No one should be surprised that Daniel Rodrick’s dispute with the JBJ Soul Kitchen this past week has escalated to national news and no one should be surprised there are homeless people in need of food in Downtown Toms River; but the blame for the numbers should stop at Town Hall. In October of 2024 Jean Mikle of the Asbury Park Press published an article entitled “Toms River Emptying Homeless Camps in the Woods; What Happens After Motel Money Runs Out?” – Hello April, 2024!
We have already provided the documentation from OPRA requests to Toms River Township, that of the $250,000 approved by Council as stated by Daniel Rodrick, “my administration ‘found’ about $2M in unallocated rescue plan funds,” to pay for up to six months of housing for the homeless has resulted in about $6,800 in vouchers and checks to a hotel in Absecon, New Jersey, with transportation provided by the Toms River Police Department. At that time Daniel Rodrick stated that “those who had been living at the Toms River camp (in the woods) have been moved to motels in the area, though the mayor could not disclose the location, but none are in Toms River. Toms River is no longer going to be a location for homeless people in the woods.”
Daniel Rodrick added at the time that the state Department of Community Affairs and other groups assisting the homeless to find them permanent housing, along with mental health assistance or treatment programs for those who may need it. This all followed him locking out Just Believe from the Cold Blue Center at Riverwood Park and threatening to sue Ocean County if they opened a Code Blue Center in Toms River; which they did and serviced those in need till Code Blue ended on March 31. So now, with no Code Blue Center, no transitional or long term shelter in Toms River and Ocean County Social Service Offices in Toms River, where are those without a home to go? Remember, Daniel Rodrick not only cleared out the woods, he directed Acting Police Chief Peter Sundack to have the police patrol the woods and “make sure no one sets up camps again.”
Daniel Rodrick is not responsible for the homelessness in Toms River, but he has exacerbated the problem by eliminating all options without a plan. He is 100% correct when he says there are more homeless in Downtown Toms River, but he wrong to blame anyone but himself…he had no plan when he cleared out the woods and has helped very few. He is also correct in saying that police responses to incidents at the Ocean County Library have increased, as the records below will show, but when more people in need congregant in a smaller area with limited resources, there is more potential for conflict. Daniel Rodrick’s lack of a plan has resulted in the Downtown Toms River of today. Daniel Rodrick needs to stop blaming Jon Bon Jovi and Ocean County and get to work on the issues in front of him and take ownership for his decisions.