TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has confirmed a controversial plan to develop a homeless shelter on Route 166 in Toms River, near the Villa Amalfi Italian Restaurant, validating earlier claims by Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick.
Initially, Ocean County Chairman George Gilmore, the primary backer behind New Jersey Gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea dismissed Rodrick’s claim, saying the proposed shelter was just a ‘concept plan’ and there was no real movement on the project.
The proposal, reportedly backed by Gilmore and prominent developer Jack Morris, has sparked intense debate in the township, with critics arguing it could exacerbate local issues and strain community resources. Gilmore’s relationship with Jack Morris has come under scrutiny in the past as the connected development firm has faced allegations of getting preferential treatment in towns controlled by Gilmore in the past.
Gilmore has no such control of local government in Toms River.
Mayor Rodrick, a vocal opponent of the plan, first raised alarms about the proposed shelter last month, alleging that the county, in collaboration with Gilmore and Morris, intended to establish a “homeless rehabilitation campus” on the busy Route 166 corridor.
Rodrick claimed the project was driven by financial motives, with operators potentially receiving state and federal funding per person housed. “Gilmore and the commissioners have lost their minds,” Rodrick said. “Toms River will not be a dumping ground for New Jersey’s homeless.”
“As the price of housing and renting a house goes up, people are being priced out. We probably have people working for Ocean County who are homeless,” said Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi at the meeting this week.
Mayor Rodrick has repeatedly criticized the county’s approach, accusing officials of centralizing homeless services in Toms River to inflate the perception of a local crisis and secure additional funding.
He accused Gilmore and the commissioners of using the homeless crisis to create a profit center for the county, Gilmore and out-of-area charities who ‘get paid by the head’ to shelter homeless people in Toms River.
He pointed to the county’s operation of another warming center, which he claims has led to increased police incidents and disturbances by transporting homeless individuals to public spaces like shopping centers and libraries during the day.
“Toms River takes care of its own homeless population,” Rodrick stated. “We don’t need to import people from across the state.”
The involvement of George Gilmore, a powerful political figure, and developer Jack Morris has fueled speculation about the project’s motives.
Critics, including Rodrick, suggest the shelter could be part of a broader strategy to profit from state and federal grants.
Rodrick has threatened legal action to block the shelter, arguing that Toms River is being unfairly burdened by county policies.
“We will explore every legal avenue to stop this,” he said, referencing a potential lawsuit against the county and organizations involved in homeless services.
Rodrick has called Commissioner Robert Arace, a “closet liberal” after the former Manchester mayor signed on to be an advocate for using Toms River as a ‘dumping ground’ for the homeless across New Jersey and beyond, according to Rodrick.