"Homeless" in Hackensack as elsewhere in the nation, is a stigmatic term that has often inaccurately described individuals with drug addiction, and varying degrees of mental illness, which, often culminates into a visible condition on the streets of cites characterized by vagrancy, panhandling, trespassing, public drinking and intoxication, and often crime. In the case of the City of Hackensack, homeowners, business owners and even office workers and their visitors and clients, have been subjected to an uncomfortable, and arguably 'damaging' degree of "Homeless" activity.
Many have pointed to the County of Bergen for providing services which attract homeless in numbers and ways that surface as behavioral problems surfacing as conditions that create a negative perception of a city; leading further to a sharper economic downfall than would normally be the result of joblessness, social dysfunction, and administrative incompetence. .
This thread shall hope to expose and/or present factual information, and opinion which points to a solution, which, not only will show a path of possible managerial enlightenment to help place this city on a positive track to economic recovery; but, also substance and information that will address and propose solutions to providing support to the homeless (and the economic health of Hackensack) that will actually help, by exposing those who would use government funds to provide their own salaries. And saving tax payers in the city and county, and state millions of dollars.
Here are two news aticles which reference the application:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/125468753_Mental_health_center_seeks_OK_to_relocate.html and
http://www.northjersey.com/news/071411_Hackensack_seeks_more_info_in_relocation_of_self-help_center.html