NORTH BERGEN, N.J. - Men without homes who have a ceiling of the sky, walls of tablets, and a floor by the tombs of the cemetery of North Bergen, live, and have become a disturbing presence in the cemetery. It is impossible to determine the exact number of homeless that are lodged in unexpected hovels constructed with branches of trees, cardboard and plastic, next to the fence of the area near the train that runs next to the Grove Church cemetery, on Kennedy Boulevard and 46 street
Jose is a young Salvadoran of 21 years, who says that, although he has an apartment, he likes to go to the cemetery to read the newspaper and to drink beer, “because here the dead do not bother anyone”. The young Salvadoran, who did not want to give his last name, said that 30 people live in the hovels, all Central Americans that work occasionally as day laborers. “They like to live there. They do not want to go to the shelters because there they do not let them drink liquor. They do not have the money to pay rent either”, explained Jose.
Recently, during four days that a reporter (Cristina Loboguerrero) of the DIARIO/LA PRENSA visited the cemetery, it was not possible to find any of the homeless people, although the daily presence of bottles of liquor was evident, a newspaper with the date August 28th, two pair of jeans and one t-shirt.
The zone, that is normally peaceful, is the reason for concern of more than 15 families, who requested not to be identified for fear of retaliation. They said they were scared to visit their loved ones because they did not want to risk their life. A woman who said she was worried explained that her husband died three months ago, but that she does not visit his tomb “because the last time that we were with my sister-in-law and a friend, a man approached us to request money and scared us."
The head of the police of North Bergen, William Galvin, said that it is difficult to arrest a person if he is being peaceful and he added that at the moment the city does not have laws against vagrancy in public places. Rosalía Reyes, a social worker of the Hudson county, explained that the subject of the homeless is delicate. “Many have problems with alcohol or drugs, and cannot be forced to go to the shelters”, said Reyes. “They choose places like the train tunnels or the cemetery because these sites are desolate and one can live without anybody bothering them, according to them.”
Residents of the area affirm that periodically the police go to the place and then the homeless leave for two or three days but finally return. “It is very unacceptable to see them bathe naked in the water of one of the pools of the cemetery or to relieve themselves without mattering to them who is watching, ”said a resident.
Reverend Doug Shepler, pastor of the Reformed Church Grove, located within the cemetery, said that he knows the problem of the homeless and although he has informed the local authorities, the situation persists. The uncle of one of the victims of the attack of 9/11 against the Twin Towers, whose body lies in the cemetery, said that two bronze tablets were robbed from the tomb of their nephew. “We request that the cemetery is a sacred and respected place. We understand that these people do not have a home but why can't they go to a shelter,? this person said. “We want to visit our dead in peace , but now we are terrified.”
Next to the fences where the homeless take refuge were fliers written in Spanish, offering aid and council to them in a center in Jersey City. The center has programs in housing, education, alcohol and drug abuse. This past July 23rd, a 56 year old woman was raped. She is a resident of North Bergen. This woman was approached by a subject in the train station at 47 street and Bergenline avenue at knife point. She was forced to walk to the cemetery where she was attacked. The office of the public prosecutor of Hudson county is investigating the case. Although the office of the public prosecutor stated that until now, it has not determined that the crime has been committed by one of the people living in the cemetery, prosecutor Edgard DeFazio said that it was evident that the perpetrator was familiar with the area.
Jose is a young Salvadoran of 21 years, who says that, although he has an apartment, he likes to go to the cemetery to read the newspaper and to drink beer, “because here the dead do not bother anyone”. The young Salvadoran, who did not want to give his last name, said that 30 people live in the hovels, all Central Americans that work occasionally as day laborers. “They like to live there. They do not want to go to the shelters because there they do not let them drink liquor. They do not have the money to pay rent either”, explained Jose.
Recently, during four days that a reporter (Cristina Loboguerrero) of the DIARIO/LA PRENSA visited the cemetery, it was not possible to find any of the homeless people, although the daily presence of bottles of liquor was evident, a newspaper with the date August 28th, two pair of jeans and one t-shirt.
The zone, that is normally peaceful, is the reason for concern of more than 15 families, who requested not to be identified for fear of retaliation. They said they were scared to visit their loved ones because they did not want to risk their life. A woman who said she was worried explained that her husband died three months ago, but that she does not visit his tomb “because the last time that we were with my sister-in-law and a friend, a man approached us to request money and scared us."
The head of the police of North Bergen, William Galvin, said that it is difficult to arrest a person if he is being peaceful and he added that at the moment the city does not have laws against vagrancy in public places. Rosalía Reyes, a social worker of the Hudson county, explained that the subject of the homeless is delicate. “Many have problems with alcohol or drugs, and cannot be forced to go to the shelters”, said Reyes. “They choose places like the train tunnels or the cemetery because these sites are desolate and one can live without anybody bothering them, according to them.”
Residents of the area affirm that periodically the police go to the place and then the homeless leave for two or three days but finally return. “It is very unacceptable to see them bathe naked in the water of one of the pools of the cemetery or to relieve themselves without mattering to them who is watching, ”said a resident.
Reverend Doug Shepler, pastor of the Reformed Church Grove, located within the cemetery, said that he knows the problem of the homeless and although he has informed the local authorities, the situation persists. The uncle of one of the victims of the attack of 9/11 against the Twin Towers, whose body lies in the cemetery, said that two bronze tablets were robbed from the tomb of their nephew. “We request that the cemetery is a sacred and respected place. We understand that these people do not have a home but why can't they go to a shelter,? this person said. “We want to visit our dead in peace , but now we are terrified.”
Next to the fences where the homeless take refuge were fliers written in Spanish, offering aid and council to them in a center in Jersey City. The center has programs in housing, education, alcohol and drug abuse. This past July 23rd, a 56 year old woman was raped. She is a resident of North Bergen. This woman was approached by a subject in the train station at 47 street and Bergenline avenue at knife point. She was forced to walk to the cemetery where she was attacked. The office of the public prosecutor of Hudson county is investigating the case. Although the office of the public prosecutor stated that until now, it has not determined that the crime has been committed by one of the people living in the cemetery, prosecutor Edgard DeFazio said that it was evident that the perpetrator was familiar with the area.
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