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2023

Joseph's House is proud to announce that Colandra Coleman has joined us as our Executive Director.

Colandra is responsible for managing the Joseph’s House staff of 25-30 through daily collaboration to oversee the facility’s day-to-day operations and core goal of serving guests. She will bolster and lead the organization’s development efforts, cultivating new funding sources and maintaining active involvement with existing donors. Colandra will plan and organize Joseph’s House operations and programs; develop and implement consistent financial cost accounting policies, procedures, and reporting/metrics; and report all activity to the board, donors and stakeholders.

 Colandra possesses over 12 years’ experience working with and leading nonprofits, the majority of which have been focused on helping those experiencing homelessness. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Ready, Willing & Able Philadelphia, a homeless and recovery shelter. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Director of Meeting Ground, Inc., a homeless shelter in Elkton, Maryland. Originally from the Philadelphia region, Colandra has an established track record of overseeing day-to-day facility management; implementing policies and procedures; engaging and developing colleagues and community leaders; and working strategically with donors and governments to grow the respective nonprofits.

 Early on in life, Colandra knew she wanted to work in public and social services. Over the years she has advocated for a number of causes that she is passionate about, as well as the organizations that strive to support them. This approach has taught her information about how nonprofits work, and enabled her to identify homelessness as the social need she’d focus her career on.

 “My primary goal as executive director of JHOC is to ensure our ability to provide a welcoming environment to as many people as possible who are in need of temporary shelter in the Camden and surrounding neighborhoods, and offer them services to transition into permanent housing,” said Colandra Coleman, Executive Director at Joseph’s House of Camden. “In order to achieve this objective, it will be necessary to maintain and grow our team, build and solidify relationships with new and existing partners, increase funding, seize new program opportunities, and stay current with new trends in homelessness services. I’m excited to get started.”

2021

Joseph’s House of Camden Names Edward Borden and Erin Hadden to its Board of Managers

Mr. Edward Borden and Ms. Erin Hadden have joined the Board of Managers at Joseph’s House of Camden, effective immediately.

Mr. Ed Borden is a resident of Cherry Hill, NJ and possesses a long career of public service. Ed served as Camden County Prosecutor for five years. He has been an instructor in many professional development programs and has served on various charitable and civic boards, including DARE-NJ and the American Red Cross. For eight years, Ed served as one of three members of the Board of Commissioners, the governing body of Haddonfield, NJ. He was previously a member of Haddonfield’s Board of Education for five years. Mr. Borden was also the recipient of the Saint Thomas More Award for his work.

Ms. Erin Hadden was born and raised in the greater Philadelphia area, and has supported Joseph’s House of Camden as a committee member and volunteer for over four and a half years. A public relations and communications professional with FischTank PR, a NYC-based PR firm, Erin has helped develop and scale Joseph’s House’s external communications and marketing programs. Her role in developing email marketing, press exposure and fundraising support has helped grow Joseph’s House’s public profile in the South Jersey and greater Philadelphia-area.

“I’m so excited to have Ed Borden and Erin Hadden bring their expertise from their respective fields, as well as their dedication and compassion to the Joseph’s House Board. I have known both since starting as Executive Director of Joseph’s House in 2019 and have worked with each of them to advance our mission. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with them in their new roles,” said Shawn Sheekey, Executive Director at Joseph’s House of Camden.

“One of my favorite things about supporting PR and marketing efforts at Joseph’s House over the past few years has been getting to know the staff, leadership, volunteers and community supporters and learning about how they’ve grown the organization to make a difference in the community in as many ways as possible. It’s truly an honor to be appointed to the Board of Managers and take on a bigger role in these efforts,” said Erin Hadden, Joseph’s House of Camden Board Member. “I’m thrilled to be bringing my perspective and expertise to the Board and look forward to doing my part to further our mission of providing guests experiencing homelessness with a path forward and bright future.”

“Having volunteered and collaborated with the Joseph’s House team for many years, I am very familiar with the dedicated staff and Board,” said Ed Borden, Joseph’s House of Camden Board Member. “It will be an honor to assist in the work Father Bob McDermott and others began so many years ago and continue to truly make a difference in the South Jersey community.”

2020

Joseph’s House of Camden Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

On December 22, 2020, Joseph’s House of Camden celebrated its 10th Anniversary since inception, and fondly looked back over its past decade of serving the South Jersey region.

Joseph’s House of Camden (JHOC) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit formed on December 22, 2010 by several founders including the late Fr. Bob McDermott. JHOC was formed in response to people sleeping on the front porch at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral Church in East Camden. In January 2011, Joseph’s House opened its Café doors on Stevens Street and provided shelter and services there until January 2014, when it moved to its current location on Atlantic Avenue in Camden.

In August of 2013, with the help of TD Bank, JBJ Soul Foundation, Connelly Foundation, Camden City Office of the Mayor and City Council, and the Camden County Freeholders, Joseph's House bought the building at 555 Atlantic Avenue and undertook a five-month renovation project. By January of 2014, Joseph’s House was operating 365 days a year, offering food, shelter and social services to 75-80 guests per night.

In late 2018, a neighboring community nonprofit that for years provided day services to the homeless suddenly closed its doors, and Joseph's House saw an opportunity to provide for the long-term. JHOC launched a capital campaign that would raise the funds needed to improve and combine the existing 17,000 square foot facility and adjoining space under one roof, creating a one-stop shop for vital services, and a beacon of light, day and night for people experiencing homelessness.

Today, JHOC proudly operates an overnight program for 85 to 90 people (pre-COVID) per night. JHOC provides guests with two meals, dinner and breakfast, access to showers and laundry, mail drop services, and storage space for personal belongings. JHOC also provides day services in its Connection Hub, where people in need can find social services like counseling for mental health and addiction, help with navigating the social services network throughout the county, case management, employment, and housing services.

“It is so important that we first thank the founders, devoted employees, volunteers, donors, local businesses, and board and committee members who have so selflessly contributed their time, money, cooking, resources and perhaps most important – their compassion over the past decade,” said Shawn Sheekey, Executive Director at Joseph’s House of Camden. “Joseph’s House of Camden was founded with a simple vision of providing support and relief to Camden’s most vulnerable. Now, that vision has become much larger, but is also clearer than ever before. We are performing life changing work, enriching the lives of those we see every day in our facility, as well as their families, friends and the greater community. We look forward to another decade in Camden!”

2019

Joseph’s House of Camden Service Navigator Nitan Shanas Honored by Camden County Board of Freeholders

On Thursday, December 19, 2019, JHOC Service Navigator and Rutgers University-Camden student Nitan Shanas was presented with a proclamation by the Board of Freeholders in Camden County. In November 2019, Shanas hosted a Sleepout for Homelessness Campaign on the Rutger-Camden campus to drive awareness for homelessness in the region. The event ultimately raised over $6,000, which went immediately to Joseph’s House’s “Adopt a Cot” program.

Rutgers-Camden Civic Scholars and Joseph’s House to host a "Sleepout for Homelessness"

Joseph’s House of Camden and the Civic Scholars at Rutgers University-Camden will host a “Sleepout for Homelessness” on Thursday, November 14 from 8pm – 7am ET.

The sleepout is being organized by Nitan Shanas, a Rutgers-Camden Neuman Civic Fellow and Service Navigator at Joseph’s House of Camden and co-sponsored by the Rutgers-Camden College Democrats and Honors College. The event will feature educational activities, including a panel discussion with local experts on homelessness, a safe sleepout, and a morning reflection. Members of the JHOC team, including Executive Director Shawn Sheekey and Program Director Tricia Bradly, will be on-site to make remarks. Food and cardboard for sleeping will be provided to all registered attendees.

“Each night in Camden County, there are approximately 600 individuals experiencing homelessness. Through my work with the Civic Scholars and the team at Joseph’s House, I have been honored to serve our neighbors who are less fortunate and look forward to sharing this mission with my classmates during the Sleepout,” said Nitan Shanas, Rutgers-Camden Civic Scholar and Service Navigator at Joseph’s House of Camden, “As student activists, we have a tremendous power to foster change and I hope that this event increases awareness and understanding around hunger and homelessness and inspires my classmates to become more active in the community.”

The Rutgers-Camden Students have set a goal of raising $10,000 through the "Sleepout for Homelessness." This amount will fund 256 overnight stays for guests through the JHOC “Adopt-A-Cot” program. Those looking to support this campaign can make a donation here: https://www.mightycause.com/event/Rutgerssleepout

Joseph’s House of Camden Celebrates Expanded Facilities and New Services on World Homeless Day

Hard Hat Tour of Joseph’s House Renovations

Joseph’s House is undergoing renovations and expansion to further establish a day program that provides homeless services and support for the region’s most vulnerable. On July 10, we donned hard hats and toured the progress with members of the local community. Stay tuned for more updates! Interested in making a donation to this project? You can visit https://www.mightycause.com/story/Renovationstoserve

Construction & Renovations of Our New Home!

Joseph's House is improving and combining the existing 17,000 square foot facility and adjoining space under one roof, creating a one-stop shop for vital services, and a beacon of light for the homeless both day and night. Be sure to click through the slideshow above to check out our progress! We’re also still graciously accepting donations for this project. If you’d like to contribute, please visit: https://www.mightycause.com/story/Renovationstoserve

Joseph’s House Team Participates in Annual Avnet Golf Outing and Fundraiser

Members of the Joseph’s House team were honored to participate in the 2019 annual golf outing, sponsored by Avnet. The event is a wonderful opportunity for volunteering and raising awareness for homelessness in the local community.

As part of the day’s festivities, Avnet also sponsors a 50/50 raffle, offers raffle tickets on prize baskets, holds a putting contest, and offers opportunities to bid on sports memorabilia. Avnet matches these funds, raising money for Joseph's House.

Volunteer Visit from Spirited Business Works

Joseph’s House of Camden to Renovate and Expand its Facility to Provide Round the Clock Support Services for South Jersey’s Homeless

Joseph’s House served over 600 homeless individuals in 2018, a number the organization expects to significantly increase following expansion

CAMDEN, N.J., May 09, 2019 — Joseph’s House of Camden today announced it has commenced construction renovations to its existing facility. This initiative will enable the organization to provide day services that, when coupled with its overnight program, will establish round the clock care for the region’s most vulnerable.

For the past eight years, Joseph's House has provided an overnight shelter and services program that has helped many in the homeless community get back on their feet and return to independent living. However, last year when a community nonprofit that for years provided day services to the homeless suddenly closed their doors, Joseph's House stepped up by offering day services on a limited basis. Now, the organization is addressing this opportunity for the long-term by improving and combining the existing 17,000 square foot facility and adjoining space under one roof, creating a one-stop shop for vital services, and a beacon of light for the homeless both day and night. Facility features will include, but are not limited to:

• Increasing capacity of its overnight program from 80 to 90 people per night

• Expanding the dining room and storage space, enabling guests to keep their personal belongings onsite rather than carrying them from appointment to appointment, often in trash bags

• Providing case management, employment and housing services

• Counseling for mental health and addiction

“The team at Joseph’s House is motivated by the homeless men and women we serve each day, as well as the surrounding community, and its residents and businesses that generously donate food, supplies, time and money,” said James Wynn, Executive Director of Joseph’s House. “Through this initiative, we are poised to rise and meet the significant challenge before us of providing food and shelter to keep the homeless off the streets at night, while also offering a helping hand through services and support that empower our guests to return to independent living.”

Joseph’s House looks to build on the momentum from 2018 where it served over 600 homeless guests and helped 200 men and women return to independent living. None of this would be made possible without the devoted employees, volunteers, donors and local businesses for providing hope and a warm smile for their fellow community members who are at their most vulnerable.

Charitable donations for the program are graciously accepted by visiting this link: https://www.mightycause.com/story/RenovationsToServe

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