TOMS RIVER – A former motel being converted into emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness could begin accepting referrals next week under a new name: Turning Tides Inn.
HABcore President and CEO Steve Heisman announced the anticipated opening of the former Pelican Inn during the November 5 meeting of the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force.
“We’re hopeful that Pelican, which will be called going forward the Turning Tides Inn, will be open next week,” Heisman said.
The opening would allow agencies that work with people experiencing homelessness to begin referring prospective residents. Heisman said HABcore expects referrals from the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, the Ocean County Board of Social Services and the county’s coordinated entry system. Applicants will be interviewed and undergo background checks, with safety concerns among the factors considered.
Asked what could make someone ineligible, Heisman said, “It would be somebody who presents a risk to safety.”
Residents will initially be offered a four-week stay, with the possibility of two extensions. The maximum stay will be 12 weeks, or under 90 days, Heisman said. The inn will have 25 units, and residents will be allowed to bring pets. HABcore is working with local veterinarians to support that arrangement.
While work on the motel itself is about 90 to 95 percent complete, some support areas still need municipal approvals. Heisman said HABcore is seeking permits to establish office space in an area of the property previously used as a carpet store. Plans also include space for a refrigerator and laundry equipment. HABcore is preparing materials for submission to the Toms River Zoning Board.
The organization expects to use temporary arrangements while approvals are pending. A dog fence also requires site plan approval, Heisman said.
HABcore is not seeking a change of use for the property, according to Heisman. The privately owned grooming business next door will continue operating. Another building on the property, formerly used as a karate school, is being restored, but its future use has not been determined.
The program is intended to provide temporary accommodations while connecting residents with services to help them move toward permanent housing. In an earlier interview, Heisman described the project as emergency housing rather than transitional housing, with staff working to address barriers that can make securing a home more difficult.
The Pelican Inn has previously operated as a social services motel, a use Heisman said is essentially continuing. Some local residents have raised concerns about that use, while others have expressed hope that HABcore’s involvement will bring additional supervision.
Jersey Shore Online previously reported that HABcore purchased the Pelican Inn and Suites at 3324 Route 37 on June 17 for $7 million. That coverage detailed the renovation work and the county’s role in funding the emergency housing project.
The post Exclusive: Toms River’s Pelican Inn To Reopen As Turning Tides Inn appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
