Newark Hope Village, an innovative sheltering program that uses shipping containers to house residents at-risk or without addresses. Monday, March 8, 2021. Newark, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Newark Homelessness Czar Sakinah Hoyte held back tears as she unvield a lot filled with seven converted shipping containers to house 24 residents without addresses for a 90-day pilot program.

“We have been able to do what felt like the impossible in establishing a beautiful, dignified, safe sleeping village rooted in love for our most vulnerable residents,” said Hoyte on Monday as she and other officials announced the opening of the site.

The city-owned lot on Newark Street has sat vacant for years, but on Monday it was dubbed Newark Hope Village. City officials hope it will serve as a springboard for some of the most at-risk people identified by the city to go from being the most likely to die from homelessness to securing permanent housing.

Homelessness Czar Sakinah Hoyte talks about the new village that will house people who are homeless in converted shipping containers. Monday, March 8, 2021. Newark, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

“[This is] part of a larger plan to rid the City of Newark of folks who have to live in the streets because there’s no place for them to go,” said Mayor Ras Baraka, “because the shelters may not be safe or adequate or because they really feel like they don’t want to be in these places. This is why this becomes very important today.”

The facility consists of seven shipping containers with 20 dorm-style rooms that feature a bunk bed, a heater and a small dresser. Two structures on site have shower rooms.

The site has the capability to house up to 40 people since there are bunk beds in each room. The shelter will also be used for those displaced by fires or flooding. Some space will also be allocated for those in need of shelter during cold weather Code Blue Alerts.

There will be separate containers with a full bathroom at Newark Hope Village. Monday, March 8, 2021. Newark, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Residents at the village will receive vouchers from the Newark Housing Authority once their stay is complete so they can secure permanent housing, city officials said. The site will also remain after the pilot program ends, but more funding will be needed to keep it running.

The project cost $900,000 and was paid with federal CARES Act funds, Cold Blue grants and city dollars, Newark officials said. The pandemic has made shelters with individual rooms more necessary, and the city has used federal grant dollars to place hundreds in hotels to stop the spread of the virus.

Beds have also decreased at traditional shelters during the pandemic, which is due in part to extreme cold weather this winter and economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus.

Mayor Ras J. Baraka talks about how the village will help the homeless community. Monday, March 8, 2021. Newark, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Newark Hope Village was designed by a California-based nonprofit called Homes 4 the Homeless and built to code with Custom Containers 915, a company out of Texas. Homes 4 the Homeless Vice President Mike Loganbill said he and his team spent a month in Newark to build the project, which saw numerous slow-downs due to snowy weather and the coronavirus.

“Our mission is really to provide as low-cost housing as possible so that money can go to where it’s really needed: in supportive services — wrapped around services — to really help the people who need it,” said Loganbill.

United Community Corporation will provide supportive services for those living at the site. Many who will stay at the village are people who frequent the Penn Station corridor, city officials said.

“People should not be sleeping on the street,” said United Community Corporation Executive Director Craig Mainor. “People should not be sleeping on benches and trying to find where the next meal is coming.”

The converted containers at Newark Hope Village can house up to two people. Monday, March 8, 2021. Newark, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Newark Working Kitchens, which pays restaurants to make meals for those most in need, will serve lunch to the residents each day of the program. Other partners also helped launch the site included Project for Empty Space, Rorschach Collective, Project My Brother’s Keeper, and UCC YouthBuild.

Forme Newark Chief Operating Officer Natasha Rogers also helped secure funding for the project during her tenure.

“I’m a little teary-eyed,” said Rogers. “This was such a huge collaboration.”

The project also received some praise from at least one activist, Munirah Bomani, who has long been critical of the city’s response to homelessness. But she says she still wants elected officials to do more.

“Finally, the millions of dollars allocated towards homeless prevention is being put to good use under the leadership of (Homelessness Czar Sakinah Hoyte),” said Bomani.

There will be 24 residents housed in Newark Hope Village. Mayor Ras J. Baraka, City Homelessness Czar Sakinah Hoyte, Mike Loganbill, VP and COO of Homes 4 the Homeless and Craig Mainor, Executive Director of United Community Corporation, will announce the launch of Newark Hope Village, an innovative sheltering program that uses shipping containers to house residents at-risk or without addresses. Monday, March 8, 2021. Newark, N.J. USA (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Newark Hope Village is just one of several initiatives the city has launched in the past year to address homelessness. The city plans to open a homeless shelter at the site of a former school and pledged $2 million to developers to build 100 units of permanent housing for people who are homeless.

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Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com.

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