The Rotating Homeless Shelter

 Each winter in New Brunswick there is a rotating homeless shelter that serves Middlesex County’s homeless population during the winter months.  The shelter is a collaborative of houses of worship and coordinates with Coming Home of Middlesex County. The program began as overflow housing for the “Ozanam Men’s Inn” on Abeel Street in New Brunswick, run by Catholic Charities.  That shelter’s namesake is from Blessed Antoine-Frederic Ozanam who was a French Literary scholar, social justice advocate and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997.  There are not enough beds in the Ozanam Inn to serve the county’s winter-time homeless population and this need is met, in part, by the rotating shelter that is hosted at 8 houses of worship in downtown New Brunswick.

 In 2025/2026 Christ Church (our sister Episcopal congregation in New Brunswick) will be hosting the shelter the weeks of December 28 through January 3 and March 1-7 and we are seeking volunteers to serve as overnight hosts. Typically, the rotating shelter serves 15 men. All the men have been pre-screened and a list of the men who will be spending the night is available for the volunteers.  The shelter will be opened before 7pm by a coordinator.  The coordinator remains at the shelter for 1-2 hours longer to meet and orientate the volunteers. The guests arrive between 7pm-11pm (though there are occasional later arrivals).  Cots are set up in the Church’s auditorium where the men spend the night. Between 7-11 PM volunteers sit at a table set up in a loft by the auditorium and oversee the men as they sign in. At 11 PM volunteers lock the Shelter’s entrance and turn the lights off in the auditorium (though often the men do this earlier on their own).  Inflatable mattresses are set up in the Choir room, adjacent to the loft, for the volunteers to sleep during the night (volunteers should bring pillows and sleeping bags or sheets/blankets to put on the mattresses).  At 6am a volunteer turns the lights back on in the auditorium and between then and 7am the men leave the building. Once the last guest has left the volunteers leave. If there is no other activity at the church in the morning volunteers should lock the door as they leave.  

 Volunteers arrive at the Church though the entrance on 5 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, at 7pm. Volunteers will be provided with reimbursement for parking in the Church Street parking deck which can be accessed through either Church or Paterson Street (or any other parking available nearby). Volunteers should wear warm comfortable clothes, bring some snacks and a good book.  The Church’s Wi-Fi will be available. If you can’t volunteer overnight, an alternative way to help is by providing dinner. The church kitchen is available if needed to heat food if necessary.
There is a sign up sheet in Hubbard Hall.

 Please contact one of the following if you have any questions:

Bryan Botsch