New licensing requirements prompt New Jersey’s secretary of state to suspend charitable gifts just days before Thanksgiving

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A New Jersey pastor who has spent more than two decades helping the homeless says his efforts were put on hold just before Thanksgiving.

Minister Steven Brigham, president of the nonprofit organization Destiny’s Bridge, and volunteers provide food and supplies to those in need in Lakewood, including on holidays.

“I came here to the town square twice a week and set up tables and we distributed clothing and food to the poor,” Brigham said.

Lakewood resident Darlene DiDonato told CBS News New York that she has struggled with homelessness for years, but says Brigham is helping to ease some of the burden.

“It’s not easy being out here,” she said.

“I think it’s about driving the homeless out of the city.”

Brigham says when it came out in early November, however, there was a sudden change.

“The captain of the Lakewood Police Department came up to me and said, ‘Minister Steve, you need a permit to be out here.’ I said, ‘I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I’ve never needed one in the past,’ and he said, ‘Well, now you need one.’ So I was a little upset,” Brigham said. “I think it’s about getting the homeless out of the city.”

Brigham contacted an attorney who was in contact with the church.

The municipality asks the organizations to fill out a contract for the use of the town square

The municipality now requires that all organizations fill out a “Hold Harmless Agreement” in order to use the town square. The mayor says there were problems.

Lakewood Mayor Raymond Coles said in a statement:

“The Lakewood community prides itself on caring for the well-being of all of our residents. We have teams who work daily with homeless people and others in need who are going through difficult times or need help keeping their homes livable. We are the fourth largest city in New Jersey and have one of the lowest eviction rates in the state.

“We always work with organizations that want to help those in need. We simply ask that they help us plan our efforts to ensure we know who is using our facilities and to prevent anyone from exploiting the most vulnerable among us.”

“We also have a responsibility to our residents and staff to ensure that they have a safe environment and do not experience any form of harassment in their everyday lives.”

“To paraphrase Dickens, this is the time of year when the need is most keenly felt. Lakewood is committed to providing those in need with a safe place to lay their heads and will work with anyone who wants to help those in need.”

The mayor told CBS News that New York Brigham is welcome to settle in the meantime, but Brigham is not convinced.

“I want something in writing to make sure that we can come here and the other organizations can come here… I have a lot of clothing and a lot of blankets that I want to get out of here and they need it,” Brigham said.

Normally he would be out on Wednesday, but he says he will wait until he receives legal notice. He hopes to return next week.