Toms River, NJ – Mayor Daniel Rodrick has recently taken proactive measures to address homelessness in Downtown Toms River, securing emergency housing vouchers from the State Department of Community Affairs, led by Jacqueline Suarez. This response follows a surge in homelessness downtown after the Ocean County Board of Freeholders opened a soup kitchen in the library complex adjacent to Town Hall, an initiative that the mayor had publicly opposed.
Mayor Rodrick expressed concerns that the soup kitchen would draw more homeless individuals into the downtown area, a prediction that unfortunately came to fruition when dozens were dropped off by U-Hauls and vans just days before an intense heat wave. They also dropped off 23 cots, sofas, numerous chairs, desks, and other furniture. These individuals set up makeshift living conditions in the municipal parking garage, prompting the mayor to take swift action.
“We didn’t throw anyone out in the heat wave,” Rodrick emphasized, defending his actions. “We followed the law and provided them notice to clear these materials out of the garage within 48 hours after the heat wave passed.”
Rodrick collaborated with the State Department of Community Affairs, resulting in CSPNJ arriving promptly to assist in placing the individuals into stable housing. “This isn’t the first time my administration has secured long-term placements for the homeless,” the mayor stated, referencing his earlier success in helping 36 individuals transition out of a camp in the woods that grew under the previous administration. That initiative earned the mayor statewide accolades.
Despite these efforts, Rodrick voiced frustration with local media coverage, claiming they misrepresented the situation. “I’m disappointed that no one in the media pointed out that all these individuals who were brought to downtown Toms River have now been placed in housing. Instead, they’re using their platform to attack me and falsely claim that I threw these people out in a heat wave. Nothing could be further from the truth. Shame on them.”
Rodrick also expressed concern about the implications of utilizing public libraries as shelters for the homeless, stating, “it is most unfortunate that the County Board of Commissioners continues to allow a soup kitchen to operate in a public library. Libraries are supposed to be places for children to learn, study, and read—not shelters for the homeless. In most cases these individuals don’t have identification. It’s a real security risk and so called “non-profits” are bringing in homeless from all over the state.”
“Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace and Former Toms River Councilman Terrance Turnbach have falsely linked the increase in homelessness downtown to Toms River’s closure of a camp in November, but those in the camp were provided with 2 years of housing, a fact well documented in the press. These are different people,” the mayor said.
The Toms River Council passed an ordinance at their June 30th meeting setting up rules regarding the usage of the public parking garage. Future access will be limited to those who are going to or coming from their cars. In addition to homeless camping, there have been drug deals, car thefts, and overdoses in the garage. The council voted to pass the ordinance by a vote of 4 to 3, with Lamb, Coleman, Byrne & O’Toole supporting the ordinance and Nivison, Ciccozzi & Quinlisk voting against it.
In a broader context, the mayor believes that the plight of the homeless is being exploited for political gain. “These most unfortunate individuals are being used as political pawns in an ongoing effort to lobby for a homeless shelter in Toms River.” He continued, “These so-called non-profits all want to get a piece of the massive amount of state and federal aid out there chasing this issue.”
As the situation evolves, Rodrick remains adamant about the need for community-focused solutions and accurate representation in media coverage.