Advocates Fear Homeless Will Be Left Out In The Cold

TOMS RIVER – The thought of freezing temperatures might seem far away, but for Toms River homeless advocates, the harsh reality of winter is already hitting hard. Concerns are mounting that those who work tirelessly to provide cold weather shelter for the town’s unhoused population could soon find themselves homeless.

Just Believe, Inc. a nonprofit organization, has operated the Code Blue warming shelter out of the Riverwood Recreation Center at 250 Riverwood Drive for the past several years. However, the group was recently locked out of the facility, raising fears that the homeless could be left out in the cold when temperatures drop.

Kevin McKenna, a representative of Just Believe, addressed the Toms River Township Council at a recent meeting, expressing both gratitude for the town’s past support and concern over this recent development. He said that he didn’t understand the lock change but wanted to express his gratitude.

“I’m here to first thank Toms River as a whole for allowing us to operate that building for the past seven years, allowing us to accomplish the great things that we’ve been able to accomplish,” McKenna said. “On top of that, I’m hoping to come back here and be able to thank this council, and you, mayor, for allowing us to continue that operation.”

“What we do at Just Believe, is we take the homeless population that’s here and we serve them,” continued McKenna. “We help them. We bring them in from the cold, we feed them, we plug them into resources.”

McKenna listed the numerous ways the nonprofit helps the homeless and implored local officials to allow Just Believe to continue the operations in Riverwood Park.

The shelter’s uncertain future stems from confusion over the terms of its contract with the township. When questioned by Councilman Tom Nivison about the status of the agreement, Mayor Dan Rodrick stated, “I believe we were advised by legal counsel that their contract only went until 2019 to 2020.”

Rodrick added that no action had been taken to shut down the shelter since it was not winter, and that the situation was under review.

The original agreement between the Township of Toms River and Just Believe was signed on October 16, 2019, by then-Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher. The contract allowed Just Believe to provide overnight lodging for up to 30 individuals during Code Blue alerts, with the capacity increased to 40 beds during a state of emergency.

The initial term of the agreement commenced on November 1, 2019, and was set to terminate on March 31, 2020. However, the contract included an automatic renewal clause, stating that the agreement would renew for the same period unless either party provided 30 days’ notice to terminate it.

Under the contract’s terms, Just Believe assumes responsibility for covering utilities and liability insurance for each night the facility is used. At-risk individuals are required to leave the warming center by 8:30 a.m. the following morning, unless a Code Blue weather event or State of Emergency was expected that night. Despite these provisions, the recent lock change has sparked fears that the township may be planning to close the shelter.

Some have suggested that Rodrick, who was on the council when the shelter’s contract was initially approved in 2019, now appears to be at odds with the organization. Rodrick has countered that complaints from Just Believe may be politically motivated, even accusing one of its members of raising concerns for that reason.

The mayor has not responded to three separate media requests for clarification on why the locks were changed or why Just Believe was not provided with a new set of keys. He did not answer whether closure of the Code Blue shelter is imminent or a request for a proposal for another service provider is in the works.

Just Believe CEO Paul Hulse said that the organization discovered the locks had been changed when they went to use the facilities recently. Past administrations have allowed the non-profit to utilize the space for particular projects without an issue.

“We have a storage container on site and we host our monthly meetings there the third Wednesday of the month,” said Hulse. “We are currently utilizing the space for wrapping gifts for our gift auction coming up in November.”

In a social media post, Rodrick said that “Just Believe was not locked out” and that the organization had completed its duties in March. He stated that new keys were created for the clubs that utilize the facility but did not address whether Just Believe would be able to continue its operations.

For Just Believe, the stakes could not be higher. Last year alone, the Code Blue Center served 167 people and provided over 2,700 bed nights. The facility has also been a key part of Toms River’s efforts to reduce homelessness in the area.

In addition to operating the warming shelter, Just Believe has provided cooling services during extreme heat at its administration building on Corporate Circle. The nonprofit also recently partnered with Ocean’s Harbor House to open the first Family Code Blue shelter in Ocean County, which began operations in January 2024.

Attorney Terrence Turnbach, who once served as a member of the Toms River council, has worked with Just Believe in their quest to help the less fortunate. He expressed optimism that the non-profit will be allowed to continue its work at the Riverwood Park location.

“For the past six years, Just Believe, Inc., has played a vital role in public safety by operating the Code Blue Program and providing warmth and shelter to Toms River residents who were struggling with housing insecurity,” said Turnbach. “Through the previous work of Just Believe and the Toms River Township Council, New Jersey State law was changed to afford better protections to the homeless throughout the state during the brutally cold winter months.”

“It is our hope that the new Toms River Township governing body will continue to work with Just Believe, Inc., and continue to allow the warming center to operate at the Riverwood Recreation Building,” Turnbach continued. “To stop this program would be a significant step backward in public health, safety and welfare.”