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Teller8 t1_jbc0o4z wrote

they're all at the hoboken panera

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myKDRbro_ t1_jbethc4 wrote

Did they move them from the Popeyes on Bergen lol. That place was a homeless encampment shortly after COVID (maybe before, too?) for a bit.

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Nuplex t1_jbc1c7p wrote

No clue but here's some semi-logical guesses:

  1. JCPD, though they do very little, must have something to do with it. They may more often move people from a spot or do other things that make camping in any single spot difficult.
  2. Seems minor, but is major, PATH has its own police and unlike NYPD, they actually don't play around. They very actively kick homeless out away from stations. Since many homeless in NYC are near, in, and around the subway, this might be a significant reason there are just less here.
  3. Sub-point, this makes it difficult for NYC homeless to come over via PATH.
  4. Jersey City does not have as many conveniences for homeless as NYC. Less shelters, less 24-hour stores, less naive tourists.
  5. The culture of Jersey City makes begging and pan handling difficult. Perhaps we just give a lot less.
  6. Desnity + Median Income. All the boroughs are very dense with high population (4x to 10x higher than here) and have a much higher share of those in poverty and such than Jersey City (as a whole, not just Downtown). There are just literally less homeless here.
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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_jbdc7bj wrote

Excellent answer.

Only other thing I'd point out is something I think most of this thread is ignoring:

There's a difference between homeless and panhandler.

Homeless is someone who literally has no home. Identifiable by the fact they've basically got everything with them. The ones with a bunch of bags or shopping carts. Occupying the end of a subway car, or a whole bench surrounded by crap. Despite some of them looking like hoarders or offensive smells, that's hardly universal. Some look like tourists with a few suitcases. Groomed and everything.

There's also people who just panhandle. They might be on disability, social security, or live with family. They just need money for their vices. Gambling, alcohol, whatever. They generally will be dressed seasonably and not have belongings with them. They've got a place for them. They're just looking for spending money.

These are two distinct groups with different needs. NYC is especially more hospitable to panhandlers than NJ. Foot traffic and all. Much more tolerant, and much more opportunity.

I'd argue for most, NJ is slightly more hospitable to homeless. A ton of homeless people in NJ (and in much of the US) live in their car parking in places like Walmart, largely unnoticed. While hardly great, lets be honest it's safer than many shelters, and protects them from the elements. It also gives them some degree of privacy. I suspect that's the preferred route when possible in NJ for people who lose their home.

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joejoeaz t1_jbe49ik wrote

I'm in Journal square, and I see a lot of people who live in the neighborhood and sleep on the street. Those who live in their car are largely invisible to most of us, and I'll be honest, don't get a lot of my thoughts or attention. Thank you for mentioning those forgotten people, and for reminding us that people in dire need who aren't asking for money are still there, and still in dire need.

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Nuplex t1_jbdls2f wrote

Good point on the car living! That could definitely be part of it.

And yes the term homeless is quite broad. I'm sure most people are referring to a specific type but there isn't necessarily an appropriate term for it.

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hardo_chocolate t1_jbcjmsh wrote

Agree with your assessment. Two points:

  1. For a while, there were homeless by the JSQ PATH station where the city provided showers etc. That drove up the number of homeless, but what I have been told, these were visitors that came for food and shower (and Bombas socks) before returning to NYC.
  2. There are two or three homeless shelters in JC. That’s it.

HP has a regular contingent of homeless. Harmless. But, why do we have homelessness?

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Bsmooth13 t1_jbbztqu wrote

Probably less tourists to beg in JC.

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deaddabrain t1_jbcn0sm wrote

They hate off peak and weekend schedule PATH

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Neat-Cake4645 t1_jbbzr3l wrote

Not as many pan handling opportunities. But we certainly have less than Hoboken.

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MarieSkiis t1_jbbz2dr wrote

Shhhhhh, please don’t say this too loud, thanks.

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garth_meringue t1_jbc72uh wrote

It's go big or go home, and they ain't got no home, so...

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eyecee54377 t1_jbco384 wrote

I’m not sure how much time you spend by the journalnsquqre path or on the pedestrian walk way on Newark by jersey ave. quite a few there. Nothing like NYC but a good amount.

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airpoop t1_jbcp1se wrote

I’m guessing none of you live by the parks in Bergen-Lafayette

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Brudesandwich t1_jbce3qh wrote

There are definitely homeless people but there are places they can hide and just live. The ones we normally see out and about have some type of disability, the ones that don't stay out of view. I was homeless at one point in my life. Although it was many years ago I still see some people living in the places people used to frequent.

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Stillill1187 t1_jbc1dqx wrote

Not many places to panhandle. Even at places like the Tonnele Avenue circle it’s the same handful of unhoused people.

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possums101 t1_jbc08hz wrote

Not ideal for panhandling

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road2health t1_jbcia4q wrote

Are they no longer in journal square?

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FinalIntern8888 t1_jbfd2bu wrote

The fact that the plaza is now a construction site got rid of their hangout spot

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zero_cool_protege t1_jbcjgpc wrote

It is easier to be homeless in NY. More govt funded programs, soup kitchens, places to sleep, subways to panhandle in

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lizarny t1_jbcgjr8 wrote

The guy who camps under the overpass near the Bayonne border

The one who always wears overalls near the bowling alley

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Laraujo31 t1_jbcpbfg wrote

The overall guy was gone for a few weeks but i saw him yesterday morning. Supposedly they took the bench in front of walgreens and the cover over the bench in front of the diner away because of him.

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JCwhatimsayin t1_jbd0qex wrote

We've got a few along West Side Ave. There are a couple of sort of squat arrangements that allow them to retreat from the streets in ways that are less available in NYC, I think.

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RiseofParallax t1_jbef4ke wrote

We have them.

They’re along MLK drive and Communipaw / 440. The construction being done by the jsq path kicked all of those guys out.

Most are along MLK drive because they’re drug dependent though.

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lux-lp t1_jbeh1dr wrote

Soylent green 👀

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Connect_Choice_3042 t1_jbbzz48 wrote

At least not east of ocean ave anymore! They are there just not in your neighborhood

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BeMadTV t1_jbd772m wrote

When it gets warmer out maybe.

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BlackRiderCo t1_jbebrpn wrote

I see the same 5-6 people on a fairly regular basis, and there’s one large camp and one dudes tent that are slightly visible from the street. It’s not as bad as NYC, but they’re certainly present.

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laszlototh72 t1_jbi253u wrote

Come to Central Avenue 07307 during daylight hrs. Plenty of homeless - MI and CA - to satisfy your interest. Bring singles or wear red (protection from malocchio, which is what you’ll get if you refuse panhandle).

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lizarny t1_jbjekub wrote

Also the cars that park behind the Walmart in Bayonne .

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cominginmay t1_jbcbw9u wrote

There's one dude in the heights... He's the only one I've ever seen.

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Atuk-77 t1_jbc714l wrote

The best a town can do to end homeless is stop handling money, very difficult for cities with naive tourists like NYC.

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blueranger36 t1_jbctupt wrote

Because all of the LUXURY in the city they can no longer afford to be homeless here

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