LAKEWOOD, NJ — An impoverished man learned the true nature of government as he watched tearfully as bureaucrats demolished his ramshackle home in the woods.
He was bothering no one — except the government.
This was the reality that was presented to “Sam,” a 70-year-old homeless man living in the forest in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.
Sam was a part of “Tent City,” a homeless encampment where between 80-120 individuals have stayed at any given time over the past decade, on so-called public land in Lakewood.
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These individuals were making the best of their situation by erecting tents and shelters in the woods instead of sleeping on park benches and relying on welfare housing and government subsidies.
After years of threats, the local authorities of Lakewood Township finally had Tent City closed down, and all residents evicted from the forest.
The homes that existed there — some for years — were ripped to the ground using heavy machinery.
“Can I watch?” asked Sam, when his home — a wood-framed shelter covered with tarps — was destroyed.
Sam’s lip trembled as he stood next to the public servants overseeing the demolition.
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It was an emotional sight.