It's Moving Day At Camden's 'Tent City'

CAMDEN, N.J. - Residents of Camden's "Tent City" are getting a whole new start on Thursday.

The homeless are being treated to a day of pampering at a local hotel before starting the next chapter of their lives.

All of this is thank to local pastor and businessman Amir Khan. As the pastor of Solid Rock Worship Center, he founded the Nehemiah Group, which is a non-profit community group.

Khan said he was inspired to organize resources for the residents after seeing the media's coverage of "Tent City."

"It was this Sunday that we went before the congregation, and real quick -- within 10 minutes -- $25,000 was given for this project," Khan said.

The group then worked the phones, getting donors, sponsors and volunteers, like Steven Burch, of the Volunteer Center of Camden County.

"It takes it grassroots. I mean, it's neighbor helping neighbor. If we don't help our neighbors in need, then we've lost our humanity," Burch said.

The homeless will be getting makeovers during their overnight hotel stay.

On Friday, they will be taken to transitional housing for three weeks to be evaluated and assessed before being moved into secured housing for a year. There, they'll get job training, education and other assistance to gear up for re-entry into the working world.

"To hear the stories of the individuals, people that are educated, people that had professions -- a defense contractor, cooks, contractor workers -- but just made some wrong choices or had some situations happen in their life, and there but for the grace of God we would be," Khan said.

The homeless community's "mayor" said 44 residents have committed to going.

"Before they get on that bus, I'm going to ask them one question: 'Do you want success or failure?' Then I know," he said.

The apartments into which they'll be moving are also being donated by different people in the community, including business owners and members of the Nehemiah Group.

The moving trucks pulled up Thursday morning. Cleaning crews came out, and it was time to say goodbye.

Some of the residents Fox 29's Shawnette Wilson spoke to said they were very excited for the opportunity because they said in the past they've had city and state agencies trying to help them out, but a lot of those plans didn't pan out.

Melissa Pacifico has been living in what was recently renamed "Transitional Park" in the woods of Camden near the intersection of Interstate 676 and Federal Street.

"I think it's awesome. It's a blessing. It really is a blessing to a lot of people," Pacifico said. "It's a long time coming."

Pacifico said it has been a struggle being out of work and an addict, but she said, "Hopefully, this will help me recover."

Of course, Fox 29 News plans to follow them through this process to see how things work out.