A Toms River church wants to build a 17-bed homeless shelter on its property that would be the first of its kind in Ocean County, the church’s attorney said.
The Toms River Zoning Board of Adjustment is expected to hear Christ Episcopal Church’s application at its zoning board meeting Thursday night. The church is requesting site plan approval and a variance.
But, the project already has vocal opposition, according to the attorney.
“There are people who are very much against it, and have gone down to town hall and started screaming and yelling,” said Harvey York, an attorney representing the church.
The church wants to construct a 949-square-foot homeless shelter at its existing outreach office on its property at 415 Washington Street. The outreach office would be renovated and remain in the building, York said.
The proposed homeless shelter is not permitted within the zone, so the church is requesting a variance, according to the item on the zoning board’s agenda.
Donna Flynn, a county spokeswoman, confirmed there are currently no licensed homeless shelters in Ocean County. But, the county is planning to use American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funding to build space to house the homeless.
“The Board of Commissioners recently awarded $7.5 million in ARPA funding to support a local non-profit organization, through the competitive contracting process, to acquire, construct or rehabilitate units for the purpose of establishing a comprehensive licensed homeless shelter in the County of Ocean,” she said.
The county also supports a network of overnight warming centers when Code Blue alerts are activated for extremely cold weather, Flynn said.
Although there is opposition to the homeless shelter, it also appears to have significant support from the community, including some neighboring residents, according to comments on social media.
“This is much needed!” one person wrote on Facebook. “I hope they approve it.”
“Hoping this comes to fruition,” another person said.
The application follows the township’s dispute with homeless advocates over one Code Blue warming center.
The warming center at Riverwood Park in Toms River, which is operated by the local nonprofit group Just Believe, is in jeopardy after the mayor sparred with the nonprofit’s CEO, according to the Asbury Park Press.
Christ Episcopal Church’s outreach office, which has been operation since July 2023, has already served more than 100 people by providing meals, clothing donations and other services, York said.
York, who lives in the neighborhood of the proposed shelter, said some neighbors believe opening the shelter is “the right thing to do.”
A homeless shelter is “exactly what churches are supposed to do,” said York. “I think historically churches are shelters — for the poor, the needy, et cetera. And I think this church is doing exactly the right thing.”
Stories by Brianna Kudisch
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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.