TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has established a homeless trust fund to help the homeless community in Ocean County. The move comes as calls for a permanent homeless shelter in Toms River are once again being renewed.
The Board of Commissioners has in the past supported the idea of a large regional homeless shelter, possibly in Toms River or Jackson Township, but said that facility should not be operated by the county government.
In a proactive move to address the evolving needs of Ocean County’s disadvantaged and homeless population, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners is set to establish a Homelessness Trust Fund. This fund aims to provide greater flexibility in supporting programs for the underprivileged and improving their living conditions.
Ocean County Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea, who serves as the liaison to the Ocean County Department of Human Services, emphasized the benefits of the County-run Homelessness Trust Fund. Unlike many social services programs funded by state and federal governments, this fund offers real-time economics and increased funding flexibility. Crea stated, “It is far from one size fits all when it comes to providing the assistance our residents need to keep them from becoming homeless or to get them re-established once they are homeless.”
The introduction of an ordinance to create the Homelessness Trust Fund is expected at the June 21 Board meeting of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. A public hearing will subsequently be scheduled for the 4 p.m. July 6 Board meeting to gather input from residents before adopting the measure.
Similar to 12 other counties in New Jersey that have established such a fund, Ocean County will apply a $5 surcharge on most recorded instruments with the Ocean County Clerk’s Office. The generated funds will be deposited into the County Homelessness Trust Fund, ensuring that the money remains within Ocean County to support ongoing programs. In 2022 alone, over 130,000 documents were filed or recorded with the Ocean County Clerk’s Office, indicating the potential to raise between $275,000 and $390,000 annually.
The collected funds will be utilized to provide rental assistance vouchers, supportive services, and prevention services. Furthermore, the money can be allocated for the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing projects that offer permanent affordable housing to homeless individuals or families at risk of homelessness. However, the Homelessness Trust Fund cannot be used for the construction of a homeless shelter; instead, it will focus on providing support services.
Democrats in Toms River have been strongly pushing for a homeless shelter, led by local party leader Terrance Turnbach, a former Toms River councilman.
Upon approval of the fund’s creation, Ocean County will establish a task force to oversee its operations and serve as an advisory board to the Board of Commissioners. The New Jersey Homelessness Trust Fund legislation enables the establishment of locally controlled County Homelessness Trust Funds.
Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, Gary Quinn, has been collaborating with his colleagues on the Board for an extended period to bring this initiative to fruition. Quinn emphasized the importance of the fund in light of increasing underemployment and the financial struggles faced by families to secure housing. He expressed the need for additional measures to assist residents and highlighted the Homelessness Trust Fund as a valuable tool for creating a permanent funding source.