southern
because I do believe that government should have a place to call home. We New Jersey (formerly the Puerto
should be a place where we come need policies that keep people from Rican Action Committee of SNJ),
together to address the fundamental becoming homeless, and we need great CompleteCare, and Resources for
issues affecting our community. I effort to get people off of the streets. Independent Living. Nonprofits do
have been advocating for the Board Housing First can save approximately not generally work together because
of Chosen Freeholders to adopt a $10,000 per individual—who is they are often competing for the same
Homeless Trust Fund. This fund would chronically homeless—in Cumberland resources. However, the CEOs of these
generate approximately $75,000/year County, which equals $530,000/year! organizations have agreed that the
from a $3 fee charged when certain The premise is that you put people in issue of homelessness is too important
housing first, then you give them the to ignore and to big to solve on their
own. Together, these organizations

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will form a Joint Taskforce to design a announced in September, but I applaud not only by the will of the people, but
Housing First Collaborative Model for these leaders for demonstrating a upon certain inalienable rights of life,
Cumberland County that addresses tangible commitment to transforming liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
housing, healthcare, and social services Cumberland County. We, the people, have the power to
by redesigning the system, refocusing change the world. Margaret Mead
the funding, and realigning services to CONCLUSION said it best, “Never doubt that a
be less bureaucratic and more client- small group of thoughtful, committed
focused. I have also issued this charge Who am I to make this challenge? I am citizens can change the world; indeed,
to the Board of Social Services and to a citizen. Our nation is founded upon it’s the only thing that ever has.” Will
every nonprofit and government agency the principle that we are governed you join me in the challenge to end
in our area. More on this project will be homelessness by 2020?

To join the movement to end homelessness in Cumberland County go to: www.endhomelessness2020.com.
About the M25 Initiative- The M25 Initiative is a fundraising nonprofit for the purpose of fostering positive social change through local
churches and faith-based organizations in the Cumberland County area. M25 provides the community with a one-stop shop to support
grassroots initiatives designed to holistically address issues related to homelessness, hunger, poverty, health, and crime. To learn more, visit:
www.m25initiative.org

About Rev. Dr. Robin “Rob” Weinstein- Rev. Dr. Robin B. Weinstein is an altruistic, high-impact, positive
change agent, and thought leader who envisions integrated solutions for the ‘greater good’ across
community + society + education + the workplace through a 360-degree perspective. This holistic
viewpoint has fueled a remarkable career that has synergistically progressed on several fronts. Those who
know Robin would say he is an ‘out-of-the-box’ philosopher and stirring orator [with a dose of humor]
who is characterized by inspiring energy that makes everyone want to ACHIEVE, BECOME, and GIVE
more! He is a true believer in human potential and gifted at harnessing that latent power through all
of his personal and career endeavors. He believes in uniting people to achieve amazing things and this
conviction sustains the courage to tackle the most entrenched problems impeding the integration of faith,
reason, and justice, which leads to human ingenuity and growth.
Dr. Weinstein is the founding pastor of Bethany Grace Community Church in Bridgeton, NJ, Assistant
Professor/Chair of Human Resources in the College of Business of Wilmington University, President &
Founder of the M25 Initiative, and is one of the co-founders of the Code Blue Coalition in Cumberland
County. To learn more about Dr. Weinstein, visit: www.robinweinstein.org

Homelessness 2020 09

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and
Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated
by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can
be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” —Nelson Mandela

www.endhomelessness2020.com