TOMS RIVER – It took Jack Ballo three years to create his film “Destiny’s Bridge,” a film that showed the journey of an encampment of individuals who created what came to be known as “Tent City” in Lakewood.
On Nov. 29 in Mancini Hall at the Ocean County Library, Ballo screened “Destiny’s Bridge” for residents and guests. The film followed the man who founded “Tent City,” Minister Steve Brigham, and told the story of the area he created in the woods of Lakewood.
“I made a film in the Dominican Republic about a man building houses in the woods for people of extreme poverty. I came back home and friends contacted me saying the same thing was happening in Lakewood. I had no idea this was going on in Lakewood and that people were living in the woods,” Ballo said.
He said it was important to create the film to show the journey of a self-sustaining community of individuals who had no permanent homes.
“It was just an amazing story. The biggest drive for creating the film was to just get people to know what was going on in the community. Once I got involved with the story, I realized the conflicts they were having with the township,” Ballo said.
He said it did not take long to build trust with the residents of “Tent City.”
“The people were all very open and easy to talk with. I guess at that point in your life when you are trying to survive day to day, they did not really try to hide or disguise what was going on in their lives. They shared their stories. I was amazed that people were opening up to me like that,” Ballo said.
Brigham established “Tent City” in 2006 and the encampment was removed by Lakewood officials on Oct. 3, 2014. After that, 60 people who had been living in the encampment, received free housing for one year. At its peak, “Tent City” had a population of 122. Brigham has caring for homeless individuals since 2000.
“This screening in the main library in Toms River meant a lot to me. This is the county where Lakewood’s “Tent City” existed. For the library to have a screening of a socially controversial film meant a tremendous amount to me tonight,” Brigham said.
Brigham said the residents of “Tent City” were white, black and Latino/Hispanic. He said his goal is still Destiny’s Bridge.
“It is still the goal. A little ‘tiny home’ community. There is no reason we cannot have it in the area. It should not be political, but it is. The housing market should be open to everybody,” he said.
Tiny homes generally refer to homes of under 400 square feet.
Brigham said there has been a small encampment off Route 9 in Howell for about three years. The property, which is owned by Howell, has been sold and Brigham said he is hoping the buyer will help the residents obtain housing.
“They are telling us we have to leave and we do not have any alternatives. We are hoping the buyer will help with getting the homeless into an apartment or a hotel for six months so they can get through the winter,” he said.
“I used to say I have more contacts in my phone who are homeless people than friends who are not homeless. I still do, too. They are just good people,” Ballo said.