City Donates $50G to Hoboken Homeless Shelter

The City Council on Wednesday night approved a $50,000 donation to the Hoboken Homeless Shelter, which will be used for its affordable housing program.

The city recently received $2 million in the settlement of a law suit with development firm Ursa Tarragon. Of that sum, , $50,000 will go to the shelter. Since that settlement money was designated to go toward affordable housing in Hoboken, councilmembers Tim Occhipinti and Michael Russo on Wednesday night amended the resolution, earmarking the money to be spent on affordable housing. 

"Are you hoping this becomes something you can rely on each year?" Russo asked to the shelter's director. 

Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of the shelter, said the money will be spent on the shelter's permanent supportive housing program, which helps the shelter's guests find housing. 

The $50,000 from the city will fund this program for three years, said Cherubini. This year the program—in which the shelter matches the rent of the affordable housing units—costs approximately $10,000. The next two years, Cherubini predicted, the program will cost about $20,000. 

Cherubini said she wasn't sure when she could see the money come in. But, she added, "it'll be a wonderful day when we receive the funding."

Over the last decade, Cherubini said, the shelter has seen its federal funding dry up. Whereas about 90 percent of the annual costs were paid by federal funds in 2000, in 2012 that number has gone down to 33 percent. 

It takes about $750 to run the shelter for a year, Cherubini said. A third of that money comes from donations from individuals. The last third comes from grants, said Cherubini, who has worked at the shelter since 2004. 

"We do a lot more now," Cherubini said. "We have more programs geared to getting people housed." 

To pay for utilities—about $55,000 a year—and the building at Third and Bloomfield Streets—about $100,000 a year—Cherubini is inviting all members of the Hoboken community to several fundraising events this year, such as an event on May 20 and a 5K run on Halloween. The shelter also holds a silent auction every year. 

"Together, as a community, we can end homelessness," Cherubini said, "one person at a time."