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Newark expands efforts to help homeless

City of Newark

Newark is expanding efforts to help the homeless. Officials detailed the expanded program on Wednesday.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka points out that a couple years ago, Newark was able to decrease street homelessness by 57 percent. He's hoping to make even more progress through an expansion of the Path Home Initiative.

"The debate should not be about whether they have the right to be in a tent. Debate should be why haven't we figured out how to house people who don't have homes or don't have shelter and that's what we are beginning to do here in the city of Newark."

There's now more Street homeless outreach teams that include social workers and drug counselors with support from hospitals and non profits. They'll be in the streets 24-7 trying to build relationships with the homeless to convince them shelters are a better option.