TOMS RIVER — Days after officials cleared homeless individuals from a downtown parking garage and placed them in housing, a local nonprofit resumed efforts to locate unsheltered residents elsewhere in the area.
Earlier this week, they scoured the woods of Forked River,
“Canvassing the woods of Waretown good news we found no one homeless in the areas we searched however we did come upon multiple camps burned down from the forest fire and folks have moved elsewhere. Covered 5 mile radius of woods. In Waretown,” the group posted.
Just Believe Inc., and the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, which have faced criticism for allegedly bringing homeless individuals into the Toms River municipal parking deck, confirmed it is now searching wooded areas for additional encampments. On Thursday, the organization reported discovering an abandoned boat on the Toms River–Lakewood border that may have been used as a makeshift shelter.
“Upon inspecting the area of the suggested location, we discovered a boat that has been abandoned for quite some time and appears to be utilized as a storage vessel, with the possibility that individuals may be inhabiting it,” the group stated online.
The vessel, located deep in the woods, was found with debris but no visible signs of current occupancy, according to Just Believe Inc. No tents or individuals were located at the site, which the group reported to local officials for possible cleanup. It remains unclear whether the property is privately owned or part of township land.
Just Believe founder Paul Hulse and volunteers continue fielding community tips and conducting searches across Toms River and neighboring municipalities. Despite pushback from critics who accuse the group of drawing more homeless people into the area, Hulse has maintained that the group is responding to growing needs and trying to connect individuals with resources.
Hulse has come under fire from the large salary he takes annually from the homeless non-profit he started several years ago. During that time, the group’s revenue has grown by over 400%, with much of the money going towards salaries and equipment used by the group.
Last week, the mayor’s office cleared the municipal garage of unsheltered residents and reported that those displaced were connected with temporary housing. Those individuals were also put in contact with county and state homeless advocacy agencies. The move ended a monthslong saga that unfolded at the library, which Mayor Dan Rodrick labeled as a failed political stunt that exploited the homeless population.
A nonprofit continues combing the woods near Toms River for homeless camps after the town cleared a parking deck, drawing scrutiny from local critics.