Yvette experienced homelessness for two years before securing a bed at St. Lucy’s Emergency Shelter in Jersey City, a facility of Chatholic Charities.
What does Yvette think about sleeping in a shelter with dozens of strangers?
“I love it. I like having a lot of other people around… it’s comforting to know that other people are around, and looking out for you.”
St. Lucy’s provides three meals a day and clothing, along with enjoyable activities. The shelter works with different social agencies to organize different activities that make life easier at times.
The shelter is just one of the many resources the organization provides for members of the community.
Programs
Catholic Charities serves an enormous number of people in the Greater Newark Area. Here’s how:
- Counseling and support services for at-risk youth and their families
- Psychological and psychiatric help for those with mental illness
- Job training for those who are cognitively disabled
- Childhood education for preschoolers
- Emergency shelter for the homeless and for those who are HIV-positive
- Affordable housing for low-income families
- Immigration legal services;
- Refugee resettlement
- Adoption services
Service By The Numbers
Based on the 2019/2020 fiscal year report, CCAN impacted the community in the following ways:
- 62,645 individuals served
- 87 programs at 26 sites
- 15,570 days of job training to 462 individuals
- 626 people served in 4 justice programs
- 677 older adults in 12 programs
- 72,685 nights of shelter to 1,342 homeless individuals and families
- 197 veterans served
- 178 refugees served
Just to name a few of the organization’s accomplishments.
Catholic Charities’ Mission
These programs and resources fulfill the mission of CCAN to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of all people and respond with sincere Christian compassion to the corporeal needs of the poor and marginalized.
The service of Catholic Charities is inspired by—
- Faith in Jesus Christ
- Sacred Scripture
- Continuing exposition of Catholic social teaching.
Through these activities, Catholic Charities strives to assist individuals in need, strengthen families, and provide those it serves with an experience of God’s mercy.
Volunteer To Help Catholic Charities
Do you speak Spanish?
Love to throw parties?
Enjoy feeding the hungry?
Use those skills and passions and volunteer for CCAN. Contact the office for the latest opportunities.
Make ONE DONATION to the Holiday Fund and support 10 life-changing organizations in New Jersey.
History
In 1903 a group of lay Roman Catholics in New Jersey founded what is now Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark (CCAN). This was the first organization to work on behalf of abused and neglected children.
Today, the organization has 88 programs, serving close to 60,000 individuals in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties.