Toms River church seeks permission to open a homeless shelter near downtown

TOMS RIVER - A downtown church is seeking zoning board permission to build a 949-square-foot shelter for the homeless next to an outreach office on its Washington Street property.

The shelter would be built as an addition to an existing outreach and counseling office on the church property, according to Harvey L. York, the Toms River lawyer who is representing applicant Christ Episcopal Church. It would hold 17 beds for those without homes.

The church, located at 415 Washington St., is also seeking a parking variance; 183 spaces are required, and 115 will be provided. The application is scheduled to be heard at the Sept. 12 zoning board meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. in the L. Manuel Hirshblond meeting room at town hall, 33 Washington St.

"This is a serious shelter," said York, who noted that homeless people have been counseled at the property by the Affordable Housing Alliance since 2023. The nonprofit group, based in Monmouth County, works to develop affordable housing, and helps people find stable, affordable homes. It manages more than 400 affordable homes in Central New Jersey, and has developed more than 600 affordable houses.

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York said, however, that there are several objectors to the project, including people who live in the area.

"It's a good use (for the property)," he said. "We have funding and we would renovate the existing building to accommodate it."

Ocean County has no permanent shelter for the homeless; advocates for those experiencing homelessness argue a shelter could people get back on their feet and connect them to mental health counseling, job training and assistance in getting insurance and identification.

"The answer really is the church is the right place," York said. "There is already counseling there. We are not putting 200 people here. It is 17 beds."

No more Code Blue? Toms River homeless advocates fear mayor is trying to squeeze out warming center, camps

Toms River's Code Blue shelter, which allows homeless people to stay overnight when the temperature drops, may not reopen this year at Riverwood Park, after a dispute between Mayor Daniel Rodrick and Just Believe Inc., the group that as operated the facility for seven years.

Another Code Blue shelter in Toms River, operated by Just Believe and Ocean's Harbor House, only accepts families .

Soaring rents in Ocean and Monmouth counties have contributed to homelessness, advocates say. A loss of motels in Seaside Heights and other local communities have also made finding places for homeless people to live much more difficult.

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Jean Mikle covers Toms River, Seaside Heights and several other Ocean County towns. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River church seeks permission to open a homeless shelter near downtown