Officials Celebrate Health Centers For Serving The Vulnerable Homeless Camp Forced To Relocate

By Bob Vosseller

TOMS RIVER – National Health Center Week was kicked off in Toms River to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Federally Qualified Health Centers which provide free health care to all.

The event was held at Ocean Health Initiatives’ Toms River facility at 10 Stockton Drive and while the skies threatened rain, The event featured prizes, giveaways, health education booths, tours, and a food truck.

(Officials - See Page 4)

Trailer Drops For A-List Film Made Locally

By Chris Lundy

LAVALLETTE – “The Kill Room,” a movie partially made in Ocean County, will be in theaters this fall.

Uma Thurman and Joe Manganiello filmed the fi nal scenes at the Jersey shore on October 7, 2022. It reunites Thurman with her “Pulp Fiction” co-star Samuel L. Jackson and features her daughter, Maya Hawke. The release date is September 29, 2023. It’s rated R.

Manganiello is a contract killer and Jackson is his handler. When someone needs Manganiello to kill someone, the money is laundered through Thurman’s art gallery. In order to make the scheme work, Manganiello also makes a work of art to be sold.

The killer is not an artist, so his work is just thrown together. But people pay millions of dollars for bizarre, abstract art, so the scam is believable.

(Film - See Page 7)

By Stephanie Faughnan

TOMS RIVER – The homeless encampment located near high-tension wires moved after JCP&L’s parent company erected “no trespassing” signs on the part of the property it owns.

Chris Hoenig, a First Energy/JCP&L spokesperson, confi rmed that the signs were placed there on July 28. The homeless encampment was initially located on property partially owned by the municipality and First Energy.

One of the main access roads to the camp is on land owned by Ocean County and Toms River Township.

“Safety is a JCP&L priority, and we remind the public to keep away from powerlines and energized electrical equipment and at least 30 feet away from all JCP&L infrastructure for their own safety and protection,” Hoenig told Jersey Shore Online.com.

To facilitate the placement of the “no trespassing” signs on their property, JCP&L received a police escort. Police Chief Mitch Little said that the company has also requested assistance from township police regarding the enforcement of no trespassing laws.

Minister Steve Brigham of Destiny’s Bridge and the organizer of the encampment revealed that 15 men and women continue to reside in the makeshift settlement, now moved to an undisclosed location on what is believed to be public property.

Together with other volunteers, Brigham and some of the inhabitants diligently worked to meet what they thought was the midnight deadline to relocate their belongings away from the powerlines.

“My son came down with one of his friends and helped,” Brigham said. “They’re very

(Homeless - See Page 5)

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Officials: Continued From Page 1 the sun came out just as the event was set to start.

This year’s NHCW theme is “Community Health Centers: The Roadmap to a Stronger America” because community health centers strengthen the economic, physical, and emotional health of the communities they serve.

Following the kick-off press conference, OHI’s community event featured live music, free ice cream, balloon artists, photo booths, inflatable hoop games and many free giveaways from OHI and all the event sponsors: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, United Health Care, Amerigroup, Fidelis Care (Wellcare) and Aetna. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the OHI facility.

The event’s keynote speaker was entrepreneur and philanthropist Eric LeGrande, a former defensive tackle who played college football at Rutgers. He became paralyzed while making a tackle on October 16, 2010.

LeGrand suffered a severe spinal cord injury during that game against Army in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium. He has since regained movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body. As of 2020, LeGrand has been making consistent recovery at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

LaGrand said, “I was hoping to make it to the NFL. The amount of support I had was important. I was 20 years old and scared.”

He said that through adversity, “I wake up every morning with a purpose. Without healthcare I wouldn’t be here today. It isn’t about a pay check it is about the people you help, your patients. You do things that help people.”

The OHI event included the New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Region II, New Jersey Department of Human Services, New Jersey Department of Health, OHI President and CEO Dr. Theresa Berger, and Toms River Township Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill.

Dr. Berger noted that “health centers are responsible for providing critical care to over 30 million residents of our beautiful land, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or whether they can pay for their services.”

“Health centers serve a vital role in our nation’s local communities by filling in the gaps that other healthcare providers neglect: the poor, the undocumented, the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. It is organizations such as these that deliver on the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans and every person who graces our land,” she added.

“National Health Center Week is a great time to recognize the contributions of our centers and spread the news about the availability of high quality, affordable care at each and every one of the 1,400 health centers and their 14,000 plus sites across the country,” NJPCA President and CEO Selina Haq said.

“Our centers are unique in the care they provide, the communities they serve, and the linkages to life-saving resources they create for their patients, and NJPCA is proud to celebrate this week in recognition of their extraordinary services,” she added.

New Jersey’s 23 FQHCs and one FQHC looka-like serve nearly 600,000 patients across all 21 counties of the State and provide over 2.02 million primary, dental, and behavioral healthcare visits for their patients annually.

“Each year we celebrate National Health Center Week, spotlighting our Federally Qualified Health Centers and the vital primary care services provided for the most vulnerable people in our communities, people who often think quality, life-saving care may be hard to attain,” NJPCA Board Chair and Metropolitan Family Health Network President and CEO Joan Dublin said.

Cheryl Donald, Regional Administrator U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, said “health centers protect and promote the health of more than 30 million people in the U.S. For 58 years, health centers have delivered affordable, accessible, and high-quality primary health care to millions of people, regardless of their ability to pay. No one is turned away.”

NJ Department of Human Services Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira said, “New Jersey’s community health centers serve as a lifeline for some of our most vulnerable populations. Expanding health care access to more New Jerseyans continues to be a priority for this administration, and the state’s community health centers play a role in this effort.”

“They provide preventative and primary health care to individuals and families who may otherwise not have access to these services; serving patients regardless of income, insurance or immigration status.” Neira added.

Members of the public were able to receive free COVID-19 testing and vaccines as well as other testing and screenings. These vaccines and screenings were administered by OHI. Anyone six months and above was eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.

Mayor Hill, a former dentist, thanked health care providers.

“Your compensation could probably be higher in the private sector but it shows your commitment to your patients and for that I want to thank you. I also want to recognize OHI’s 20 years of providing high quality health care for the residents of Toms River, Ocean and Monmouth counties. OHI provides a wide range of services to our most vulnerable residents.”

Homeless

: Continued From Page 1 strong, energetic young men and they really helped out. It was harder on some of the others that were there, and they were exhausted.”

He added, “we moved everything that was valuable, but there were some things that were left behind.”

Brigham reported that almost half of the original community at the encampment chose to leave when offered temporary shelter in hotels. The belongings they left behind were not considered a priority during the relocation process and remain in the vicinity near the powerlines.

Among Brigham’s current worries is how to ensure a steady supply of essentials for those still at the encampment. To abide by trespassing laws, he has devised a plan to use a kayak to travel through the river within the area, allowing him to access and provide support to those in need without violating any regulations.

Thirteen individuals who continue to live in the makeshift settlement have retained legal counsel to ensure their rights are protected.

Attorney Jeffrey J. Wild of Lowenstein Sandler, who serves as a Trustee of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness, has been retained to advocate on their behalf.

In 2019, Wild successfully secured funds for members of another homeless community, established by Destiny’s Bridge in Howell, which were specifically allocated for relocation and temporary housing expenses.

According to Wild, he personally visited the encampment last week and was deeply disturbed by the conditions he witnessed. The outside temperature felt like nearly 110 degrees, making the situation incredibly challenging. Additionally, the presence of two women relying on oxygen added to the already precarious nature of their circumstances.

“These men and women would love not to have to fight to survive in the woods,” Wild asserted. “All of them would love to have adequate indoor housing.”

He added that since his clients have moved from the edge of the JCP&L property, they are not considered trespassers. Currently, they are situated on public land deep within a park, where they are causing no disturbances and are not bothering anyone.

“Under the United States Constitution and other parts of the law, they have the right to be there,” said Wild. “Governments cannot criminalize homelessness. It is cruel and unusual punishment to treat people as criminals just because they have no place to sleep but outdoors.”

“They have a right to live there if the government provides no other place,” Wild added. “Ocean County has consistently refused to provide a homeless shelter. So, it is a very unfortunate situation.”

Although the attorney mentioned his firm has used litigation to advocate for the homeless, he sees it as a last resort. His initial discussions with Toms River authorities have left him with the impression that they are of the mindset of helping people rather than prosecuting them.

During their initial visit to the camp, Toms River Police arrived in plain clothes with the purpose of escorting representatives from dif- ferent organizations that Chief Little believed could provide valuable resources.

In collaboration with local authorities, a range of groups has stepped forward to offer assistance, including Just Believe, Inc., Bright Harbor Healthcare, Ocean County Board of Social Services, Affordable Housing Alliance, Mental Health Association, Ocean County Board of Senior Services, HABcore, and Soldier On.

“The problem we’re facing is that it is not a one size fits all,” offered Little. “You can’t just throw money at it. There are other issues involved and that’s why we had to try to get everybody we could get together to try to meet the needs of the people in there and get them services as quickly as possible.”

Little said he was particularly concerned about the rising temperatures and the impact it could have on those living outside. As assorted people took advantage of the access to medical and psychiatric attention, some original members of the encampment accepted housing offers.

Of the group, 18 were placed in some kind of temporary housing situation, Little said. “But, again, it could be only a temporary solution, and they end up right back where they started, or in a different place. If they come back to the same place, at least they have a support group there.”

One of those who remained behind said she did so for that very reason. She worried that she and her family would receive only a shortterm placement in a hotel and then be asked to vacate. There was comradery in staying within the community, even if it meant living in the woods.

Paul Hulse, CEO of Just Believe, said they brought out an oxygen tank and a wheelchair, provided by Social Service. They paid for storage units for some campers for three months.

Collaborating with other nonprofits, some housing opportunities started to open up, he said. Additionally, three dogs and two cats were placed with help from Helping Assist with Melis pet connection.

Both Brigham and Hulse have said that Ocean County needs to establish a homeless shelter as a proactive measure to address the ongoing issue. Little said that he would be in favor of a shelter if it would help local people who are displaced.

“The problem with shelters is that if it’s the only one in the area,” shared Little. “It’s going to draw people from other places. We’d then have people in our town that wouldn’t have been here before seeking services. We could get overwhelmed.”

Certain homeless individuals might choose to decline offers of shelter for various reasons. These concerns include worries about inadequate storage space for their belongings, difficulties in accommodating their pets, or resistance to abide by shelter rules.

Additionally, others may be dealing with mental illness, which could also influence their decision to forego accepting shelter assistance. The chief confirmed that the township has no plans to forcibly remove those who have chosen to stay at the encampment. Instead, they are actively seeking a collaborative approach with their attorney to identify a solution for housing and secure the necessary funding. The authorities remain optimistic about finding a resolution that benefits those in need.