'Got me back on my feet': Toms River close to getting first shelter for homeless families

TOMS RIVER - In January, Natalia Green and her three daughters showed up desperate at the newly opened “Code Blue” emergency overnight shelter for families in Toms River. They’d been evicted from their home after Natalia, a single mom who was struggling to juggle school, a job and health challenges, had fallen behind on rent.

“I didn’t know what to do, didn’t have any help,” she said. “It was just hard times.”

Green was surprised at the accommodations: The six-bedroom ranch on Windsor Avenue included spacious and well-appointed common areas and a nice kitchen. She and her daughters — ages 6, 12 and 17 — each had a real bed.

“We always had food, we finally could get a shower, we could do laundry,” she said. “It got me back on my feet.”

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Now working full-time, Green is renting a three-bedroom house with her girls in Toms River. And she’s thrilled to hear that the shelter where they found refuge on the coldest nights is on the verge of going from temporary status to permanent. Earlier this month, Toms River’s zoning board approved a variance giving the ranch R2 zoning status, paving the way for the state to issue a Class III homeless shelter license for families.

“This is really important,” Green said. “There are families that need help.”

Run by the long-standing local nonprofit Ocean’s Harbor House, this would be the first permanent homeless shelter in all of Ocean County. It will be open to female-headed families and their minor children from throughout the county, with stays up to six months. At 18 beds, it can accommodate up to six families at a time. Support services will be provided, including educational and vocational training.

This past winter illustrated the need. Operating under Code Blue rules — opening on nights when the temperature was forecasted to drop below 36 degrees — the family shelter was routinely filled. Throughout six weeks of use it accommodated 21 people (a mix of single women, mothers and nine children from five different families). Of those 21 guests, 14 have since attained permanent housing.

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“It showed us that we’re ready to serve families in that house,” said Alice Woods, executive director of Ocean’s Harbor House, which used to run an emergency youth shelter at the site. “It shined a light on that there are homeless families out there right now that need support. We think of the homeless as individuals, but there are families.”

Woods projects the final approvals will be in place by September. The next step is fundraising so the shelter can hire 10 full-time staff members: eight residential counselors, one housing navigator and one program lead.

“We will be launching a major gift campaign to help us get off the ground,” Woods said. “We are seeking funding by federal, state and local partners and by the general public.”

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This past winter, staffing was provided by the homeless advocacy nonprofit Just Believe Inc., which runs Toms River’s primary Code Blue station at the Riverwood Park recreation building. Woods said Ocean’s Harbor House hopes to continue partnering with Just Believe “in some fashion.”

Paul Hulse, the founder and chief executive officer of Just Believe Inc., said there will be a new location in Toms River next winter for a Code Blue emergency overnight shelter for families. As for the nascent permanent family shelter, his group is happy to help however it can.

“This is something we’ve all been shooting for — for a long time,” Hulse said. “I think it’s going to be successful long-term based on what we were able to do right off the bat (this past winter). It shows the need.”

Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore’s interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River close to getting first shelter for homeless families