By RICHARD KHAVKINE
MyCentralJersey.com

Local service agencies and the city fire department have organized a relief fund to help victims of the Simplex Avenue blaze that displaced about 40 people and destroyed 10 homes on April 16.

During the last few weeks, city officials and others have met with several of the families to determine what they needed and provided some of those items. City officials, though, said much more is needed, including money.

Items distributed include new and donated clothing, gift cards, bed linens, and toys, city spokesman Bill Bray said this week.

City and social services organizations and congregations have raised about $1,500, Bray said.

Bray said the majority of the 10 families hit by the fire, including three families that lived in one home, have found at least semi-permanent housing. "Everybody has got a roof over their heads," he said.

Bray said some of the 10 residences were unoccupied. Earlier reports suggested that eight of the homes were owner-occupied, two were being rented out, and that 14 families lost their homes.

Still, at least one of the people routed by the fire said she is puzzled and annoyed by what she said was the city's slow response.

Yannerys Castillo, the single mother of a 2-year-old daughter, said that in the days following the fire, at least one official assured her the city would do what it could to find her a place to live.

"They told me they would work on it, but I haven't heard anything yet," said Castillo, who has been staying at a friend's house since the fire. "I'm still waiting for his call. It's been three weeks, almost a month."

READ MORE: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/NEWS/805140322/1175/NEWS0301

---