Ahhhh. "Rental Vouchers".... another name for "our tax dollars paying for some homeless drug addict to have a nice cozy bed somewhere while they get high, shoot their dope and hide what they just stole while burglarizing several homes here in Holiday City.... Wonderful... Here's a thought if your homeless... Move somewhere warm, walk hitchhike, i'll give you the $20 for the bus ride, and go burden their taxpayers.. Isn't this how the Cities like Camden, Trenton, Jersey City, Newark, etc. all began to fall apart? Don't make provisions for the homeless in Ocean County.. We have no more to give.. We barely have enough Police to help us now...they don't need to deal with another how many people committing more crimes because they "are misunderstood drug addicts that need treatment and not jail". I agree, but not when they get are forced to go to treatment to avoid jail. it should be voluntary so they actually GET rehabilitated... Sometime I think common sense goes out the window as soon as someone in an elected position opens their mouths...i really do.

I will grant you there are people that know how to play the system and get things they shouldn't ,however not everyone that needs and gets assistance is a drug addict or thief. As a matter of fact many people are in situations that they had never expected and totally out of their control. If someone lost their job because the company went out of business or they are on disability due to an unforeseen accident or illness they might need housing or other assistance. If you have ever had to deal with a state agency in that regard I feel bad for you.I can tell you as a fact that it is a humiliating experience and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I agree many things are wrong with the system but don't be so quick to judge everyone that needs help. I get very angry when I think about the fact that we are giving the same assistance with much less paperwork and checks and balances to illegal aliens. I don't call them undocumented because they didn't loose the paperwork, they are here illegally and not paying a dime into our tax system but are draining it in numbers that are staggering.Don't say I am prejudiced because that is not true. I practically have the united nations in my family. I just know that every one of my family members struggled but did it the legal way.Right now if we cut illegals from the school system and free lunch and breakfast program alone we would save millions in this state alone. The only assistance they should receive is a one way ticket out of this country.

"Providing housing is not a function of government. A Homeless Trust Fund would probably be looted by politicians for other purposes while creating a new tax burden."

"Homeless people should approach their own religious congregations for voluntary assistance. Ask and you shall receive. Homeless advocates should welcome homeless people into their own homes. Homeless people should definitely be helped, but by their friends and communities, not by government programs.

"More taxes and more government is not the solution. More government and more taxes is the problem."

CC and Mary Pat can open that " Treatment " center right by there home , rather than burden us in " NIMBY" fanatic's . He feels bad that they go to jail and not to a treatment center, let his home be invaded and robbed and then vandalized by these druggies and his FA has to clean up after a break in. Then he will have a different attitude towards druggies. Held up at gun point by street thugs for a few dollars and minutes of terror if your going to be harmed because you DIDN't have enough money for there fix !! This is ALL you got , I should shoot you for not having more than a mere 20 dollars on you !! Put on a disguise on go on the streets like Cody did & get back to us CC....your a phony , a rich Governor , not for the 99 % , just looking out for your 1 % family and friends ! You didn't have to pull yourself up by the boot straps and now if you had too...you couldn't bend over to reach them ..how ironic

The message in this article lost the message I was trying to convey at last nights freeholder meeting.How the homeless trust fund came into play is beyond my understanding,but what I can say is when I presented with those who support the homeless trust fund about what the REAL issue is they said they agree, and would speak about that, so in essence I gave certain people a head up to come to this meeting with me to do that.What was the REAL point of my showing up,and asking others to join me to share their testimonies?Ten years ago I never understood, or paid any mind to welfare,GA any part of the system because I simply never had to! I worked as a teacher counselor for a number of years assisting adults with autism, and my pay was beyond sufficient! Years later I became a single parent due to my daughters father passing away! I fought to keep thing's afloat, but you can only float so long before you sink! Just like you can get away with doing the wrong thing before you are caught! I never petition the Board Of Social Services for help because it was never an option,until thing's got worse! When I was on unemployment I learned child care for an infant child is far higher,than it is for a toddler.Look into the difference in rates for yourself.I challenge anyone who reads this to research facts.I worked from the home instead,until our land lord did away with renting!I lost my home,and home business! And turned to social services for help (degrading),and was DENIED....

Continued FACTS and Testimony. I was qualified for this assistance at tax payers expense, my tax dollars were being put to work and I was denied!Wrongfully denied any help! I didn't want to go to the system anyway, so discouraged I left! I didn't know I could fight it.I paid for my own hotel because I was now HOMELESS! And pounded the pavement for work, which is what I continued to do when I went to social services for help! I found a job at a day care in Lakewood, NJ at Addies Day care, and had to settle for a cut in pay from what I was accustomed to, but it was a job! I continued to pay for our hotel in Seaside Heights, and tried to put money aside as best as I could toward permanent housing! Three months into this job we all almost died of carbon monoxide poisoning! The entire building where I worked was exposed to high levels. When I saw my then two year old lips turn white, watched children throwing up I knew it was chemical!We cleared the center, received medical treatment, and we all went home because the day care was shut down for weeks with no time as to when it would re-open, so out of work! I went back to social services and was denied help again! This is your tax dollars at work! My tax dollars at work, so no one can say no matter how much money coming from tax payers there is no abuse within the system! That was the focus of the meeting last night, which was LOST!The reason for my first denial? I was told I caused my own homelessness!

How on earth is that so when the landlord wanted renters out, and he got his way! I didn't have much to get an attorney to fight it at the time.The second reason I was denied was because they said the day care never closed!How evil. This is when I began to realize something is wrong, and tax payers need to wake up, and start asking questions as to, if their money is being used correctly.I learned it is not. In end I took social services to court, and handed the judge all proof, medical records, add from the Asbury Park Press including the letter from the Lakewood inspector who closed the day care.All this information was presented to social services, but they still denied, and lied! The truth is hard to swallow, but the truth is just that.It's no surprise when the judge asked social services why I was denied services they responded with, "well, your honor we have no proof, or medical record?" The judge help all my proof up in his hands and exclaimed, "You mean these medical records here?!" Silence came over that court room, so if you believe improvement doesn't need to be made at our local social services be prepared to find many more fall through the cracks, and look to pay into an even greater welfare structure because of these inconsistency and lack of compassion! We did win, but it caused my household a lot of damage waiting so long for help, and almost our life! I vowed after coming out of homelessness,which I wouldn't wish on my own enemy to gather similar testimonies

from those who are being treated unfairly and being denied services THEY ARE entitled to. I met with Jerry Little with compassion, and pleaded for him to not take this as an attack. To please read ALL the testimonies people have written about their experiences with social services, and look to make improvement because MANY are falling through the cracks, and this is not REDUCING the welfare roles, but increasing the welfare roles at tax payers expense! Instead he threw funding at me! He went down a long list of how much money the county spends, and tax payers.He completely overlooked the issues, and it doesn't matter how much funding you are putting into this services, if people aren't being helped the next question would be WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? WHERE IS THE TAX PAYERS MONEY GOING? I defending social workers as well because those I have met with discussed oppression in the work place.They're afraid to speak up about supervisors signing off on paper denying someone assistance who QUALIFY, and the social worker has to be the one to give bad news knowing it's wrong! It appeared Jerry Little didn't want to improve the quality of work environment for social workers,nor was he concerned about helping those who are til this day falling through the cracks when they should be getting help to become independent from the system! Years later the county is being sued and I wonder why that is?! It clear! But I hoped Mr Little would have compassion to not take it as an attack,but

to be humble and say we can look into improve the work place for our workers, in addition to making sure the needs are being met effectively! Instead he was very much on the defense! The most disturbing part is we opened the freeholders meeting in prayer, and requesting God blessing over all in the room.Our God is humble, JUST, Merciful, Compassionate, rejoices in the truth, and cares for the broken hearted and poor! How can one call upon his name for blessing in the midst of turning backs on the voice of the community?! Pride, fear are the root cause! When someone feels they can do no wrong it stifles improvement, they don't embrace change and it allows for the total collapse of the system, which is coming! Jerry Little said they are losing workers.Can one be surprised? There was an opportunity to address this, and I can assure you as God places upon my heart he petitioned you Mr. Little to step up to the plate. You still have time, but,if these issues continue to be over looked it will go beyond losing 80 workers. The crisis of the increasing poor will spill over more abundantly at social services. I will say I voted for you, and I retract that vote! I trusted you, and that trust has been broken! You smiled in my face, and looked so compassionate, and I watched your demeanor change to pride as you turned your back and walked away from me last night after the meeting.I'm beyond disappointed, and I won't be silent with the voting block.

How can this NJ Senator SEE the problem, but their is blindness abroad in our own community?

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/nj_sen_codey_spends_night_unde.html

Join Us in assuring the right thing is done.Because now we've moved onto plan B and the right people will come forward to assist us.

https://www.facebook.com/EHAPC

Most do not have that support either because family is gone, or in a struggle of their own,which is why the system is in place to start with.It's "supposed" to be designed to help people get back on their feet, not to hider, or oppress those in need, and tax payers need to be made aware of what is really happening.

This is not my problem, nor should this BS be paid for with my tax dollars and I certainly don't want one of these shelters in my back yard. Short and sweet unlike some people.

@tweetiexx Unfortunately,it is your problem because you are taxed for it! You want to abolish a tax you can't stop? Start caring for the poor, help fix a broken system, so that more can come off it reducing welfare rolls. You sound as though you have it all. Ahhh, I remember a time when I had it all, until circumstance changed that. God forbid those who are lofty, and look down upon other's were to fall ill, become paralyzed from an auto accident how their perception of those in need will change as my past circumstance changed my perception. Do not esteem yourself as higher than another. God has a way of humbling those who do.

They are doing nothing for the homeless except trying to ship them outside the county! We don't even do that to the stray animals!

I grew up during a different period of time in Tennessee...and the city handled the homeless using what they called shack town and the city employees volunteered in helping even the returning veterans from the korean War that had no hope for an emmediate job.
We did not allow others to handle the problems and did everything on our own with a population of 6,000 or so handled all the school expenses and did not take one dollar of federal funds for even the schools.
Our teachers were well educated themselves..as physicists, mathematicians, etc. The types used along with scientists.The whole town raised funds to care for needy children and social workers made personal home visits along with doctors etc. for exams when called for.
The people we see and meet today are the same people and humans...with the same basic needs. yet one thing will always get in the way...via a tax burden...the forever depreciating dollar. The dollar you can hold in your hand and it will eventlually become worth less and result less.
I hope everything goes well there in your community...I know it is the same type community I was raised in. A good one.

I don't give a rat behind what anyone thinks, the karma they wish upon me....As long as the people in control of the checkbook (the FREEHOLDERS) feel the same way as me.

@tweetiexx So in essence you're saying the majority of the voting block is contingent up the current Freeholders position, and you are the part of the voting block that feels a community should not care for, or be responsible for those less fortunate?Assuming, If the Freeholders said let's make our mission to oppress the poor you have clearly said you would second that,also you will continue to be taxed for this against your will,but here's the irony.Do you realize your a pawn too? When people are wrongfully denied services that tax payers pay for the welfare structure will increase, so who is actually benefiting from that? It's certainly not you the tax payer, and it most definitely isn't the one who sought help because they were denied, so choose your battle, and ask what happened to your tax dollars. By the way there is a STRONGER voting block, and it's not what you think, but rest assured from my dealing's with that STRONGER voting block I will make them aware. When we abuse that control it does not remain long.Again it's that lofty position fueled by hate. The humble position that speaks in truth fueled by compassion will win in the end! Tell me and I forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I understand, and learn.Get more involved before you assume thing's are as they should be.
Shalom!

@tweetiexx P.S. I personally informed Mr Little he lost my vote. I did vote for him,but I know better now, and I would love for him to try and change my mind, and the mind of others that will follow in not voting for him in light of what has been revealed,perhaps you know him personally? Or know someone who does? Hurry, hurry ask him for the solution because change is coming.Last and final time we spoke he ran from me.

@Miriam....Did anyone ever tell you your long winded and boring? If not let me be the one. AND I told Mr. Little, me and my entire family, friends, co-workers , social circle and neighbors support ALL Mr Little. We are several thousand strong. So your one little vote OR your threat means nada to him and the rest of the freeholders.

@tweetiexx Everything you read by me, which was long winded and boring (thanks for the review) clearly caught your attention. I would think such a review from you would warrant a much limited attention span from you, but clearly that isn't so. There are giants in every land who would rather turn their nose down upon others, but that reveals how limited they are in their profession.Administration skills without knowledge of what it actually means to be poor does very little in enriching a community as a whole,so with that being said the harder they fall.It's not my one vote, and it's not a threat, but for you to assume it was threat denotes you and your clan feel threatened.While I respect your defense.We just have to see what the larger vote has to say.The truth is poverty isn't limited to the jobless, but the working poor, which presently, and the days to follow are the majority.Please, do keep posting your hate and lack of compassion though because it shows the readers what the true intentions are of a people placed in a position of authority entrusted by God.That they choose to do the direct opposite of what God would expect of them concerning the poor! I don't believe that's something to be proud of, or boast about, but that's okay.The truth will have it's way in the end.

I haven't heard anyone say the magic word "WORK" Why don't we put these Bums to work for the benefits they are getting? They can pick up trash along the roads, paint park benches or fill potholes. If one is not qualified for one of these jobs, they can always be dressed up as a safety cones and be deployed at road construction sites. No skills needed there. If this seems to harsh, the only alternative would be a one-way ticket to Newark or Camden or even Philly where the generous Liberals will take care of them as with the majority of their citizens.

Not everyone who is homeless is a "bum" or a drug addict.
Many people in Ocean County are living from paycheck to paycheck. If that paycheck stops, they too could become homeless.

I just want to make clear my position.My position isn't "Let's get MORE funds placed into a broken system!" It's how do we effectively improve the system with the funds we are receiving from the Freeholders!And the one solution I was presenting was to deal with workers, or supervisors who are wrongfully denying people who are "QUALIFIED" to receive help. We don't want to oppress people, we want to help people who are floating before they sink,or throw a life jacket to those who have already sunk, so both classes of people can become self-sufficient apart from the system! I voted for Jerry Little because I believed he always understood that, so when he said at the meeting, "Social Services does a GREAT job!" He was saying there isn't a problem, and there is no need for improvement, and this simply is not so.There is always room for improvement, and there are no perfect people.That's what made me upset! Not sure,if his defense was related to the lawsuit, or not at this point,but you have to remove fear and stand for truth!The truth will set you FREE!Mr. Little is allocating funds to non-profits that MUST be accountable for meeting the need, so it's not any advocates place to petition, scream,beg, or threaten the Freeholders for MORE money when I the position I have on Social Services is for them as well, which is "Work effectively with the money you have been given to address the needs of the community, and stop saying there are no funds!" Because I know that is NOT true!

I suggest media needs to shift their focus on coverage as well, instead of following the same group of advocates, assuming there are no funds because they say so! I challenge everyone,including media before they start believing this lie to start investigating 990's of those groups who get money, and complain it's not enough! Go to www.guidestar.org,which is a site set up to review 990's that is by law open to the public and easier to navigate than IRS website. Do you believe, if needs aren't being addressed due to lack of funds, and people are turned away it's okay for trustees to take a HUGE salary! It's to my understanding non-profit means NOT FOR PROFIT, so with that being said, if I was a trustee aware we have limited funds I would then have the responsibility to take a MODEST salary in order to better serve the people,instead the problem isn't lack of funding it's that more than enough is given to address the needs, so figure the need for higher salaries?The money is to be given to the people first, and the mission statement of every non-profit needs to be adhered to!

I take this personally. I was homeless for a year ten years ago! Truthfully, it's not enough to visit those who are homeless.Put yourself in their position, if you have money you don't have to worry about sleeping in a card board box for a month! Really get your hands dirty! Navigate through the system, and see how you are treated.Change your look, if need be, so your connections have no clue who you are.Do the work first! I can say a modest salary is REQUIRED as a trustee because I would be utterly convicted with grief and guilt, if I were to take more than required, then tell someone who is homeless I can't help due to no funds because I've been there! If I can give what little, or much I have there is no excuse for those who have been given more to do the right thing especially when they say they care for people in poverty.Anything that is done other than that makes it appear the motive is rooted in profiting off the backs of the poor, which hurts tax payers as well.The bottom line is the not in my back yard crowd, the compassionate, those confused as to what is going on, but wants to understand need to stand up for their community as a whole and,instead of attacking one another seek accountability from those who have been given much! Confront them politely, ask questions based on your 990 research,if the pressure is not put on this will continue.There is no fault in trusting the right thing will be done,but there is fault when we don't check into that from time to time.

A group of people will be meeting to discuss the solution and plan of action that does not scream more funding,which involve the community being one voice,hence I'm posting the information here for those who desire to see change to RSVP.

http://tomsriver.patch.com/events/end-homelessness-and-political-corruption

If you wish to give money to the homeless by all means do so, it is a noble cause and you are a noble person who should be commended. However, use your own finances not the taxpayers. We all rise and fall of our OWN accord and right now my priorities are to MY family not some homeless person who took all the wrong roads in life. Perhaps one day I will be in a better position to pay it forward and be as noble as you folks, but today is not that day.