TOMS RIVER, N.J. — In October, Mayor Daniel Rodrick secured approval from the Township Council to allocate some unspent federal COVID-19 relief funds to house homeless residents currently living in wooded encampments in an effort to close the camps before the winter freeze arrives.
The camp is officially shutting down on November 21st.
When Rodrick took office earlier this year, homeless were sleeping on benches downtown, loitering, and putting local workers and residents on edge. Instead of simply shutting down the camp and forcing those campers out, Rodrick has been working with state officials to find short and longterm solutions to help those people get off the streets and into proper housing.
The council authorized Rodrick to use up to $250,000 in unallocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for hotel accommodations, providing temporary shelter while the state works to find permanent housing solutions.
The wooded camps, which grew over the past two years, have been a concern for local officials due to safety and health risks. Rodrick made the closure of these camps a priority upon taking office, citing both public safety and the welfare of the individuals living there.
“Large numbers of undocumented individuals living in our woods is a safety concern for our residents and their children,” he said. “With winter approaching, they are not only a risk to our residents but also to themselves.”
The initiative will not affect local taxes, as it relies solely on federal relief funds that would otherwise have to be returned if unused. The approved funding will cover motel stays for up to six months, during which time the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will work to secure more stable, long-term housing. According to Rodrick, the DCA has approximately $4 million designated to help transition people out of homelessness statewide.
A significant challenge in relocating the camp residents has been the lack of identification among many, complicating efforts to process the necessary paperwork for formal housing. Rodrick emphasized that the township’s assistance will allow state providers more time to help residents obtain identification and other required documents.
“The DCA thinks it will take two to three months to get everybody placed,” he said in October. “But it will be January, and it’s cold.”
Rodrick said the township is working on several different approaches to get those people housed before winter arrives, including transitional winter housing for those who have to wait for the state government’s red tape.
In addition to housing, the township and state agencies plan to connect residents with mental health, addiction treatment, and other social services. Some motels in the area can also accommodate pets, addressing a common concern among homeless individuals who are reluctant to abandon their animals.
The approval on October 23 permits Rodrick’s administration to proceed with the ARPA funding allocation for transitional housing up to the $250,000 limit.
The administration is reportedly working with an attorney representing some encampment residents to secure agreements that would guarantee six months of indoor housing for those who sign on.
Rodrick noted that this was the first time Toms River officials have offered a solution to not only shut down the camp, but to find accommodations and programs to help get those people back on their feet.
“And it’s not costing us anything at the local level,” he said. “This was unspent money left over from the American Rescue Plan. If we don’t use it, we would have been forced to give the money back to the federal government.”
Rodrick made it clear, he does not support a homeless shelter or camp within the township, but said he will continue to keep working with state officials to make sure every homeless person in Toms River has a warm place and a roof over their head for winter.
