Many communities throughout
New Jersey have enacted Code Blue protocols as temperatures drop to dangerous
levels.
There is no escape from the cold
temperatures for some and conditions can become dangerous quickly.
In New Jersey, there is nearly 8,900 people
experiencing homeless on any given day, according to the state’s Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
“When you’re in a position of being homeless or there’s no heat in the home,
you don’t know when you’re going to be warm and that’s a dangerous situation to
be in mentally and physically,” says Director of Essex County Senior Services
Maurice Brown.
Code Blue establishes a network of agencies like police and social service organizations
springing into action to provide transportation, shelter or warming centers to
those in need during the coldest times of the year.
There are four shelters in Essex County, but during the pandemic, being cold is
only a portion of the concern.
“As the participants are coming into the shelter taking our temperatures, they
are also providing rapid testing to get a COVID status before they are entered
into the shelter,” says Essex County Director of Community Action Terrence
McCoy.
The pandemic has left many with nowhere to go but community leaders hope to
receive more referrals helping to keep people safe and alive.
Anyone in need of assistance can call 211.