The nonprofit Freedom House substance abuse center will remain open as a partner to a new state facility for homeless veterans, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie confirmed Wednesday morning during a visit to Hunterdon County. <\/p>\n
Freedom House will provide services to neighboring Veterans Haven North, the governor announced during a visit to Freedom Houses location on the grounds of the states Sen. Garrett W. Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Lebanon Township. <\/p>\n
Christie was in the township to reaffirm the states plan to convert Hagedorn into the northern chapter of Veterans Haven, a state program that helps homeless veterans find jobs and homes. <\/p>\n
Veterans Haven North is scheduled to begin operating July 1, the day after Christie has said Hagedorn will close to save the state money. <\/p>\n
We need more places like this, Christie said after a tour of Freedom House. ... Im happy to see Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital will help people who served our country. <\/p>\n
But the governor was non-committal about the future of Hagedorn patients and workers. <\/p>\n
People will be placed where they need to be placed, he said of patients at the 288-bed facility. He said the states Department of Human Services will decide how many workers are retained but, We probably will not need all of those employees. <\/p>\n
The closing of Hagedorn angered employees and patients' families, and on Wednesday a group of protesters stood on Sanatorium Road near the hospital with signs urging the governor to keep Hagedorn open as a psychiatric hospital. <\/p>\n
\"It's a better transition than where I was\" previously, Pyzik told the governor.<\/p>\n
'Totally unacceptable reality'<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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\nGov. Chris Christie on Veterans Haven, Freedom House: 'We need more places like this'<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"