Organizer's Claim Homeless Campers Will Be Arrested Is False, Toms River Police Chief Says

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The conflict over a group of homeless residents living in tents on a strip of land in Toms River is intensifying, as the group's organizer made claims on social media Tuesday that a resident was told they will be arrested if they stay.

Steve Brigham, known by many as Minister Steve, posted the claim Tuesday evening on his Facebook page, saying a Toms River police officer told a female resident "that if any of the camp residents are in the camp when they show up on Friday that they will be arrested. These people have done nothing wrong, except for the crime of being homeless in Ocean County."

"No one has threatened to arrest anyone, and no date has been set" for the closure of the camp, Toms River Police Chief Mitchell Little said Tuesday night in a telephone interview.

But with a heat index predicted to reach 105 on Friday, Little said he is very concerned about the health and safety of the residents living in the camp.

"We want to help them obtain the services they desperately need," Little said.

Brigham, who organized the encampment and brings supplies and donations to the people living there, says a lack of services is the reason people are living out in the camp, which Little said straddles township property and private property of Jersey Central Power & Light, under the high-voltage towers.

"They had asked all the government agencies for help and had exhausted every housing option they could think of," Brigham wrote in a Facebook post Saturday, a day after representatives of a number of organizations visited the camp for a second day. Read more: Conflict Over Toms River Homeless Encampment Highlights Complex Issues

The outreach that included a dozen organizations was organized by Little after Toms River police became aware of the location of the camp, Little said.

Brigham, who called it "a government invasion," accused the police department of trying to disperse the camp to cover up the issue of the lack of services.

"Sweep it under the rug, disperse the homeless so they are alone, afraid and out of sight, and out of the mind of the public," Brigham wrote.

Little said his concern is the health and wellbeing of the residents, especially with the oncoming heat, as the majority of the people in the encampment are senior citizens. Some of them, including two women who reportedly have COPD and need oxygen around the clock, have serious health issues.

Little said the handling of gasoline and propane at the camp is a serious safety concern as well.

"If something happens at the camp and we haven't done anything to help these people, we are going to be held responsible," Little said. "If someone does die, we are going to get the blame."

Little said they gathered a number of organizations to try to see what assistance is available to people, with a full scope that included mental health supports, organizations to help those with addiction, and along with various efforts to find housing.

"People just don't know all the services that are out there or where to go," said Laurie Singer, outreach coordinator for the Toms River Housing and Homeless Coalition, which formed in 2022 to bring together organizations across the area that are trying to assist the homeless.

There is no real clearinghouse in Ocean County of organizations that are providing services. Most people go to the Ocean County Board of Social Services, which can connect them with government-run programs, but there are a number of private organizations that are trying to fill in the gaps, Singer said.

"Even I didn't know of some of the services that existed until I got involved" with the coalition, she said.

Little said he hopes the residents of the camp will allow organizations to try again to help them get out of the heat.

"I'm concerned because even the emergency placements will fill up quick," Little said. "No one should be living outside in this heat. The system isn't perfect. I wish we could do more."

Little did say formal eviction notices may be given to the residents shortly.

"There was never a date set to remove anyone," Little said. "We are taking this a step a time to make sure everyone gets offered every service we have at our disposal. We are close to that point where no one else will be accepting help and services. We are left with giving them notice to vacate the area by a certain time."

"But I am not arresting anyone Friday," Little said.