HOMELESS SHELTER — Local services in Hackensack

At first they seem nice and helpful and accommodating, then it all changes. I need back surgery, can barely walk with my cane, am Type 2 diabetic, with severe diabetic neuropathy, partial use of my left arm and now my lower extremities are so swollen from the poor accommodations. They have given beds to people that came in after me that weren't on the waiting list and aren't nearly as injured and ill as I am. There are people that get away with illegal activities on the premises with no consequences what so ever. I had one verbal argument with someone over a chair one of the employees said was for me because of my condition, which by the way is the ONLY reason I argued about it. Now, they took me off Seasonal and took me off the list for a bed. No warning or explanation provided, but people who are constantly breaking the rules, doing drugs and vaping in the building just get warnings. I heard one employee tell one person 3 times if she caught him vaping in the building one more time he's out. That's just 3 times I heard. A guy got caught smoking marijuana in the bathroom and just got a warning. This is subhuman treatment treatment and they pick and choose who and how to treat them. I hope the county steps in and straighten out this mess of a system and gets some professional people with compassion and empathy to work there instead of the fake ones that are there. The food is also subpar for breakfast and lunch and usually cold and at least parts of it are inedible. Being diabetic and 2 usually unedible meals, my blood sugar drops down low and they won't allow me to have a snack. I've been standing and leaning over a table since 8 AM because the will only gave me one blanket and they took the 2 pillows from me that I had and I cannot sit on a flexible backed, hard plastic chair without the cushioning due to the seriousness of my injury. Some of the staff are unprofessional, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing and none of them are ever on the same page, the rules change by shift around. It's like being kicked when you're down and at your most vulnerable state. Very disappointing and...

This place is discriminatory the way it is set up to make only the really motivated that do not know of other places stay there the county is one of the richest in America literally, and they can do much better than have people sleeping at tables for weeks to wait for a bed opening in a dorm till you are placed in a room... I left for for a place Wich I immediately was placed in a room with a bed and there are more resources in other counties to get you on track to fix your current situation, I was in Bergen shelter when it was on kanas st Wich was more accepting also was in the new Bergen shelter 10 years ago when it was a lot easier to get to a bed rather then sleep in a chair,,,, other counties have better faster process and yes this guy under me his comment it is somewhat true though things are allot different 10 years later and for the funding they receive they should/could do better they have old people sleeping in chairs that I do not understand considering counties that are under funded do better I was grateful for the chair and roof though I could barely walk my back hurt so much from that plastic chair as a lifetime N.J. resident it's sad to know that the county you mostly grew up in can not place people on the floor in a cot or mat or even the floor Paterson Newark Hudson are doing more and better for the people in need...

Unbelievable what deceit and trickery is represented by the staff at this shelter. I walked in after 211 referral and intake personnel spoke to me for a few minutes and left me waiting in the reception area believing I would be interviewed @ 1 PM. After evening. Intake personnel left maybe thru a back door without speaking to me. I'm told to return on Saturday for an interview with Intake. I called later in the evening and found out that on weekends everything shuts down. Can't imagine an interview on a weekend. So I got to understand there's a Wait list, but don't know if it's only male beds.......