During a recent government meeting, officials discussed pressing concerns regarding cold weather shelter provisions for the upcoming winter. The dialogue highlighted the absence of allocated funds in the current budget for cold weather shelters, with past funding sourced from the affordable housing fund proving insufficient.

Council members expressed alarm over last winter's incidents at the Gateway Church shelter in Paulsboro, where volunteers faced assaults from some individuals utilizing the facility. This prompted a call for a collaborative approach to ensure safety and adequate shelter for vulnerable residents. The mayor indicated that while a cold weather shelter might not be feasible, a potential solution could involve utilizing space at the recovery center from 5 PM to 8 PM on activation nights. During this time, individuals could wait for a county-funded van to transport them to nearby shelters.

Council members emphasized the need for a structured discussion on this issue, advocating for the inclusion of the topic in future council agendas. Concerns about volunteer safety and the adequacy of staffing at the recovery center were also raised, with suggestions for trained staff to manage the situation rather than relying on untrained volunteers.

The meeting underscored the urgency of addressing cold weather shelter needs as winter approaches, with officials committed to finding a viable solution to prevent residents from facing the dangers of freezing temperatures.