![\"\"](\"http:\/\/us.weatheramerica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/New-Jersey_2606.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
TOMS RIVER, New Jersey \u2014<\/strong> A severe heat wave<\/strong> sweeping through Ocean County<\/strong> has pushed the heat index above 100\u00b0F (38\u00b0C)<\/strong>, as Toms River<\/strong> officials ordered a group of unhoused individuals<\/strong> to vacate the municipal parking garage<\/strong> downtown, where many had sought refuge from the blistering temperatures.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A formal notice distributed on Tuesday<\/strong> gave those staying at the garage just 48 hours<\/strong> to remove all belongings from public property<\/strong>, including the garage and other municipally owned spaces<\/strong>. The order stands despite a dangerous heat advisory<\/strong> in effect until Wednesday, June 25, 2025<\/strong>, underscoring the urgency and tension<\/strong> surrounding the town’s ongoing treatment of its homeless population.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The directive<\/strong> states that Toms River<\/strong> will offer free transportation<\/strong> for any personal items to locations where individuals have made arrangements\u2014such as private shelters<\/strong> or storage facilities<\/strong>. However, Ocean County<\/strong>, one of the few counties in New Jersey without a permanent shelter<\/strong>, leaves the homeless with limited, often distant, options<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Monday<\/strong>, local advocates responded to the forecasted heat by delivering water, food, ice, and cots<\/strong> to the garage. But now, with the municipal order in place, nonprofit groups<\/strong> are racing against time to relocate the individuals taking shelter there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Terrance Turnbach<\/strong>, a former Toms River councilman<\/strong> and advocate for the unhoused, expressed frustration over the lack of local accommodations<\/strong>. He noted that 30-day motel stays<\/strong>\u2014funded by the county<\/strong>\u2014have been offered but are located outside Ocean County<\/strong>, far from critical services<\/strong> such as the Ocean County Board of Social Services<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to multiple sources, plans are underway to open a temporary shelter<\/strong> in Toms River<\/strong> by August 1<\/strong>, but it offers no immediate relief<\/strong>. The enforcement action follows a broader campaign by Mayor Daniel Rodrick<\/strong> to disperse homeless individuals<\/strong> from the downtown area, which began in earnest last year with the closure of Code Blue shelters<\/strong> and removal of long-standing encampments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last Thursday, June 19<\/strong>, crews from the Department of Public Works<\/strong> arrived at the parking garage and removed a number of items under the township\u2019s Streets and Sidewalks ordinance<\/strong>. Officials claim the removal targeted items that posed safety concerns or inconvenienced the public.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some of the people whose belongings were taken had been attending a housing outreach event<\/strong> hosted by the Toms River Housing and Homeless Coalition<\/strong> at Christ Episcopal Church<\/strong>, which provided access to showers, haircuts, and housing services. Witnesses said that those present were given as little as 20 to 30 minutes<\/strong> to collect their items\u2014if they were present at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A social media post<\/strong> showing a shopping cart and personal bags<\/strong> dumped in a dumpster<\/strong> brought added attention to the township\u2019s actions. The items were later located at the Toms River recycling center on Church Road<\/strong>, according to Turnbach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mayor Rodrick defended the township\u2019s response, citing concerns over a U-Haul van<\/strong> he claims was used to \u201cdump items daily\u201d<\/strong> at the garage. Turnbach countered that the van belonged to two elderly women<\/strong> who were sleeping in the vehicle<\/strong>, parked nearby because they felt safe<\/strong> in the location.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The garage, located beside the Ocean County Library<\/strong>, has long served as an unofficial shelter<\/strong>, particularly during overnight hours when the library is closed. However, the visible increase in homeless individuals<\/strong> in recent months has prompted complaints from residents<\/strong>, and Rodrick has attributed the rise to nonprofits<\/strong> and county agencies<\/strong>, accusing them of deliberately placing unhoused individuals<\/strong> downtown.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Turnbach, speaking for the nonprofit Just Believe Inc.<\/strong>, stated that the increase is a direct result<\/strong> of the closure of Riverwood Park\u2019s Code Blue shelter<\/strong> and the removal of the Destiny\u2019s Bridge encampment<\/strong>. Last winter, several individuals were placed in temporary housing<\/strong>, but no sustainable plan was developed, Turnbach said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Attorney Jeffrey Wild<\/strong>, who has previously worked with Destiny\u2019s Bridge founder Steven Brigham<\/strong>, has reportedly been involved in efforts to recover seized belongings, although he did not respond to requests for comment as of Tuesday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is the outcome of clearing people out without providing any alternative,\u201d Turnbach said. \u201cVolunteers are bringing food and water<\/strong> because the town is doing nothing.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mayor Rodrick has repeatedly referred to the homeless population as \u201cmentally ill and drug addicts<\/strong>,\u201d provoking widespread backlash<\/strong> from advocates. He has also threatened legal action<\/strong> against nonprofits like Just Believe Inc.<\/strong> and JBJ Soul Kitchen<\/strong>, which serves meals to the unhoused<\/strong> and to paying customers<\/strong>, calling it a \u201csoup kitchen<\/strong>\u201d despite its broader community model.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tensions escalated in April when Rodrick introduced an ordinance proposing to seize the Christ Episcopal Church property by eminent domain<\/strong>, citing a plan to build a large public park<\/strong>. However, the move came shortly after the church proposed opening a small shelter<\/strong> on its property. The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey<\/strong> and local supporters have strongly criticized the move as retaliatory<\/strong>. The shelter proposal was rejected in May<\/strong> by the Toms River zoning board<\/strong> in a 5-2 vote.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In recent Township Council meetings<\/strong>, several unhoused residents have shared personal stories<\/strong> of how they became homeless and their efforts to return to stability. These voices were amplified during the Voices for the Voiceless rally<\/strong> in front of the Ocean County Library<\/strong> in mid-May<\/strong>, where community members protested the proposed eminent domain and the broader push to evict the homeless from downtown.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace<\/strong> acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stressing the need for a coordinated, county-wide strategy<\/strong>. However, he also noted that Toms River officials have not taken part<\/strong> in committee meetings aimed at developing long-term solutions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to take collaboration at every level<\/strong> to build a path forward,\u201d Arace said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Tuesday, a volunteer from Just Believe Inc.<\/strong> delivering ice and water<\/strong> to those at the garage was confronted<\/strong> by Toms River business administrator Jonathan Salonis<\/strong>, who reportedly told him, \u201cWhat you\u2019re doing is wrong.<\/strong>\u201d According to Turnbach, the volunteer replied, \u201cThen have me arrested.<\/strong>\u201d While police were called<\/strong>, no arrests<\/strong> were made.<\/p>\n \u201cThese people have nowhere to go<\/strong>,\u201d Turnbach said, as the heat index continues to climb<\/strong> and official shelter options remain elusive<\/strong> in Toms River<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TOMS RIVER, New Jersey \u2014 A severe heat wave sweeping through Ocean County has pushed the heat index above 100\u00b0F (38\u00b0C), 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4922","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n