The closing of a Newark shelter has forced a group of homeless residents to sleep in the park across the street.

The residents and Newark police officers got into a brief confrontation Monday morning as officers forced open the gates to the park where they had been sleeping.

The shelter, located at 224 Sussex Ave., opened last winter as a warming center, but had to close Saturday due to a lack of funding.

Those who stayed in the shelter say that they want action from city officials to help find them appropriate housing.

“I'm not leaving the park, I don't care if we have to tent it out until somebody places these people permanently,” says Commonunity First founder Queen Tatari. “We are tired of [city officials] placing them when they feel like it or when they want to get elected."

A spokesperson for the city says that officials are working to relocate the 194 people who were staying at the shelter. They say that some have already been placed in other shelters.