TOMS RIVER – The image could have been lifted from a black-and-white history book: People with nowhere else to go, quietly occupying a public space to demand attention to a societal failure. But instead of a lunch counter in the 1960s South, this sit-in played out beneath the concrete ceilings of the municipal parking garage.
Mike Rizzuto, 42, a Toms River native and self-described independent advocate, is the man behind what he calls an encampment. Experiencing homelessness himself, Rizzuto organized a loosely coordinated occupation of the garage next to the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library. His goal: force local officials to reckon with what he describes as a crisis of inaction.
“Back in March, I was coming home from job training and stopped in at the library,” shared Rizzuto. “I noticed the library was filled with homeless people.”
Rizzuto is not your typical protest organizer. However, he’s someone who’s been in recovery for six years and understands firsthand what it means to live on the edge.
“I’m Narcan certified and CPR trained,” he said. “I’ve been able to save lives out here, including someone who overdosed in the garage.”
Rizzuto insisted the encampment was a direct response to failed systems and not staged with non-profit organizations. His research led him to a few conclusions: While Ocean County had created a Homelessness Trust Fund in 2023 and formed a task force, local action remained elusive.
“I found that funding was transferred to the mayor’s office for us,” he said. “Yet, there was no concrete plan to handle the situation. So I made one – create a peaceful, visible reminder of what happens when people are ignored.”
Rizzuto denies accusations that nonprofit groups bussed people into Toms River to manufacture a crisis. Instead, he suggests the closing of multiple area camps – like the one near Winding River Park – as adding to the crisis, as well as the end of seasonal Code Blue warming centers.
“These are people with real needs: domestic violence survivors, veterans, people with mental health issues, or struggling with addiction,” he said. “They need to be near services, and many are from right here.”
A Flashpoint For Toms River Officials
The encampment caused immediate tension with Toms River officials.
Township Administrator Jonathan Solanis was among the first to respond – allegedly showing up to shout at volunteers from the nonprofit Just Believe and demand the area be cleared.
“He screamed, ‘This is a parking garage, not a freaking encampment,’” recalled Rizzuto.
Mayor Dan Rodrick also visited the scene, offering motel stays in Atlantic County and New Egypt. But his narrative quickly shifted toward accusations of manipulation.
“This was staged by a nonprofit,” insisted Rodrick in an interview. “They brought these people here to create pressure for opening a shelter.”
Rodrick claimed to have video footage showing U-Hauls and buses dropping off people and supplies – including cots. He declined to name the organization publicly, although Just Believe has admitted supplying some of the cots so people wouldn’t sleep on the concrete floors.
“They’re not from here,” Rodrick said of those in the garage. “This was orchestrated.”
Yet an informal survey of the people staying in the garage told a different story: five of the seven said they had last lived in Toms River; the other two were from Brick.
Rodrick said the people camped out at the garage were “all gigantic guys with muscles and looked very healthy.” He suggested they could easily do a day’s work – though at least one of the young men said he earns $1,000 on Social Security benefits.
“I know people say it’s a homeless epidemic, but in reality, it’s a mental health and drug addiction epidemic that we’re facing, and we need legislative tools,” contended the mayor. “We need the ability to commit folks hooked on heroin or mental illness – so the police can take them to facilities.”
“We’re compassionate conservatives,” Rodrick added. “But they can’t live in my parking garage.”
At some point, township officials came in and began disposing of personal property of those who had taken up refuge in the garage. Rumors that a veteran’s discharge papers and Purple Heart were disposed of have not been confirmed. However, the gesture citing an ordinance about sidewalk and highway debris was questioned. Rizzuto contacted attorney Jeffrey Wild, the same lawyer who worked with the mayor’s office to provide temporary shelter for 26 unhoused individuals after the shutdown of the Winding River Park encampment.
“I represent Mike, and I’m in the process of getting engaged to represent anyone unhoused in Toms River who wants help from me,” said Wild. “And we were successful in getting the possessions back already. I dealt with the mayor, the town, the township’s attorney, and they agreed to return everything quickly, and we made arrangements to do that, and that’s already been accomplished.”
Wild said that he was working with the mayor’s office to help rather than hurt incredibly vulnerable people. “But it is hypocritical for Toms River to complain that there are unhoused people outside when they are opposed to having a shelter where they can go inside,” he said.
“The issue right now is that the mayor set aside $250K and there are responses to OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request where the township has produced $10,000 in receipts,” added Terrance Turnbach, an attorney who represents Just Believe and is on their board. Where’s the other $240K?”
Non-Profits Step In
Ocean County officials have coordinated with contracted providers CSPNJ and the Ending Homelessness Group to place 22 individuals into 19 different places. Providers are doing their best to keep those placed in emergency shelter placements for 90 days until other arrangements are made. Some may need to be moved from their current locations due to the holiday weekend.
“These placements were not funded by the state,” said County Business Administrator Mike Fiure. “They were made using county funds and through coordinated outreach.”
Bright Harbor Healthcare also visited the parking garage as an access point for people in need of behavioral health services.
Assistant County Administrator Tracey Maksel said the county is considering establishing a “Code Red” protocol – similar to the cold-weather “Code Blue” response – to address future heat emergencies. “We are happy to have a discussion with any nonprofit or municipal partners that are interested in working with the county to start off a Code Red Relief Center.”
Although Just Believe was not one of the nonprofits contracted to help with the situation, one of its staff members was on site on a constant basis. Hulse said the organization’s case manager, Staci Laubauskas had a rapport with many of those parked at the garage. “She’s taken the stance of advocating for them as well as with the other agencies,” shared Hulse. “I think that we all need to work together and grow in the same direction.”
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 don’t get paid per person. There are no ‘brownie points’ in this work. We do it because people need help, not because it’s profitable.”
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
Political Blame Game
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.
