Toms River, NJ – Mayor Daniel Rodrick has issued a warning to Ocean County officials, stating that the township will take legal action if a proposed homeless warming center is located within its borders. The mayor’s declaration comes in response to recent discussions among county leaders about establishing a temporary shelter to provide warmth and basic necessities for individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter months.
In a statement released to the media, Rodrick expressed his concerns about the potential impacts such a facility could have on the community. He cited potential increases in crime, drug use, and traffic congestion as reasons for his opposition.
Hill also emphasized the importance of maintaining the township’s property values and quality of life for its residents.
Mayor Daniel Rodrick said: “Toms River will no longer be a depository for the county’s homeless. The prior administration allowed a homeless camp to grow and fester. My administration is working with the DCA (Department of Community Affairs) on a plan to clear out the camp. … If the liberal do-gooders on the county board of commissioners move forward on this, we will take legal action against them.”
Rodrick has been taking umbrage with Paul Hulse, the organizer of Just Believe, Inc, which has been providing a homeless warming center for the Tom’s River area. Mayor Rodrick believes that the organization is shipping in the homeless from all around NJ in an attempt to grow their business to over $750,000.
Much speculation has been made about exactly where this warming center would be located. So far, the consensus seems to be in a county-owned building somewhere along Route 9.
Tracy Maksel, director of Ocean County’s Department of Human Services noted the warming centers mystery locations: “The county has identified a site and we will be releasing that information”. She said information about the new site will likely be released next month, after the county has finalized its plans.
When temperatures drop to freezing or below, emergency overnight accommodations (provided by Code Blue shelters) open their doors to individuals. For the upcoming season, the county is preparing to offer 150 beds in these shelters. While this is a slight decrease from the previous year’s 155 beds, it’s worth noting that during the winter of 2023-2024, the highest number of beds used on any given night was 85.
The Code Blue program is scheduled to operate from November 1st through March 31st, covering the coldest months of the year.
According to Rodrick, the organization Just Believe, which had been permitted to use the Riverwood Park facility in recent years to assist Toms River’s homeless population, is now being cited as the reason for a significant increase in the town’s homeless numbers.
It’s been discovered that a second homeless encampment has also been operating, in tandem, at Winding River Park, a public recreational area in Toms River. This is in addition to the original homeless camp, which was established during the previous administration in a wooded area on the outskirts of downtown Toms River.
Ocean County Commissioners Bobbi Jo Crea and Virginia Haines have shown strong support for homeless warming centers in Toms River. Crea has announced that the county will allocate $400,000 to fund the new Toms River homeless shelter for the upcoming winter season.
Rodrick, a Republican ended his rant with “We have seen it all over the country, we cannot allow Toms River to be the next San Francisco.”
Ocean County officials have not yet responded publicly to the mayor’s threat of legal action. Advocates for the homeless population have argued that the proposed warming center is a critical need, especially during the harsh winter months. They have urged the county to find a suitable location for the facility and to provide essential services to those in need.
