Anonymous donor will match contributions to St. Lucy's Emergency Center fundraiser

St. Lucy’s Emergency Shelter in Jersey City hopes to raise $100,000 for operating costs.

The 128-year-old institution, which is operated by Catholic Charities, offers 150 emergency shelter beds, 14 beds for those living with HIV/AIDS, five three-bedroom permanent supportive housing apartments, and 15 permanent supportive housing studio apartments. It also offers a drop-in area where nonresidents can take showers, eat meals, and do their laundry. And for its temporary and permanent residents, the facility provides comprehensive assistance so they can find permanent housing, secure employment, and address any other physical or mental health needs.

*The new complex at 499 Summit Ave., in Journal Square. (Jennifer Brown/City of Jersey City)*

Through its efforts, St. Lucy’s has provided 109,821 shelter nights to 1,277 unhoused people in the past five years. It has also helped many get back on their feet, aiding 211 community members in getting jobs and 430 homeless in securing housing since 2019.

But that work requires a lot of resources, which is why St. Lucy’s is asking the Catholic community for help. According to facility leaders, contributions will give a child a warm bed, provide a parent with the stability to pursue a better job, and enable an elderly person to receive security and support. New donations will go even further thanks to an anonymous donor who will match all contributions until Aug. 31. St. Lucy’s has raised 45% of its intended goal of $100,000.

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“Projects like [St. Lucy’s] are essential to help the poor, vulnerable, and those most in need,” Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, said during the institution’s reopening after it moved to a larger facility in 2023. “The crucial work of Catholic Charities and this St. Lucy’s complex are tangible examples of following our Catholic faith’s tenets to respect each person’s life and dignity. Lives will be saved, and hope will be rekindled.”

Toni B. knows how crucial St. Lucy’s assistance can be to someone in need. In 2019, she lost her job as a counselor, eventually losing her apartment.

“As a mother of three children, it was heartbreaking … But I had no place to go. I went to St. Lucy’s Emergency Shelter. The staff was terrific: friendly, helpful, and nonjudgmental,” Toni B. said. “The facilities are clean, the staff was compassionate and explored every resource they could to help me. Even the other clients were kind and welcoming. At the hardest time in my life, I felt loved and supported.”

St. Lucy’s provided her with medical services, employment assistance, social security help, and a voucher to help with housing costs. The institution also helped her find a job and apartment of her own.

“I can stand on my own two feet,” Toni B. said. “My experience filled my heart with hope. Now that I am stable, I decided I wanted to help St. Lucy’s as they helped me. I now volunteer twice a week at St. Lucy’s, and I am so grateful that I can help others on their journey.”

Toni B. is just one of the thousands of clients who have sought help and support at St. Lucy’s during the darkest times of their lives. The institution is one of the largest and longest-standing homeless shelters in the state, according to John Westervelt, Catholic Charities’ chief executive officer.

To learn more about Catholic Charities and St. Lucy’s Complex or to make a donation, click here.