Homeless Camp in Toms River Closes, No One Will Spend the Winter in the Cold Under New Plan

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TOMS RIVER, NJ — In October, Mayor Daniel Rodrick won approval from the County Council to allocate a portion of unspent federal COVID-19 relief funds to homeless residents currently living in woodland encampments with the goal of closing the encampments before winter frosts arrive.

The camp officially closes on November 21.

When Rodrick took office earlier this year, homeless people were sleeping on benches downtown, wandering around and making local workers and residents uneasy. Rather than closing the camp and forcing campers out, Rodrick is working with state officials to find short- and long-term solutions to help these people get off the streets and into affordable housing.

The council authorized Rodrick to use up to $250,000 in unallocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for hotel stays; thus providing temporary shelter while the province tried to find permanent housing solutions.

The growing number of bush camps in the past two years has become a cause for concern for local authorities due to safety and health risks. Once in office, Rodrick made closing these camps a priority, citing both public safety and the well-being of the individuals living there.

“The large number of undocumented individuals living in our forests is a safety concern for our residents and their children,” he said. “With winter approaching, they pose a risk not only to our residents but also to themselves.”

The initiative won’t impact local taxes because it relies solely on federal relief funds that must 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 provide more stable, long-term housing. According to Rodrick, DCA has approximately $4 million allocated across the state to help lift people out of homelessness.

A significant challenge in relocating camp residents was that many could not be identified, complicating efforts to process the necessary paperwork for official housing. Rodrick emphasized that the county’s assistance will give state providers more time to help residents obtain identification and other necessary documents.

“DCA expects it will take two to three months to accommodate everyone,” he said in October. “But it will be January and it is cold.”

Rodrick said the county is working on a variety of different approaches to sheltering those people before winter arrives, including temporary winter housing for those who have to wait out state government red tape.

In addition to housing, the county and state agencies plan to connect residents with mental health, addiction treatment and other social services. Pets can also be accommodated in some motels in the area; This addresses a common concern of homeless individuals who are reluctant to abandon their animals.

The approval on October 23 allows the Rodrick administration to continue allocating ARPA funds for transitional housing, up to the $250,000 limit.

The administration is reportedly working with a lawyer representing some camp residents to secure agreements that would guarantee signatories indoor shelter for six months.

This is the first time Toms River officials have proposed a solution not just to close the camp, but to find housing and programs to help these people get back on their feet, Rodrick said.

“And it doesn’t cost us anything at the local level,” he said. “This was unspent money left over from the American Rescue Plan. “If we didn’t use it, we would have to give the money back to the federal government.”

Rodrick made it clear that he does not support a homeless shelter or encampment in town, but he said he will continue to work with state officials to ensure every homeless person in Toms River has a warm place to stay for the winter and a roof over their head. .