Voices For The Voiceless Rally Spotlights Homeless Issue In Ocean Co.

TOMS RIVER, NJ ? Gregory Andrus remembers what it was like, as a young man in late teens and early 20s, to be without a home.

Andrus, a photographer, author, and founder of the Facebook group Portraits of the Jersey Shore, has spoken often of his time spent living on the streets, of how he struggled with alcoholism as he tried to cope with an abusive childhood.

He escaped homelessness after he was shot in the head by accident in May 1998, injured by a police officer who was firing at someone else. It is his survival and how his life has blossomed into something far more substantial ? Andrus and his wife have two sons, and his Facebook following has led to the publication of two books; a third is due out shortly ? that drive him to advocate for others who find themselves without homes, struggling to find a path forward.

While he has frequently highlighted stories of those who are homeless on his page, recent events in Toms River have sharpened his focus on advocating for those in need.

One of those efforts is a rally set for Saturday evening in front of the Ocean County Library in Toms River. The rally, Voices for the Voiceless, is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. on the library steps.

Andrus is joined in the effort by Paul Hulse, the CEO of Just Believe Inc., the nonprofit that had operated the Code Blue shelter at Toms River's Riverwood Park for seven years, before a falling out last summer with Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick. Just Believe has since moved its efforts to South Toms River, and assisted families in need of shelter from November through March.

More recently, Rodrick has criticized the JBJ Soul Kitchen pop-up at the library for feeding those in need, where those who cannot pay volunteer in exchange for their meals, and paying patrons can pay-it-forward by buying meals to help the needy.

Rodrick has claimed the cafe has been a magnet for the homeless, and has accused Ocean County officials of dumping the homeless on Toms River. County officials have pushed back, saying Rodrick has refused to discuss solutions to assist people in need. Rodrick has responded by threatening legal action against nonprofit entities he insists have been busing people into the area.

The issue exploded in late April, when the Toms River Township Council introduced an ordinanceto take over Christ Episcopal Church by eminent domain. The church currently has an application before the Toms River Zoning Board of Adjustment seeking to turn one of the buildings on its property into a 17-bed overnight shelter for the homeless year-round. It has significant opposition from residents in the area.

Rodrick has said he would like to turn the 11-acre church property into a recreation site for township residents.

Andrus, Hulse and others see a connection among the three entities.

"What does Soul Kitchen, Just Believe and Christ Episcopal Church have in common? They all have helped the homeless," Andrus wrote on his page in announcing the rally. "As a consequence, the Toms River government has gone after each of them. Our homeless neighbors have been beaten up, villainized, demonized, and criminalized by Toms River and there is no way for them to defend themselves."

The rally includes music and speeches, and Andrus says the goal is twofold: to stand up for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and to push for more efforts and more coordination to help those who are homeless get connected with the services that will help them break the cycle of being unhoused.

That, too, is a common thread of Just Believe, JBJ Soul Foundation and Christ Episcopal Church; they work to connect those in need with services, whether it's to break free of addiction, housing, or even things as basic as helping someone navigate replacing identification so they can find employment.

"Every homeless person should have an opportunity to know that they are cared for," Andrus said, "and there are many organizations and resources that are available to help. Let these organizations, these people who are trying to help them do the work that they can do so the homeless people know that they have a second chance at life just like I did."

Here is the schedule for the Voices for the Voiceless rally: