TOMS RIVER – For years, Ocean County’s approach to homelessness has focused on preventing people from losing their homes through rental assistance, mortgage assistance and other housing stabilization programs. Now, county officials and one of the region’s largest housing nonprofits are taking the next step by creating a place where people who have already become homeless can begin rebuilding their lives.
That effort reached a major milestone June 17 when HABcore Inc. purchased the Pelican Inn and Suites at 3324 Route 37 for $7 million. The 25-unit motel is being renovated into an emergency housing program that will provide temporary accommodations and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The purchase represents the culmination of a process that began in June 2024, when the Ocean County Department of Human Services awarded HABcore a $7.5 million contract through the county’s Acquisition for Innovations to Address Homelessness initiative. Working with Family Promise of the Jersey Shore and Bright Harbor Healthcare, HABcore proposed acquiring motel properties that could offer private accommodations while connecting residents with services aimed at helping them secure permanent housing. The county grant, combined with mortgage financing, was used to acquire three Ocean County properties.
“It’s always nice to see a project come to fruition, especially one that’s been kind of in the pipeline for a while,” said Dr. Jamie Busch, director of the Ocean County Department of Human Services.
Busch said the county’s initial ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) investments were designed to keep people housed before they became homeless. The Pelican project represents the next phase of that strategy by creating emergency housing for residents who have already lost stable housing while surrounding them with services intended to help them return to permanent housing.
More Than A Place To Stay
Even before renovations are complete, the motel has already begun serving its intended purpose.
During the Independence Day heat wave, HABcore quietly opened several completed rooms to accommodate people through Ocean County’s Code Red overflow program. The first 11 guests included a family, a woman who is a double amputee and her dog, two brothers and their dog who had been living in a vehicle, and another woman who had been staying in a homeless encampment.
“We will continue to operate on a very limited basis as a Code Red overflow facility until the motel is better suited for occupancy and all operational and safety measures are established,” HABcore President and CEO Steve Heisman said.
Although some have referred to the project as transitional housing, Heisman said that description is inaccurate. “This will not be anything remotely like that,” he said.
Instead, the motel will provide emergency housing, where most residents are expected to stay between 30 and 90 days while staff work to eliminate the barriers that led to homelessness. Transitional housing, by comparison, typically allows residents to remain for 18 months to two years.
“It’ll be focused on removing the barriers to housing, helping them find affordable housing which suits their needs, linking them to services, improved employment,” Heisman said.
Each resident will work with supportive housing staff to develop an individualized plan that may include employment assistance, behavioral health care, substance use treatment, medical care and help locating permanent housing. The facility will be open to individuals, couples and families experiencing homelessness.
One feature Heisman believes will remove a significant obstacle is allowing residents to keep their pets.
“We are just at the beginning stages of refurbishing the motel, which will become Ocean County’s first emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness and their pets,” Heisman said. “These companions are often their only physical and emotional comfort as they navigate the day-to-day stress of finding safe, affordable housing. Now people don’t have to make that terrible choice.”
Breathing New Life Into An Aging Motel
The Pelican was already operating as a licensed social service hotel before HABcore purchased it, allowing the nonprofit to move forward without seeking zoning changes or a new occupancy classification. Instead, the organization has concentrated on transforming the aging property from the inside out.
Workers have removed mold, discarded all existing furniture, completed fumigation and begun repainting every room. New flooring, replacement windows, upgraded furnishings and enhanced security systems are all part of the renovation effort. By the time the project is complete, Heisman expects little will remain of the building’s previous condition.
The motel includes 25 guest rooms, including a three-bedroom apartment that formerly housed the owner. Because some rooms may accommodate families while others will house individuals, HABcore has not yet determined exactly how many residents the property will ultimately serve.
When fully operational, the facility will be staffed around the clock. Supportive housing coordinators will work directly with residents, while security cameras, electronic access systems and 24-hour staffing will provide oversight.
The nonprofit is also building partnerships that extend beyond housing. Fulfill is expected to provide healthy meal options, while local veterinarians will assist with accommodations and medical protocols for residents’ pets. HABcore recently received a $250,000 grant from the JBJ Soul Foundation to help offset renovation costs and is pursuing additional funding to enhance the property and expand supportive services.
Addressing A Growing Need
The Pelican project builds on HABcore’s growing presence in Ocean County. The nonprofit previously acquired the former Harbor House in Toms River, which now operates with Family Promise of the Jersey Shore as a licensed emergency housing program for families. It also partnered with 180 Turning Lives Around to establish HABcore Haven, providing transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence.
The need for additional emergency housing continues to grow. According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, at least 577 Ocean County residents were identified as experiencing homelessness. Advocates say the actual number is likely much higher because the annual survey does not include many people temporarily staying with friends or relatives, sleeping in vehicles or remaining in unsafe living situations because they have nowhere else to go.
For Busch, the motel’s purchase represents years of collaboration among county agencies and nonprofit organizations committed to addressing homelessness. For Heisman, the renovations are only the beginning.
The policies still need to be finalized, the remaining rooms completed and residents connected with permanent housing. But after years of searching for the right property, he believes the motel provides Ocean County with something it has long lacked, a dedicated place where people experiencing homelessness can stabilize, receive support and begin moving toward homes of their own rather than simply surviving another day.
