TOMS RIVER, New Jersey — A severe heat wave sweeping through Ocean County has pushed the heat index above 100°F (38°C), as Toms River officials ordered a group of unhoused individuals to vacate the municipal parking garage downtown, where many had sought refuge from the blistering temperatures.
A formal notice distributed on Tuesday gave those staying at the garage just 48 hours to remove all belongings from public property, including the garage and other municipally owned spaces. The order stands despite a dangerous heat advisory in effect until Wednesday, June 25, 2025, underscoring the urgency and tension surrounding the town’s ongoing treatment of its homeless population.
The directive states that Toms River will offer free transportation for any personal items to locations where individuals have made arrangements—such as private shelters or storage facilities. However, Ocean County, one of the few counties in New Jersey without a permanent shelter, leaves the homeless with limited, often distant, options.
On Monday, local advocates responded to the forecasted heat by delivering water, food, ice, and cots to the garage. But now, with the municipal order in place, nonprofit groups are racing against time to relocate the individuals taking shelter there.
Terrance Turnbach, a former Toms River councilman and advocate for the unhoused, expressed frustration over the lack of local accommodations. He noted that 30-day motel stays—funded by the county—have been offered but are located outside Ocean County, far from critical services such as the Ocean County Board of Social Services.
According to multiple sources, plans are underway to open a temporary shelter in Toms River by August 1, but it offers no immediate relief. The enforcement action follows a broader campaign by Mayor Daniel Rodrick to disperse homeless individuals from the downtown area, which began in earnest last year with the closure of Code Blue shelters and removal of long-standing encampments.
Last Thursday, June 19, crews from the Department of Public Works arrived at the parking garage and removed a number of items under the township’s Streets and Sidewalks ordinance. Officials claim the removal targeted items that posed safety concerns or inconvenienced the public.
Some of the people whose belongings were taken had been attending a housing outreach event hosted by the Toms River Housing and Homeless Coalition at Christ Episcopal Church, which provided access to showers, haircuts, and housing services. Witnesses said that those present were given as little as 20 to 30 minutes to collect their items—if they were present at all.
A social media post showing a shopping cart and personal bags dumped in a dumpster brought added attention to the township’s actions. The items were later located at the Toms River recycling center on Church Road, according to Turnbach.
Mayor Rodrick defended the township’s response, citing concerns over a U-Haul van he claims was used to “dump items daily” at the garage. Turnbach countered that the van belonged to two elderly women who were sleeping in the vehicle, parked nearby because they felt safe in the location.
The garage, located beside the Ocean County Library, has long served as an unofficial shelter, particularly during overnight hours when the library is closed. However, the visible increase in homeless individuals in recent months has prompted complaints from residents, and Rodrick has attributed the rise to nonprofits and county agencies, accusing them of deliberately placing unhoused individuals downtown.
Turnbach, speaking for the nonprofit Just Believe Inc., stated that the increase is a direct result of the closure of Riverwood Park’s Code Blue shelter and the removal of the Destiny’s Bridge encampment. Last winter, several individuals were placed in temporary housing, but no sustainable plan was developed, Turnbach said.
Attorney Jeffrey Wild, who has previously worked with Destiny’s Bridge founder Steven Brigham, has reportedly been involved in efforts to recover seized belongings, although he did not respond to requests for comment as of Tuesday.
“This is the outcome of clearing people out without providing any alternative,” Turnbach said. “Volunteers are bringing food and water because the town is doing nothing.”
Mayor Rodrick has repeatedly referred to the homeless population as “mentally ill and drug addicts,” provoking widespread backlash from advocates. He has also threatened legal action against nonprofits like Just Believe Inc. and JBJ Soul Kitchen, which serves meals to the unhoused and to paying customers, calling it a “soup kitchen” despite its broader community model.
Tensions escalated in April when Rodrick introduced an ordinance proposing to seize the Christ Episcopal Church property by eminent domain, citing a plan to build a large public park. However, the move came shortly after the church proposed opening a small shelter on its property. The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey and local supporters have strongly criticized the move as retaliatory. The shelter proposal was rejected in May by the Toms River zoning board in a 5-2 vote.
In recent Township Council meetings, several unhoused residents have shared personal stories of how they became homeless and their efforts to return to stability. These voices were amplified during the Voices for the Voiceless rally in front of the Ocean County Library in mid-May, where community members protested the proposed eminent domain and the broader push to evict the homeless from downtown.
Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stressing the need for a coordinated, county-wide strategy. However, he also noted that Toms River officials have not taken part in committee meetings aimed at developing long-term solutions.
“It’s going to take collaboration at every level to build a path forward,” Arace said.
On Tuesday, a volunteer from Just Believe Inc. delivering ice and water to those at the garage was confronted by Toms River business administrator Jonathan Salonis, who reportedly told him, “What you’re doing is wrong.” According to Turnbach, the volunteer replied, “Then have me arrested.” While police were called, no arrests were made.
“These people have nowhere to go,” Turnbach said, as the heat index continues to climb and official shelter options remain elusive in Toms River.
