And as temperatures drop and more homeless people head to one of the county's three shelters, there may be an even greater need for help.
For this winter, Union City Mayor Brian Stack said that police will go out of their way to offer assistance to those living in makeshift shacks on the Palisade hills in his town (see sidebar).
Higher heating costs will also force low-income people to stretch their dollars further this winter, although there is a statewide program to help needy people pay.
PERC shelter in Union City Jeff Brunner, the executive director of the Palisade Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) homeless shelter in Union City, said more people are visiting for food or shelter.
"We've seen a huge increase in need," Brunner said last week. "And it's not the stereotype vagrant, single man that people tend to think of when they think about people who use emergency food services. We're seeing a more diverse range of clients: single mothers with children, families, people who work and have jobs but who aren't always able to feed themselves."
The rise in food bank usage statewide is largely coming from families, single parents, and the elderly, according to advocates for the poor.
Brunner said the number of donations to PERC are down from last year.
The situation is similar in Secaucus' food pantry for the poor, and at the Hoboken Homeless Shelter in that town.
"Many of the people who donate to us are just regular people who will, let's say, buy a carton of orange juice and a pack of napkins for their own family, and pick up a carton of juice and some napkins for the shelter," said Jaclyn Cherubini, director of the Hoboken Shelter. "But if they're having difficulty buying staples for themselves, they're less likely to pick up those extra items for us."
Cherubini's service offers shelter to 50 men and women each night and provides 200 meals every day. She said she has seen a noticeable increase in the number of elderly single women seeking emergency food.
Brunner and Cherubini all said that so far, they've been able to stretch the food they have to meet the rising need.
But some area residents are heading out of town to get help. People in North Bergen have reportedly been taking the bus or walking across the Hudson County border to the Church of Epiphany in Cliffside Park to use the food pantry there, according to an article in the Record.
Turning people away But at least one emergency food director in Jersey City who did not want to be named said that he has had to turn people away and has significantly cut back on the amount of food given to needy people.
And others fear the worst is yet to come.
"You generally see more of a need [for emergency food] in the winter," Brunner said, "because in this area we have a lot of seasonal workers who are employed and earn money during the warmer months. But then they get laid off when it gets cold."
He added that food donations also typically increase during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons, but this year, "I'm not sure how much we'll be able to rely on the seasonal donations we would normally see at this time of the year...This could be a very rough winter."
Heat help for more people On the bright side, some families in Hudson County could get up to $3,000 as a result of changes to the state's Weatherization program requirements. Legislative changes will increase the benefits levels and the range of incomes allowed to qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
LIHEAP is designed to help low-income families and individuals meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs. This year, the application period is Nov. 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008. To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the applicant household must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent, and have gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level. Persons who live in public housing and/or receive rental assistance are not eligible unless they pay for their own heating/cooling costs directly to the fuel supplier.
The maximum amount a household can receive in a season has risen from $2,000 to $3,000. For more information, contact your town's department of human services or a local social service agency.
How to donate to local pantries and shelters Secaucus: To donate to the Secaucus Emergency Food Pantry, call Lisa Snedeker at (201) 330-2014. The pantry needs nonperishable items.
Hoboken: To donate to the Hoboken Shelter, call Jaclyn Cherubini at (201) 656-2400. The shelter needs food - both perishable and nonperishable - as well as kitchen supplies and toiletries.
Union City: To donate to the Palisade Emergency Residence Corporation, call Jeff Brunner at (201) 348-0341.
Also, a West New York martial arts school is offering a free or week or month of classes for those who donate food to PERC. Comments on this story can be sent to awright@hudsonreporter.com. UC will deal with homeless on the hills Union City Mayor Brian Stack said last week that he is seeking more support for the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) homeless shelter in Union City. He said that he wrote a letter to other mayors in the county asking them for help, or for the opportunity to discuss opening a shelter that could serve the entire county.
"I really haven't gotten much of a response back," said Stack. "I am hoping to meet with all the mayors in the county over the next couple of weeks on funding issues that we all face with the state budget, and at that meeting, I would like to bring it up again."
According to the most recent count, Hudson County has more than 1,000 homeless people living in public shelters or on the streets.
Several dozen are estimated to live in encampments on the Palisade hills between Union City and Hoboken.
Several years ago, Stack considered padlocking their shacks before winter so that the denizens would get into proper shelter. However, he ended up changing his mind.
Stack said that local police often offer to take homeless individuals living on the Palisades to a shelter, but sometimes the homeless refuse to go. He also said that in the past, he was able to find permanent apartments for some of those who wished to leave the hills.
"In fact, some of them became part-time sweepers in the city, got jobs on their own in factories," said Stack. "We help them with the first month's rent, furniture." He added that the city also helps them get utilities running.
"There are several who are now productive members of society," said Stack.
For those who wish to stay no matter what the weather, the mayor and police have decided that when the temperature drops below a certain point, the police will offer to take the homeless to a shelter.
"We do have a plan in place for what we consider to be severe weather," said Union City Police Chief Charles Everett. "That is when it is most needed."
He said that police will help the homeless find shelter locally, and if local shelters are full, then in a nearby town.
"We are going to help them get into any shelter that is available," said Everett.
He said that the exact temperature that requires police action has not been finalized, but police will probably check on the homeless in any severe weather.
"This was not brought about by one instance," said Everett. "This is a repeat problem for us. There have been times when the weather has gotten so cold that as a natural response, you realize you have to do something about the homeless."
He said that people who are interested in helping with transportation or additional shelter should call the Union City Police Department at (201) 348-5780.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 39 percent of homeless people have some form of mental health problem, and 20 to 25 percent meet the criteria for serious mental illnesses. Sixty six percent report substance use and/or mental health problems. Three percent report AIDS or HIV. Twenty-six percent report acute health problems other than HIV/AIDS such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, or sexually transmitted diseases. Forty-six percent report chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer. - Amanda Staab
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