8/8/16 Caucus Meeting
PERTH AMBOY – Dave Benyola came forward to give a presentation as requested by Business Administrator Adam Cruz.
Some of the stats presented by Benyola was a recent study by Middlesex County. Benyola said, “There are 836 sheltered homeless and 1442 homeless on the streets. Of this number (Middlesex County), 5% of them are in Perth Amboy.”
Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez came forward to add to the discussion. “Every Municipality which has at least 10 homeless has to have a Code Blue Program. It’s between us (Perth Amboy) and New Brunswick.”
Councilman Fernando Irizarry asked, “Can the County transfer homeless to other cities?”
“Only Perth Amboy and New Brunswick are Code Blue Municipalities.”
Irizarry came back and stated, “This is my opinion. Other cities don’t have the Code Blue so they don’t have to take responsibility for their homeless.”
Falcon-Lopez continued the discussion, stating, “Other Municipalities were called into the Freeholder’s Meeting about the homeless. We (Perth Amboy) have parameters set based on temperatures and other Municipalities will have to establish Code Blue Parameters.”
This prompted Councilman William Petrick to ask, “What happens after the Code Blue is called off? Do these other Municipalities have responsibilities when they send their residents here?”
Falcon-Lopez responded, “No, they don’t, but we try to help the homeless with intake programs that we have set in place. These help them with job placements or trying to find permanent shelter.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez wanted to know, “Can we get Code Blue parameters established?”
Falcon-Lopez said, “It was not mandatory before, but now the government mandates that Code Blue be established.”
Benyola came back and stated, “My office is working with the Office of Emergency Management and we’re trying to set up a meeting with the County and other Municipalities regarding Code Blue Parameters.”