CSPNJ shows only the tip of the iceberg, and that's by design. *Homeless, *released prisoners, *drug addicts, *alcoholics ,are also in the scope of their services and receive their hand-outs statewide, in the surrounding areas where CSPNJ operates at over 20 locations, at least one in every county, listing On Our Own as one of two Bergen CSPNJ locations. I would not doubt that there are also verbal recommendations from the other CSPNJ centers to visit Hackensack because all the County and Private services in Hackensack; which are growing and located within walking distance to each other.
SAMSHA guidelines allows the pre-mentioned [ * above by asterik] to be classified as in the service scope of mentally ill. ON Our Own also operates a school, and real estate housing operation under a different company using the same officers. One local realtor admits that he has recieved more than a few calls from CSPNJ, and family members asking for apartments, and rooms in Hackensack. I have posted the application and the applicant does not have to have a history of treatment. That is to find local housing in group homes (Regular apartments) so that the homeless shelter can free up more space for homeless coming from other counties. Bergen County is under pressure to to take homeless from other counties because it is more populated and have a richer median salary base. On Our Own has multiple purposes and this is the way the state will work with private sector to take the pressure of of Passaic, Hudson, and Camden counties.
Mental illness or developmental disability is not a prerequisite to have CSPNJ' sister company them find an apartment. There is a percentage of developmentally disabled that "On our Own" SERVES. Their drop-in clients, and regular members do not have to be developmentally disabled technically, or not limited to psychiatric problems or have a history or treatment to receive services. While a reasonable amount of regular members are developmentally disabled or suffer from psychiatric problems, CSPNJ reaches out to drug treatment centers, by way .
CSPNJ encourages people from all over the state to drop-in to "On Our Own" and prospective members may do that more than once and often instead of register hang around outside, smoking, drinking, or go for walks and panhandle. Registered members do not have to use their real name, and for certain they do not have to discuss their criminal or medical history with CSPNJ. That is what is frightening because Members SHOULD be certified medically by a State bd Certified Psychiatrist, before they are integrated into a community with so many children, and criminal records for all applicants Must be issued to Hackensack PD and Bergen County Police before CSPNJ is allowed to operate in Hackensack. But that will not change the fact, that the working class people of the South Ward will move out at a faster rate, leaving Hackensack to be populated by welfare families.
Who the "Homeless" or "Mentalli Ill" are; who can be termed Mentally Ill; and who CSPNJ serves, is a question of semantics, and evolving needs, as well as what SAMSHA defines as the broad scope of mental illness. Our group will be sending representatives to the Bergen County Freeholders Meetings; to address this issue of public and private social services, and their impact on Hackensack; and, demand the creation of a citizen-based representative task force to address these issues consisting of resident voters and community, and religious leaders; not restricted to South Ward residents only.
We have already introduced ideas for draft legislation to allow for more strict and defined zoning and planning laws in the City of Hackensack to require that private help centers, who work independantly, or collaborate with such agencies public or private should abide by a standard set of ruiles and guidlines, by cooperating with local law enforcement and medical clinics approved by a government agency. And, we intend to work with Hackensack City on protecting the economic recovery for Hackensack in this way. And; We The People, do not want a war with anyone, but we are willing and able to fight for our property rights as renters, owners, and will do anything and everything it takes to ensure the safety of our children.
While the need for privatization may help with government spending, I also do not see it in this case. The Honorable Kathleen Donovan will need to prove this on paper for her re-election. CSPNJ in my opinion is a far cry from saving the taxpayers or offering a viable alternative to existing services. The county needs to work more efficiently by making their existing county services and agencies work efficiently, and stop pretending to save New Jersey tax dollars where the grants and funding for private programs like CSPNJ that use a back door funding to exist, via New Jersey Taxpayers.
cc: The Honorable Kathleen Donovan
cc: North Jersey Tea Party