By Lev D. Zilbermints
Drug addicts. Rape. Stabbings. Theft. Fraud. Freezing cold rooms. Spoiled or outdated food. Aggressive security taking out their issues on tenants. No police presence. Tenants being evicted without due process.
These are the alleged conditions at HELP Center, located at 224 Sussex Avenue, a homeless shelter that is known as “death trap” on the streets of Newark. Conditions at Urban Renewal shelter, as it is officially called, are so bad that homeless people would rather sleep in the streets than go there. Multiple sources, both online and interviewed, have said that the shelter needs to be overhauled.
Safety concerns, violation of privacy, favoritism and more
On January 27, 2021 rlsmedia.com reported that a stabbing at 224 Sussex Avenue was under investigation. According to the article, one person was taken into custody and charged with assault after a stabbing incident, which occurred at 12:25 a.m. that day. The article goes on to say that “EMS treated the victim while police took the suspects into custody at that location. According to preliminary reports, a firearm was recovered on the second floor of the shelter, but no other victims were injured in the incident.”
According to a February 14, 2021 post on yelp.com by a user only known as Labradorite L, “There is something about Mary… and her twin sister on the 5th floor, they have all the perks! The best food, blankets, pajamas, shoes, socks, slippers, coats, and clothing. Nice room with separate bathroom.”
“Is Mary stealing donations? Is Mary a homeless shelter resident or a paid staff that just happens to live there? How does Mary have access to the other residents’ confidential files and medical history? Is Mary gossiping about other residents? Something is very fishy and unlawful about these 2 fat old hags. Besides that, the shelter is horrific in every way. May the curses of Allah fall upon this corrupt establishment and everyone who works there.”
Many other residents have also spoken out against the facility, but all of the claims could not be substantiated as of press time.
Location of shelter, Ownership and operation
Located at 224 Sussex Avenue in Newark, the shelter called H.E.L.P Center, is operated by Urban Renewal. The headquarters of Urban Renewal Corporation is located at Kearny, New Jersey. Their website, urbanrenewal.org, has not had updated news since December 2015.
According to the website, Urban Renewal has 600 beds in 6 housing facilities for emergency housing.
According to urbanrenewal.org, “URC is a community-based non-profit organization that has provided a variety of services to vulnerable populations in New Jersey for over two decades. … Our goal is to help people move from homelessness, substance abuse, dependency and public assistance into permanent employment and stable housing. We serve approximately 2,000 economically disadvantaged individuals/families per year and have provided comprehensive services to over 100,000 individuals since we were founded in 1994. URC continues to serve a diverse adult population ranging in ages 18-80.”
In 2018, TapInto.net reported that at least 336 people used the shelter between December 2017 – July 2018. In July 2018, at least 238 people used the shelter at least once a month, TapInto.net reported.
The shelter opened in December 2017. United Airlines, PSEG, Prudential/NJ Devils, RWJBarnabas Health and University Hospital donated money to keep the shelter open. The money was donated directly to Newark Community Economic Development Center or another entity that paid the shelter’s cost. As per the law NEDC, a non-profit organization, is not affiliated with the city of Newark.
Services offered
According to intherooms.com, Urban Renewal Corp. Sussex House offers substance abuse treatment services; partial hospitalization/day treatment; helps persons with HIV/AIDS and persons with co-occurring mental and substance disorders; pregnant/postpartum women; women; DUI/DWI offenders; assistance for hearing impaired; seniors/older adults; and assistance to recovery voucher.
According to clustrmaps.com, 224 Sussex Avenue is divided into separate units where residents live. A sampling showed 15 people ranging in age between 31 to 83. Of these, only two were in their 30s; the rest were in their 50s, 60s and 80s. Almost every tenant had a phone number. Rent for a unit is $1430 per month. This is less than $1643 a month for two bedrooms in Essex County, according to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Information about the building and the shelter, 1940 – present
Information found about the building raises more questions than answers. Apparently, the previous owners tried to sell 224 Sussex Avenue. According to loopnet.com, the building was built in 1940. The building has +/- 61,680 square feet. There are five floors. The first floor has +/- 14,064 square feet, second through fifth floors have +/- 11,904 square feet. Land assessment in 2017 was $362,000; improvements assessment, $1,388,900. Total amounted to $1,751,000. Taxes in 2017 were $60,234.40. NOI was $540,200. In 2020, according to njparcels.com, taxes were $65,855.11.
There are 50 parking spaces by 224 Sussex Avenue. The building has an R-6 zoning as a multifamily unit. IN 2017, the building was fully leased to GEO Group and T-Mobile (tower). The current owners are Sussex Avenue Urban Renewal Corp. based at 555 Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell, New Jersey.
How are the current owners paying for the upkeep and other necessities? If the building is a shelter, how do the tenants pay the $1430 monthly rent?
According to a July 28, 2018 nj.com article, updated Jan. 30, 2019, at least 25 residents had jobs in construction after passing a drug test. The salary of $22 per hour would qualify these individuals for Section 8 housing.
Munirah El Bomani, a community activist, told “Local Talk” that previously tenants had jobs. “Not sure about now. I know a few that have jobs,” El Bomani said via text message.
Former employee speaks out, alleges fraud and theft by management
According to an anonymous former employee whose post on indeed.com is dated January 2, 2019, working at Urban Renewal Homeless shelter at 224 Sussex Avenue was challenging. Using the nickname “Non-Applicable,” the former employee gave the following description.
“I begin work at 7:00 a.m. I met with the adolescent to review their progress with obtaining their GED. I met with clients that were positive for HIV. I set up doctor appointments, assist[ed] with obtaining medication, submitted Ryan White reports each month. I learned how to meet the needs for a client that had a chronic illness. I completed intake with new clients. I facilitated Health, education, Risk, Reduction Groups (HERR). The hardest part of the job was dealing with the manager who was (accused of) stealing money from the clients.
The most enjoyable part of the job was helping the client get their needs met with medical, medication, housing and education.”
According to the former employee, he “enjoyed working with adolescents and chronic illness clients.”
There were several earlier reviews dated 2013-2016. Two were four stars, one five stars, and the last one, one star. It went downhill once management changed in 2017.
The shelter closed in September 2018 but reopened after private donors donated funds to keep it open. At that point, the shelter had 194 residents.
Community Activists speak out
In her email, Munirah El Bomani, a community activist, wrote in part, “in Newark, all shelters are full capacity except the horrible one at 224 Sussex Avenue where the homeless don’t want to go because they are treated worse than animals.”
Sources have told “Local Talk” that bad food is an issue that needs to be addressed by the federal health departments.
In a text message interview, Munirah El Bomani said that H.E.L.P Center / Urban Renewal at 224 Sussex Avenue had major problems. “Staff unprofessional. Food horrible. Freezing cold. Drug haven. Crime being swept under the rug, worse than the Lincoln Motel,” El Bomani wrote.
No Comparison to Lincoln Motel
Before its demolition in October 2007, there existed a shelter called Lincoln Motel. It was located opposite Newark Broad Street train station. According to an October 8, 2007 New York Times article, the motel was owned by Miles Berger, a Jewish businessman who purchased it in 1976. Previously, an abandoned Holiday Inn hotel, the building was renamed in honor of President Lincoln who stopped in Newark in 1861 on his way to the inauguration. According to the article, in the 1980s, Mr. Berger turned the motel’s 200 rooms into a haven for welfare recipients. Berger received about $1000 a month per person.
Crime, drugs and prostitution were rife at the Lincoln Motel, states the 2007 New York Times article. Police arrests “were so common that a motel floor plan graced the well of the public defender’s office to assist lawyers juggling cases.” With all of its problems, the old Lincoln Motel could not be compared to the infamous H.E.L.P. shelter at 224 Sussex Avenue.
At the Lincoln Motel, residents slept in regular beds, not mattresses. Rooms were warm. Police was a phone call away, there being a police presence at nearby Broad Street train station. No one tried to evict tenants without due process, defraud them, or serve bad and spoiled food.
Debra Salters, another community activist, told “Local Talk” via telephone, “I met people who slept in a park rather than be at that shelter.”
