LITTLE EGG HARBOR – A little more than a year after a groundbreaking on an empty lot, dozens of people returned to the same spot on October 28 to witness the transformation that love, perseverance, and purpose made possible.
Where bare earth once sat, a ranch-style home now stands tall beneath the American flag. Dubbed Larry’s Home, the four-bedroom residence serves as a lasting tribute to the vision of Just Believe, Inc., founder and CEO Paul Hulse. It is a project born from friendship, heartbreak and the shared determination of many who came together to bring Hulse’s inspiration to life as transitional housing for at-risk veterans.
The new home, tucked along a quiet residential street just off Route 9, blends seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood. Its soft oxford blue siding, bright blue door, and freshly laid walkway welcome visitors with warmth. Inside, sunlight falls on patriotic decor and a heartfelt tribute to the man whose name it bears. Lawrence “Larry” Robertiello was a Southern Regional High School graduate, Army veteran, and a lifelong friend of Hulse.
For Hulse, Larry’s Home is personal. He grew up with Larry in Waretown, and their friendship endured through the years and across continents, even to Iraq, where Larry served two tours operating Army tanks. “I remember the first time he called me from Iraq,” Hulse said. “This weird number came up on my phone. I answered and he said, ‘Paulie!’ like he always did.”
“I said, ‘Where are you?’ and he told me, ‘I can’t tell you. I’m on a satellite phone,’” Hulse continued. “We’d talk from time to time. He still owes me breakfast. That was our last conversation. He said, ‘I’m taking you out to breakfast tomorrow.’”
Unfortunately, tomorrow didn’t come. After returning home, Larry faced the invisible wounds of war. He died in 2022 from an accidental overdose after struggling with PTSD and addiction, a fate Hulse vowed would not define his friend’s legacy.
“I remember the day I called Paul and asked him to come with his pickup truck and help us empty out Larry’s storage unit,” said Nancy Robertiello, Larry’s mother. “He spotted Larry’s boots and knew right away what he was going to do with them.”
When the moment came to cut the ribbon, Hulse shook his head as he stood next to his late friend’s mother. “It wouldn’t feel right if I was the one to cut this ribbon,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “This house wasn’t dedicated to me. It was dedicated to her son, who I love dearly.”
Nancy’s scissors sliced through the ribbon as the crowd applauded, and she softly declared, “Larry’s Home, Amen.”
Building A Home, Healing A Legacy
The 1,600-square-foot home is warm and welcoming, modest in size but rich in meaning. It was constructed on land donated by Kristi and Bryan Leary and funded through a mix of donations, loans, and volunteer work.
Three of the bedrooms feature twin bunk beds, and a fourth will serve as the house manager’s room. Designed as a transitional sober-living residence, Larry’s Home provides veterans with up to a year to rebuild their lives through independent living, peer support, and access to counseling services.
“Larry’s Home is an opportunity for homeless veterans to establish a foothold back into their community,” said Anjelica Webber, LCSW, who will help oversee counseling. “To gain access to meaningful employment opportunities, camaraderie, a super and safe support network, and much more.”
“By granting veterans a very basic need, the need for shelter and security, they will have the opportunity to work on themselves,” she said.
A handcrafted wooden display in the living room captures the heart of Larry’s story. Inside a glass case sit Larry’s bronzed combat boots, placed beneath a wooden American flag. To the right hangs a portrait of Larry, a young man with a soldier’s gaze and the weight of service in his eyes. A woman who Just Believe helped out of homelessness painted the remarkable rendition from a photograph.
The first residents are expected within the next few weeks, pending final licensing approval. Once the application process is finalized, veterans will be vetted to ensure they meet the criteria by the policies put in place.
A Community Of Support
The raising of the flag and the powerful delivery of Ron Brooks singing the National Anthem set the tone for the grand opening of Larry’s Home. Scattered raindrops seemed to represent actual tears from heaven.
The crowd included a wide range of supporters from veterans, civic leaders, and community members. Ocean County Commissioner Virginia “Ginny” Haines attended to present a proclamation on behalf of the county, noting her longtime admiration for Hulse’s tireless advocacy for the homeless and veterans alike. Later, former Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill, a Navy veteran, privately echoed similar sentiments.
Deputy Mayor Ken Laney and Police Chief James Hawkins also expressed their support for the hope that Larry’s Home brings to the community.
Jay Hayden, a 13-year Air Force veteran, spoke on behalf of Ma Deuce Deuce, a non-profit organization that focuses on raising awareness of the 22 daily veteran suicides. “It’s clear that it does take a team,” he said. “Regardless of what side of the aisle you’re on, or what organization you’re with, we have an obligation to help our veterans.”
For all who attended, the opening of Larry’s Home symbolized what can happen when compassion, purpose, and persistence come together. It served as a community’s promise to stand beside its veterans, and to honor the memory of one who will never be forgotten.
