TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A new soup kitchen supported by rock icon Jon Bon Jovi has ignited a political firestorm in Ocean County, where Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick is accusing county officials of turning the township into a hub for homeless services — a move he says endangers public safety and burdens local resources.
That hub includes a ‘concept plan’ according to Ocean County George Gilmore to build a homeless campus on the busy Route 9 corridor next to the Villa Amalfi restaurant, in conjunction with developer Jack Morris.
That site, according to Rodrick would make Toms River the ultimate summer tourism destination for homeless across the region, including New York, Philadelphia, and North Jersey.
Key Points
- Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick is critical of Jon Bon Jovi’s new soup kitchen, seeing it as part of a broader issue with homeless services.
- It seems likely that county officials plan to centralize homeless support in Toms River, causing controversy.
- The evidence leans toward increased tensions due to homeless gatherings near the library, where the soup kitchen is located.
You Give Toms River a Bad Name
At the center of the controversy is the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant initiative operated by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. The nonprofit recently opened a pop-up location inside the Ocean County Library at 101 Washington Street in downtown Toms River. The restaurant operates on a “pay-it-forward” model, where those unable to pay can volunteer their time in exchange for a meal.
“Jon Bon Jovi already operates a JBJ soul kitchen in Toms River, and we appreciate him for it, but why is he now working with county officials to bring homeless from all over the state to our downtown area?” Rodrick said. “Why can’t he feed them at his main restaurant just a few miles away? Does he not want them there? Or better yet, take them all to his Middletown mansion and drop them off there?”
Mayor Rodrick has been vocal in his opposition to the soup kitchen’s presence in a public facility, claiming it contributes to what he views as a growing problem of homelessness in the township.
He has accused county officials of deliberately concentrating homeless services in Toms River, creating what he calls a “Jersey Shore homeless destination.”
Homeless Drop Offs at Library is Bad Medicine
The Ocean County Library, long seen as a cultural and educational hub, has become ground zero for the political dispute. Rodrick pointed to police data showing 58 calls for service and 51 EMS responses between January 1 and March 1, 2025, many related to incidents in or near the library and a nearby warming center.
“They even opened a soup kitchen inside the library,” Rodrick said during a press article on April 2, suggesting that the combination of public services at the library has effectively turned it into an unsanctioned day shelter.
Shot through the heart: Mayor says library has become unsafe
County officials counter that the location was chosen due to its accessibility and proximity to other support services. They argue that concentrating aid in Toms River is a practical strategy given its role as the county seat and the presence of essential infrastructure.
Rodrick however questions that logic, saying the downtown area has become a congregation point for the homeless population across New Jersey. A recent article by the Asbury Park Press interviewed the homeless men outside the library. Most were not from Ocean County and all agreed that they eat regularly at the Soup Kitchen, not paying for their meals, instead helping with a few chores in exchange.
“I don’t recommend families come to the Toms River Library until this is sorted out, it’s not safe,” Rodrick said. “We are getting calls from the police, not only here, but at the warming shelter operated by the county, the mall, and throughout town.”
Living on a Prayer: Mayor threatens legal action
Rodrick has threatened legal action to block the proposed expansion of homeless services in the township, including a county-backed warming center planned for a site on Route 9. He said the township will explore legal avenues to prevent the county from continuing what he described as a “policy of abandonment” of the homeless population into Toms River.
He accused the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, particularly Commissioners Rob Arace and Frank Sadeghi, of importing homeless individuals from across New Jersey and other states to inflate the scope of the issue.
He alleged that this would increase eligibility for state and federal funding.
In statements made to the press, Rodrick emphasized his concern for public safety and the township’s quality of life, arguing that the burden of addressing homelessness should be shared across municipalities rather than concentrated in one location.
Ocean County Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione and the board noted they are not aware of any issues at the library, but are stepping up police presence by assigning Ocean County Sheriff’s Department deputies at the library.
It’s My Life: Foundation defends mission
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation dismissed Rodrick’s claims in the New York Post today.
“The JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen are committed to ending homelessness through real solutions. We are not here to just move people around or force them into the shadows. Our Foundation has built nearly a thousand units of affordable and supportive housing,” they said in a joint statement on Friday, the paper reported. “We invite anyone to the BEAT Center in Toms River or to the JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop Up to see what we are doing to end homelessness and hunger in our community.”
The downtown pop-up will be active until May, the rocker said.
Rodrick fired back saying, “If the foundation is there to help the homeless, why are we talking about homeless people downtown? Why aren’t they finding them housing instead?”
The JBJ Soul Kitchen, which also operates locations in Red Bank and at the B.E.A.T. Center in Toms River, celebrated its 200,000th customer served earlier this year. The foundation said its goal is to build community and treat all individuals with dignity, regardless of their financial status.
The soup kitchen’s pop-up location inside the library was approved by county officials earlier in 2025 and began serving meals on February 11. Officials said the initiative was designed to meet increased demand for food services in downtown Toms River.
A 2024 point-in-time count conducted by Monarch Housing Group recorded 556 homeless individuals in Ocean County, marking a 28% increase from 2023. The data showed a diverse homeless population — 50% female, 48% male — with many experiencing chronic homelessness and disabilities.
Rodrick and his supporters argue that the spike reflects failures in regional planning and an overreliance on Toms River to carry the load.
County officials say the increase demonstrates the urgency of expanding aid efforts, not restricting them.
Rodrick accuses county officials of seeing the homeless populations as a future source of federal aid and revenue.
Toms River has a history of grappling with homelessness. Recent efforts by the township included clearing encampments in Winding River Park and relocating 32 individuals to motels using American Rescue Plan funds.
I’ll be there for you: County stays committed to homeless sanctuary despite Rodrick’s opposition
Ocean County officials have argued that consolidating services in Toms River helps streamline coordination and allows nonprofit partners to reach those in need more effectively.
They say the decision to house the JBJ Soul Kitchen inside the library was made in line with those goals.
Rodrick says that’s fine, but it doesn’t need to be in Toms River.
“We are taking care of our own homeless people,” he said. “We don’t need to be taking care of the entire state’s homeless population and we won’t. Our residents don’t want this here either.”
The Board of Commissioners has approved several initiatives aimed at supporting the homeless population, including the warming center and the soup kitchen lease agreement, which has come under fire from Mayor Rodrick.
Commissioners Rob Arace and Frank Sadeghi have not publicly responded to Rodrick’s accusations of deliberate manipulation for profit but maintain that public health and safety remain priorities.