Montclair Nonprofit Reports Record-High Overnight Shelter Demand at Converted Restaurant (Montclair, New Jersey)

Montclair Emergency Services for Hope, a nonprofit organization, has seen a significant increase in demand for its overnight shelter services at the former Office Bar & Grill, now repurposed as a temporary shelter. The nonprofit has been providing winter respite in the vacant restaurant space since Thanksgiving, with the number of people seeking food each night doubling to over 60 from about 33 last winter when services were provided from a church on Elm Street.

The need for overnight shelter has grown even more sharply. Executive Director Joe Granger noted that last year, the shelter averaged about 18 people per night, while currently, they are housing 48 to 50 people every night. Granger explained that the space is at full capacity, and they have to turn away those in need. “We’ll get in touch with 211 to see if any other shelters are available for them,” he said, referring to New Jersey 211, the state’s homeless hotline. “We don’t get much walk-in traffic. Most of the needs that we get come through 211 and to a smaller degree from local hospitals or the local police and sheriff’s office.”

MESH is exploring the possibility of securing a second location to accommodate the growing demand. For David Connolly Jr., a 58-year-old man who once worked as a musician, MESH has become a vital part of his life. After the pandemic and a chronic illness disrupted his career, Connolly found employment with MESH, cleaning and managing laundry. He also helps organize donations of pillows and sheets, describing the organization as a critical resource for people experiencing homelessness in Montclair.

The former bar area in the restaurant space has been converted into a buffet-style dining area where clients serve themselves meals of beans, rice, and other food items onto paper plates. Many eat at restaurant booths or sit with a television on in the back. Sleeping arrangements are set up later in the evening, providing a temporary haven for those in need. The space has become a central hub for many of the community’s most vulnerable neighbors, offering both immediate relief and a sense of stability during a challenging time.

Source: Read the original report