'There is no one-size-fits-all solution to homelessness' — St. Lucy's expansion to serve even more

When Toni B. became homeless, she sought help at St. Lucy’s in Jersey City, run by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, which connected her to housing vouchers, medical care, and employment assistance.

“They were helpful and nonjudgmental. At the hardest time in my life, I felt loved and supported,” Toni B. said.

Toni B. is just one of the thousands of clients who have sought help and support at the Grove Street facility housed in the 128-year-old St. Lucy’s Parish complex during the darkest times of their lives.

Now Catholic Charities will be able to help even more clients after opening a new five-story campus complex across the street to better serve the area’s homeless.

On Wednesday, Sept. 13, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, and Mayor Steven M. Fulop joined partners Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, Arc Building Partners, Claremont Development, Jersey City council members, and Jersey City residents for the official opening of the St. Lucy’s Complex, a brand-new 60,000 square foot facility providing a continuum of housing and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The announcement comes on the heels of the annual release in August of the NJ Counts 2023 report on homeless numbers in New Jersey, coordinated annually by Monarch Housing Associates. The count, which took place on Jan. 24 this year, found a total of 10,267 people homeless that night, an increase from 8,754 in 2022. The last time that number surpassed 10,000 was in 2015. Essex County came in the highest number of homeless with 1,712 counted, and Hudson County was second with 998.

The services will expand extensively from an 80-bed emergency shelter and 14-bed transitional home for men and women living with HIV/AIDS and some supportive services and will include affordable housing for the first time.

The lack of affordable housing remains the top cause of homelessness in New Jersey. Rent increases and the end of the eviction moratorium following the pandemic were also seen as high contributors, according to the NJ Counts report.

Following two years of construction, the Grove Street facility features a total of 150 beds for individuals who are homeless, 14 units of transitional housing for individuals with HIV, five three-bedroom permanent supportive housing units specifically for families, and 15 permanent affordable housing studio apartments.

Catholic Charities will have staff offices on the second floor of the new shelter where clients can be seen. The second floor will also include a drop-in area for nonresidents in need who can utilize St. Lucy’s services for showers, meals, and the new laundry facilities.

The housing and public services site also provides its temporary and permanent residents with access to comprehensive case management services offered on-site, with the goal being to help the individual find permanent housing, find employment, and address any other needs that they may have, such as physical health, mental health, or substance use.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to homelessness. That is why we are creating a holistic approach with the new St. Lucy’s campus to provide emergency food and shelter, and we are now taking it a step further with more permanent actions that help break the cycle and set residents on a stable path to becoming productive citizens,” said Mayor Fulop.

“Today, we are opening the doors to countless opportunities for residents who need it most. I have no doubt St. Lucy’s will continue its long-standing success as a critical community asset. As we welcome the residents, I want each of them to know they have our full support as they take these first steps towards a renewed future for themselves and their families.”

“I am humbled to be a part of this vital effort,” said Cardinal Tobin. “Projects like this are essential to help the poor, vulnerable, and those most in need. The crucial work of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark 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.”

As a long-established 24/7 emergency shelter, St. Lucy’s devotion to helping the homeless serves as the foundation of this expansion to provide Jersey City’s neediest residents and families with a more promising future. Located between 15th and 16th Streets, the new complex is the former site of St. Jude’s Oasis, a Catholic Charities housing program that has been incorporated into the new site.

St. Lucy’s is one of the largest and longest-standing homeless shelters in the state, said John Westervelt, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities.

“Since Christmas Eve in 1986, Catholic Charities has welcomed people into St. Lucy’s, offering a comfortable bed, a warm meal, and a helping hand. Today, we are proud to expand our services at this new location, which will enable us to serve even more people in need,” Westervelt said.“As always, each person who enters our doors will be treated with dignity and respect. We will provide each client with a multitude of services to help them become more independent and work towards self-sufficiency.”

Individuals who overcome homelessness become contributing members of society, ultimately benefiting the community in numerous ways. Over the past five years, St. Lucy’s has provided 175,273 nights of shelter to 4,275 individuals. In that same time period, the facility has helped 221 individuals find employment and 430 individuals find permanent housing.

Now that Toni B. is back on her feet, she volunteers at St. Lucy’s.

The team at Arc Building Partners is collecting items for the residents as they transition into this important new facility and is asking the community to join them in this effort. Items needed include toiletries and basic household necessities. Donations are accepted 24/7 at the St. Lucy’s Complex at 612 Grove Street.

“The St. Lucy’s project represents our unwavering dedication to creating spaces here in New Jersey that foster hope, dignity, and an opportunity for a fresh start. We believe everyone deserves a chance to rebuild their lives, and this shelter is a testament to that belief,” Frank L. Ciminelli II, President and CEO of Arc Building Partners, said.

The Claremont Development also includes saving the historical church structure and incorporating it into a 23-floor glass residential and retail addition. That structure will include 444 residential units (13 will be affordable) and 5,600 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, with 251 parking spaces.

*St. Lucy’s church will be part of a new development across the street from the complex.*

The new $16 million facility is fully funded through Claremont Development.

The parish was erected in 1895 as an Irish parish and was a shrine to St. Jude. It was closed in 1986. St. Lucy’s Shelter took over the closed Catholic School in 1986.

The St. Jude statue, once located in front of St. Lucy’s Church, has been relocated to outside the new St. Lucy’s Shelter at 612 Grove St.

To learn more about St. Lucy’s and how to help, go to ccannj.org/housing-and-food/.