Police, Salvation Army Reach Out To The Homeless In Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ — Reaching out to those who lack secure housing in town is especially important now that cold weather has arrived.

And members of the Red Bank Police Department, along with representatives of the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County and the Salvation Army, recently met with homeless members of the community to provide outreach, police said.

The department gave homeless citizens information on health support services and referred them to other local mainstream services, police noted in a recent post on the department Facebook site.

And the Salvation Army underscored the need for outreach to make sure those who are not faring well are aware of services that can help them this winter.

"There are always persons in unknown circumstances who need help," said Envoy Felipe Concha, administrator of the Salvation Army in Red Bank.

He said police and organizations such as his are not there to question the status of people, but to be helpful members of the community to check that people know how, at the very least, to stay warm this winter.

With the colder weather earlier this week, Monmouth County went into Code Blue, when temperatures dip below freezing, Concha said.

Concha said people can call 211, a central county resource, to find warming centers. They can also call the Salvation Army, which can also help locate sources. The Salvation Army number is 732-747-1626, and callers can wait for the operator who can take their information. He said if people leave a message, they will get a call back.

Concha said, for example, Pilgrim Baptist Church on Shrewsbury Avenue is a warming center for men. Other places are available in other areas, too.

Capt. Michael Frazee of the borough Police Department said this is the second year the department conducted this outreach.

"It's beginning to grow and seems to be very successful," he said.

He added that, "Unfortunately, the homeless population has increased in Red Bank over the years."

Many of the homeless come to Red Bank even if they do not have a particular connection to the town because of the services made available by outside organizations like JBJ Soul Kitchen (203 Monmouth Street), Lunch Break (121 W. Bergen Place) and the warming shelter at the Pilgrim Baptist Church, he added.

"All are great organizations and do a lot to help them try to succeed. Mental health issues play a huge part in most of the homeless and we do our best to make resources available to assist them," Frazee said.

The informal "walk through" earlier this week was a way to connect police to the members of the community facing homelessness and the added stress of bad weather.

The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County joined the walk-through to advise people of help that is available for them in that area also, Concha said.

A Salvation Army truck was there to offer coffee and hot chocolate and pastries to people in need, he added.

"Our outreach detail helps bridge the gap between the police and the homeless and lets them know we are here to help them," Frazee said.