Tom’s River A black-and-white history book might have featured the image: people with nowhere else to go, silently occupying a public area to draw attention to a social failing. This sit-in, however, took place under the concrete ceilings of the municipal parking garage rather than a lunch counter in the 1960s South.
The creator of what he refers to as an encampment is 42-year-old Mike Rizzuto, a native of Toms River and self-described independent advocate. Rizzuto, who was homeless himself, planned a haphazard occupation of the garage adjacent to the Ocean County Library’s Toms River branch. He wants to make local authorities face what he calls a crisis of inaction.
I went by the library on my way home from job training back in March, Rizzuto said. I saw that there were a lot of homeless people in the library.
Rizzuto is not like other protest coordinators. But having spent six years in recovery, he has personal experience with what it’s like to live on the brink.
“I’m CPR trained and Narcan certified,” he claimed. One person who overdosed in the garage was among the lives I’ve been able to save out here.
Rizzuto maintained that the camping was not organized by nonprofits but rather was a direct reaction to broken processes. He came at several conclusions as a result of his research: Although Ocean County established a task team and established a Homelessness Trust Fund in 2023, local action was still elusive.
According to him, I discovered that funds had been moved to the mayor’s office on our behalf. However, there was no clear strategy in place to deal with the crisis. I therefore constructed one to serve as a calm, conspicuous reminder of what occurs when people are disregarded.
Rizzuto refutes claims that in order to create a crisis, nonprofit organizations bused people into Toms River. Rather, he proposes ending seasonal Code Blue warming facilities and shutting some local campgrounds, such as the one by Winding River Park, which would exacerbate the situation.
According to him, these are those with genuine needs, such as veterans, survivors of domestic abuse, those dealing with mental health conditions, or those battling addiction. Many of them are from right here, therefore they must be close to services.
Toms River Officials’ Flashpoint
Officials in Toms River were immediately irritated by the campsite.
One of the first people to arrive was Township Administrator Jonathan Solanis, who reportedly showed up to yell at Just Believe volunteers and demand that the area be vacated.
Remembering Rizzuto, he yelled, “This is a parking garage, not a freaking encampment.”
Additionally, Mayor Dan Rodrick came to the situation and offered motel accommodations in New Egypt and Atlantic County. However, his story soon turned to charges of manipulation.
In an interview, Rodrick stated that this was organized by a nonprofit. These individuals were brought here in order to exert pressure on the establishment of a refuge.
According to Rodrick, he had video footage of busses and U-Hauls delivering people and equipment, including cots. Although Just Believe has acknowledged providing some of the cots to prevent people from sleeping on the concrete floors, he chose not to publicly identify the organization.
Regarding those in the garage, Rodrick remarked, “They’re not from here.” This was planned.
An informal survey of the seven people residing in the garage, however, revealed a different picture: two of them were from Brick, while five of them claimed to have previously been in Toms River.
According to Rodrick, the individuals encamped at the garage were all large, muscular men who appeared to be in excellent health. Even though at least one of the young guys claimed to receive $1,000 in Social Security benefits, he stated they could easily complete a day’s work.
The mayor argued, “I know people say it’s a homeless epidemic, but in reality, we’re facing a mental health and drug addiction epidemic, and we need legislative tools.” For the police to transport people to facilities, we must be able to commit those who are addicted to heroin or suffering from mental illness.
“We’re conservatives with compassion,” Rodrick continued. However, they are not allowed to reside in my garage.
Township officials eventually arrived and started to get rid of the personal belongings of the people who had taken up residence in the garage. It has not been verified that Purple Heart and a veteran’s discharge documents were thrown away. The gesture referring to a sidewalk and highway debris ordinance, however, was questioned. After the Winding River Park campsite was closed, Rizzuto reached out to lawyer Jeffrey Wild, who collaborated with the mayor’s office to offer 26 homeless people temporary housing.
According to Wild, I represent Mike and am currently engaged to represent anyone in need of assistance who is homeless in Toms River. And we already succeeded in regaining the possessions. I spoke with the town, the mayor, and the township attorney, and they all promised to return everything as soon as possible. We made plans to do so, and it has already been done.
According to Wild, he was collaborating with the mayor’s office to assist rather than harm those who were most in need. However, he stated that Toms River’s complaint that there are homeless people outside is disingenuous given their opposition to providing a shelter where they may go inside.
Terrance Turnbach, an attorney who works with Just Believe and is a member of their board, noted that the township has provided $10,000 in receipts in response to an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request, and the mayor has put aside $250K. The other $240,000—where is it?
Nonprofits Take Over
In order to put 22 people in 19 various locations, Ocean County officials have partnered with contracted providers CSPNJ and the Ending Homelessness Group. Until alternative arrangements are arranged, providers are making every effort to retain individuals in emergency shelter locations for a period of ninety days. Because of the holiday weekend, some could have to relocate from where they are now.
According to County Business Administrator Mike Fiure, the state did not provide funding for these placements. They were created through concerted outreach and county financing.
In order to provide access to individuals in need of behavioral health assistance, Bright Harbor Healthcare also made an appearance at the parking garage.
In order to handle future heat emergencies, the county is thinking about implementing a Code Red strategy, which is comparable to the cold-weather Code Blue response, according to Assistant County Administrator Tracey Maksel. Any municipal or charity partners who would like to collaborate with the county to launch a Code Red Relief Center are welcome to speak with us.
One of Just Believe’s volunteers stayed on the scene continuously, despite the fact that it was not one of the organizations hired to assist with the crisis. According to Hulse, many of the people parked in the garage got along with Staci Laubauskas, the organization’s case manager. According to Hulse, she has adopted the position of supporting them and the other agencies. We all need to cooperate and develop in the same way, in my opinion.
Rodrick has accused some of the nonprofits of exploiting the homeless for funding, claiming they are incentivized to keep them unhoused.
I don t understand what he s thinking, Hulse said. We are not paid on a per capita basis. This work does not have any brownie points. We don’t do it for financial gain; we do it because others need support.
It wasn t just nonprofits stepping up to assist those camped out in the parking garage. Word of the encampment spread quickly, prompting everyday residents to show up with cases of water, hot meals and other essentials. The outpouring of support from complete strangers was overwhelming, according to Rizzuto, who said he was both deeply touched and profoundly grateful
The Game of Political Blame
Rodrick accused Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace and Republican Chairman George Gilmore of conspiring to establish shelters in Toms River for political purposes. He suggested that Arace was working behind the scenes to turn open space in Manchester into a tent city.
Arace refuted the claim entirely. That land is preserved under the Open Space Trust. And the county certainly would never sponsor a tent encampment.
Gilmore said the proposal mentioned by Rodrick existed before Arace was even elected to his position on the commissioner board. He said the concept came from developer Jack Morris, who pitched the creation of a campus-style homeless facility near Villa Amalfi on Route 166 several years ago. The project, which aimed to partner with RWJ Barnabas Health, would have required residents to undergo weekly health checks, addiction screenings, and job-readiness training. However, Gilmore said the proposal never gained traction and was ultimately rejected by the prior administration.
Tell a lie often enough and people will believe it, suggested Gilmore, referring to the mayor s assertions.
