I agree with the person who made the comment about putting the homeless into the empty motel rooms. Good idea.

Really? Why should hotel owners do this?

Ocean Ride...cant even get people to doctors and dialysis.... I agree with housing/help if it can be figured out

Yes by all means lets use WELFARE! Thats the answer to everything. Ugh

These people are living in a tent because they washed out of the programs that will put them in a motel. They need to do a few minor, simple things to get placed. If not or if they screw it up after they are in then they lose the room.

We bailout banks, investment bankers, car manufacturers, send foreign aid..to countries that hate us, spend more money on one prisoner than some of us make in a year, but to help our people who need assistance in this great country,they are humiliated. Do you really think people like living in the woods? Some of you should drive over and speak to these people, some fought for your free speech!

The Judge should be locked up in a Nut House for allowing the bums to squat on other people's property.

Listen these people kno exactly what to do they've done it and never followed through or are too high to do it I ran into someone who says they like it there hell leave when he wants. I don't drop shit off at goodwill they get enough I drop it at opening of T.C. to make some of em happy that are stuck there cause there "partner" is there.

I love it when all you do-gooders have to blame someone for these people living in this tent city, very few of them slipped through the cracks of the system most of them like living in tents right where they are, I know county officials who have been in that tent city offering help to these people and have been turned away! There is help for these people most of them don’t want it! As for the slim that attacked the man and women they are lower than low and should be dealt with accordingly!

but I thought the USA was utopia since obama is dictator, all hail

My friend is a cop in Lakewood. These people don't want help. Most are drug addicts. If you have enough money for crack then you have the means to change your situation.

And so why only a few lines and no other info when a person murdered and another attempted? because they dont count as much as working individuals with a home? You can bet if it was a working citizen that was a victim, there would be alot more coverage.

I agree with Lee lee they do not deserve to be stabbed to death. just leave them alone

But should buy them beer for New Years !!!

M22 u are absolutly right. . Those ppl are mostly druggies. If they can't be clean of drugs that's where they should be. They are outcasts

What about some beers for New Years ?

Knives kill. They should be banned! This would not have happened if we had the proper laws in place. Deranged people should not have access to knives. Think about the children!

Dear God even the news at a local level is so depressing. In scanning the Patch tonight it is apparent what a mixed up shook up world we habitate. I can't even begin to imagine trying to live in a tent in this weather. God help those people. God help us all.

These people are not homeless. If so then what is section 8 housing and welfare about in addition to the other social programs that would take days to list here.

These people are mentally ill, or substance abusers, or Megan's List Offenders living off the radar. No one would choose to live like this over getting goverment assistance and crappy job so you could have a real home to live in. Yet this church guy does everything in his power to facilitate this and put the public at risk.

These people should be evaluated and have a mental health screening done on all of them even if it means doing it by force. Then treated and stabilized to function like normal humans. Otherwise who knows what they are capable of.

Everytime you walk past a homeless guy on the street you are ignoring mental illness. When you ignore mental illness as a society, as we do, you allow a breeding ground for violence as we have seen recently in Conn. and Rochester.

The mentally ill have too many rights and protections that allow them to remain in a dangerous state of mind for the rest of us to be victimized by.

We should euthanize anyone criminally insane, and steralize others so they cannot pass down the gene of mental illness.

Just heard on the news that there was a fire in Tent City last night.

Is living in the woods normal or even goo for anyone..what exactly do I need to know about this or "educate" myself about.

This is the USA, not some refugee relief camp in the middle east. You should all be ashamed for allowing people to live like this or helping them to do it.

This is a hazzard and a burden to our first responders and the community as well as the mentally ill living like this.

Evict them all. They pose a hazzard to their own safety and ours. "Rev" Steve should drive them over to the shelter in AC. Then be done with it.

Notice the there tents are getting closer to the road, that's a show of... We're here weither you like it or not. Thumbing their nose at society.

Bring them a keg for New Years oh yeah!!!!

What does Jose showing off his Squirrel Steak BBQ'n skills have to do with this story, BTW anyone check that guys immigration status

Toms River is building new animal shelter, people shelter? No. Using motels is winter only fix plus the neighbors would cry not in our town just like every time. Like their current neighbors are drug free, yeah right. Ocean County needs permanent solution for people, let the dogs and cats roam the woods. Also just like in these posts the hints of racesim are amazing dealing with this problem. Lakewood is far from the only town to have this TR has many but it is the "seen" one.

Most of these people do not have to have to be there. There are programs. I have 32+ years as a social worker working in the streets. Most of that time was with this population in this area. I've had thousands of homeless cases.
They have to apply for general assistance [GA]. If they have no income they will be eligible. They will receive $140/mo. if employable or $210/mo. if unemployable. They get food stamps and medicaid. I know that is not much money, BUT, if they are eligible for GA and homeless then they can get emergency assistance [EA]. This is placement in a rooming house or a motel at about $1,500/mo. The "catch"? They have to meet with a social worker to discover why they are homeless and come up with a service plan to deal with the issues that caused their homelessness. Most of the time their problem is either alcohol abuse, drug addiction or a mental health issue. There are programs that help with these issues. The program will pick them up in the a.m., feed them lunch and return them to their room in the p.m. They might have to do that 3,4 or 5 times a week. I always told them "this your job. We will pay for your housing."

They also have to obey the "house rules"of where they are placed. The manager should not have to call the cops or tell them to behave. This room is for them only. No friends staying over. No sub letting, etc. If they screw up their service plan or get thrown out of the motel we can terminate them from the program but we don't. They'll get another chance, maybe a third. But at some point we have to say they are not motivated to change and they are cut lose.

I've had many clients not even try. They'd rather pass on the help and not be bothered by workers trying to help them. People like Rev. Steve don't help. He makes it too easy for them to stay at his tent city. They have a place to sleep, hot shower, food, etc. And they don't have to listen to social workers telling them to go to programs, stop drinking, etc.

I agree with the person that stated that the mentally ill should not be ignored. If only the relatives of the shooter in Conn had gotten hime help instead of ignoring the problem. I don't think the people of tent city need more housing, they need to be placed in rehab, mental isntitutions or even jail. Living in the woods is not normal, and we are placing the rest of society in danger. We are also beingunfair to the resients of tent city, who depend on us to make the best decisions for their welfare since they are not capable themselves.

there are bad people there but a hand full of people who arent bad i know of one such woman there that causes no harm to any one and stays buy her self but she is sickley with blod clots a nd will not take a welfare hand out so think again people dont pushinet all ths peoplke who there help them if 1 family would take one in that is a good perso there would be no need for tent city t y