Homeless Support

As a child, Katelyn, her mom and sisters were victims of domestic violence and later, lost everything in a house fire. With help from their community, the family got back on their feet and at just 12 years old, Katelyn decided to pay it forward to help others who face difficult life challenges. She founded Angels Community Outreach in 2009 to provide clothing, toiletries, and food to families who have experienced domestic abuse or other crises and who may “shop” donated items free of cost.

Edith was the driving force behind Raphael’s Life House in Elizabeth, which opened in 1993 to offer shelter to homeless pregnant and parenting teens, who could live there for a year with their babies and build a stronger foundation for their future. It is now a program of Covenant House and has provided a stable home to many hundreds of families since it opened. Residential Advisors create case plan goals for each young woman plus links to resources in the community. Local community members also provide support services to help these young mothers on the path to independence. Edith passed away in 2022 but her legacy lives on.

Jane was inspired to create Zoe’s Place when she learned there were no secular, non-religious affiliated homes for homeless pregnant teens and young mothers and their children. She opened Zoe’s Place in Garfield in 2011 and it became a part of Children’s Aid and Family Services in 2014. Zoe’s Place provides safe, supervised housing for pregnant teens and teen moms and their children to meet the need for critical education, skills and support services that will enable the teens to become self-sufficient. Jane passed away in 2015.

Phil started N.J. Food & Clothing Rescue to help the most vulnerable, including homeless people, seniors, veterans, families in crisis, and groups that are often food-insecure, especially those that are falling through the social services cracks.

Rev. Mildred, who has served her Paterson community since the late 1970s, created Millie’s Place: A House of Refuge for teenage and single mothers. It was a safe space for them to gather, receive supportive services (financial literacy, mothering skills, tangible support), and create a positive path forward.

This former bed-and-breakfast owner in Cape May County collected all the linens other inns were discarding at the end of the season and delivered them to individuals and agencies to distribute to the homeless. This kick-started a community-wide effort to provide blankets, clothing, furniture and more to homeless shelters, veterans’ organizations, victims of domestic violence, and food pantries countywide.

Ann founded Oasis: A Haven for Women and Children in Paterson, dedicated to assisting impoverished families who strive to achieve economic independence. The organization offers educational programs that equip women and children with the skills to become self-sufficient, as well as childcare, clothing and meals. Ann passed away in May 2023.

After living on the streets of Newark for 10 years as a young woman, Veronice went on to become an ordained pastor and establish her ministry to assist the homeless, those with addiction, and victims of abuse. She passed away in November 2020 and is remembered lovingly by the United Community Corporation family, which works to eradicate poverty and homelessness.

Attorney Loryn Riggiola of Paterson has always felt that service is important. She noticed that the church across the street from her office provided food for the homeless every day except Monday. In 2003, she started Give Back to fill the gap and to involve her law colleagues.

Twelve-year-old Samuel accompanied his parents on a mission to Guatemala to build sturdy housing for the country’s poorest citizens. He collected and gave more than 100 kites to children there who could not afford one to celebrate the annual Day of the Dead kite festival. Sam subsequently helped raise enough money for four more homes and inspired other volunteers to get involved.

Juanita was recognized for traveling from Orange to Newark Penn Station every Saturday morning for over 20 years to bring food to the homeless and those in need. Despite living on a restricted income, she purchased food and prepared sandwiches, soups, stews and more as her personal mission; eventually, fellow church members provided supplemental funding for her selfless efforts.

Marion “Mayme” Puccio’s lifetime of service led her to purchase a former crack house in Paterson and open Trinity Retreat House, a place for people and animals who had no other safe haven. She also helped individuals get into detox programs and started a baseball team for at-risk youth.

Determined to help two young homeless, drug-addicted mothers she encountered at her workplace, Donyea found a home to open as a shelter, which later became the temporary home for two displaced extended families after Hurricane Katrina hit the South. Her work with disaster victims eventually evolved to her establishing Each One Help One, a gift registry to match donors with those in need.

Amal was recognized for recruiting volunteers to serve meals at a shelter for single homeless people and bring together young people from the Muslim and Jewish faiths to raise funds for a second shelter.

Joe is the founder of Houses to Homes, which he created after several years of volunteering to help Guatemala’s poorest citizens. The nonprofit’s volunteers build permanent homes and raise funds for education, housing, and healthcare, and improve the lives of Guatemalans in over 50 communities.

Fr. Ronald was a Catholic campus chaplain who traveled for decades to a small village in the remote mountains of the Dominican Republic to help build a stronger community; he eventually began taking groups of college students with him to work in the community and live with poor farming families to rebuild homes and roads, provide electricity, and fund education needs. He passed away in July 2012.

The Kings devoted their lives to saving Honduran street children since the 1980s, after adopting two children from there. Their House of Friendship Foundation supports Copprome, which operates several shelters for poor children from toddlers to teens, providing a home and education. House of Friendship also supports a medical brigade that visits the region to provide free health care. Henry died in April 2005.

The BCHT was established in 1972 by Father Brian and a group of action-oriented people in Trenton’s Wilbur section, supported by the Diocese of Trenton, local Catholic parishes, and committed individuals. Originally part of a large family of programs, BCHT was designed to provide affordable home ownership and self-sufficiency for the poorest residents. He continues to serve as a volunteer advisor.

Robin Reilly headed the FAITH Foundation in Hackensack, which provided immediate assistance and resources to homeless individuals, many who were facing the challenges of addiction and mental illness.

For more than 30 years, Mort Zaleski delivered clothes, and soup and sandwiches (prepared by him and his wife) to homeless people in NJ’s inner cities. He also volunteered for mission work with his church every weekend. He passed away in 2021.

Ann and William Clutter spent years dedicated to helping the indigent and homeless community in Trenton. They provided care from their home, raised funds for renovations of dilapidated living spaces, and provided transportation for medical care with the support of government agencies and other charitable institutions.

Tom founded SHIP in 1984 in response to the needs of the many women, children and men in desperate need of emergency housing and associated services in Somerset County. The faith-based, interfaith organization is funded, assisted and supported by the community, and helps the homeless, near-homeless working poor, and many who suffer from substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and mental health issues.

Paul created Salt of the Earth to assist the homeless in Hackensack by providing food, blankets and clothing, and directing those in need to shelter, treatment and counseling—with expenses covered solely by him.  Paul founded Care for the Brave to advocate and support veterans suffering from PTSD and homelessness.

Louise operated a volunteer feeding program to serve homeless and hungry citizens in her Irvington community, enlisting a network of eateries and churches to donate food. In partnership with Feed the Children, the Greater Cathedral Revival Center expanded her mission of providing food, clothing and medical supplies to the indigent. Louise passed away in November 2010.

Sally was the founding director of Mother Child Residential Services in Woodbury, which provides temporary housing for women over the age of 18 who are experiencing homelessness and are either pregnant or parenting one to three children. Sally also recruited countless volunteers to assist with sheltered clients and developed a mentoring program to encourage and empower women. She died in May 2022.

Nancy helped to establish the Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless (now Family Promise), dedicated to providing shelter and support for working families experiencing homelessness. She passed away in 2020.

Using her own money, Jean Webster, a former chef, opened a soup kitchen in Atlantic City in 1986 when she saw a homeless man rummaging in the trash for food. Jean died in 2011, but her mission to end hunger in Atlantic City continues with a meal kitchen, food pantry, and garden.