TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Did you know it’s illegal to move homeless individuals from one municipality or county to another in New Jersey without formal approval? A growing controversy in Toms River is bringing renewed attention to this little-known state law.
According to New Jersey Revised Statute 44:1-124, it is a misdemeanor to bring or send a poor person into another municipality or county without first getting consent from the local welfare overseer or county welfare board. The law is meant to prevent jurisdictions from shifting the responsibility of care without oversight.
In Toms River, Mayor Dan Rodrick is accusing county officials of violating this statute by bringing homeless individuals into the township without permission. Rodrick claims the transfers are politically motivated and designed to create a public crisis in the days leading up to Tuesday’s election.
“They are trying to create an imaginary crisis to hurt my administration,” Rodrick said, referring to what he alleges is an orchestrated effort by Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and County Commissioner Robert Arace. The accusations center on an uptick in the homeless population near a local soup kitchen in downtown Toms River.
The law explicitly states that relocating a poor person without consent is a punishable offense, and such individuals “shall be returned from whence he came.” So far, no charges have been filed, and county officials have not issued public responses to the mayor’s claims.
Toms River case highlights legal limits on relocating the homeless
Local officials say they are reviewing the matter for possible legal violations and are working to identify the origins of newly arrived homeless individuals. The soup kitchen, the only one in the downtown area, has become a flashpoint for complaints from nearby residents and business owners.
While the law is rarely invoked, the Toms River situation may test its enforcement in a modern context. Township leaders are considering legal action if evidence confirms the unauthorized relocations.
The mayor’s accusations have heightened political tensions in the final days of the election cycle, as both sides remain silent on how the situation might impact voters.
The little-known state law barring the unauthorized transfer of homeless people is now at the center of a political firestorm in Ocean County.
