Harry Tompson Center

The Harry Tompson Center is a collaborative day shelter designed to improve the daily lives of the unhoused community of New Orleans. Serving more than 200 individuals per day, we strive to meet our guests’ basic needs through our four pillars of service: hygiene, health, hospitality, and housing.

Guests can access showers, restrooms, laundry, healthcare, housing navigation, case management, cell phone charging, WIFI, and more.

Our hygiene facilities often act as a gateway to greater care. While guests are waiting in our courtyard, they can talk to case workers, volunteers, and staff about their challenges, and we work to connect them with the resources they need to work towards their individual goals.

We treat our guests with respect and compassion and are always looking for ways to improve their day-to-day experience.

Mission

The Harry Tompson Center provides a calm and caring environment in which to serve the needs of unhoused individuals in New Orleans.

Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to improving the quality of life for all those who come to us in need, not only by responding to physical needs, but also by attending to the whole person with respect and compassion.

St. Joseph Rebuild Center

St. Joseph Rebuild Center is comprised of 3 nonprofit agencies: Harry Tompson Center, Lantern Light Ministry, and Depaul USA New Orleans. Each agency has its own leadership, staff, and programs. For a full list of services and hours, download our Rebuild Center Services Guide.

Please direct questions about services and programs according to the following:

Harry Tompson Center

Showers, Laundry, Hygiene Facilities, Case Management, Basic First-Aid/Medical Needs, Phones/WiFI, Bike Program/Mechanic, Housing Case Management, In-Kind Donations, Volunteering

Lantern Light‍ ‍

504-273-5573

www.lanternlight.org

ID Signups, Birth Certificate/Personal Document Needs, Mail, Food Pantry, Lagniappe Pantry, Life Skills Class, Art Table, Volunteer Breakfast/Lunch Service, Notary Services, Financial Assistance

Depaul USA New Orleans

504-273-5577 ext. 121. www.depaulusa.org

Wellness, Women’s Group, 12 Step Group, Donations Program

Our Services

  • Hygiene Facilities

    HTC hygiene facilities include 10 showers, 6 restrooms, and 21 faucets for guests to take care of their hygiene needs. All guests signed up for showers are supplied with towels, washcloths, shampoo, and soap. Personal care items such as razors, toothbrushes, socks, etc. are available on request.

  • Laundry

    Laundry intake occurs M-F and is first-come, first serve until the daily limit of 20 bags is reached. We recommend guests check laundry in early (In summertime our line is often forming by 7am). Same-day pickup is required between 1:00-1:30pm. Guests may turn in 1 bag/week.

  • Housing Navigation

    HTC’s award-winning housing navigators are available to speak with on site during morning service hours (8:00am-12:30pm).

    We recommend coming in person to discuss individual housing needs and options.

  • Case Management

    Case managers at HTC help guests navigate available resources including family reunification, senior housing, shelter referral, reconnection to existing community support, crisis intervention, and support seeking medical care.

  • Basic Medical Care

    HTC staff are trained in first-aid, CPR, and opioid reversal. Basic first-aid is available on site. OTC medications are available at the information table. Volunteer healthcare professionals collaborate with staff to help navigate ongoing medical and mental healthcare needs.

  • Personal Care / Hygiene Items

    HTC supplies basic hygiene supplies to guests, including soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, razors, and more. Our amazing community of supporters donate lagniappe items, including shoes, backpacks, belts, hats, and other personal care items we distribute upon request.

  • Phones & WIFI

    HTC offers free WIFI to all guests and our courtyard and hygiene area are equipped with outlets for charging personal devices. We also operate a phone charging station where guests can check in devices to be charged in a lockbox while they are utilizing Rebuild Center services.

  • Book Cart

    Our free library cart offers enrichment to guests as they await services or rest in our Center. Guests are allowed to take and keep 2 books/week. We often need book donations of all reading levels and across genres. Favorites include sci-fi, wellness, historical fiction, and general fiction.

  • Bike Program

    Our bicycle program helps ~70 individuals annually gain access to their own modes of transportation. Local mechanics teach the basics of bicycle maintenance and repair. Upon completion, guests receive their own bicycle, helmet, lights, and a lock. Bikes are donated by members of the community.

  • Spiritual Care

    Some of our volunteers include priests, sisters, brothers, deacons, and spiritual counselors who offer guidance to HTC guests. Often, these volunteers dedicate their time to sitting with guests in prayer or helping them tend to their spiritual wellness.

Help HTC Offset High Energy Costs

HTC is proud to be a non-profit selected by Everybody Solar for the installation of solar panels in Spring 2027! Reliable electricity is essential to the work happening inside the Rebuild Center—from powering showers and laundry to maintaining safe, welcoming spaces during extreme heat, storms, and periods of high community need.

A 42.53 kW rooftop solar array will be installed above the Harry Tompson Center portion of the building, made possible by roof improvements completed in 2025. While the system is hosted by the Harry Tompson Center, the resulting energy savings will help support operations for all three nonprofits working within the Rebuild Center.

The solar array is expected to generate approximately 51,423 kWh of clean electricity each year, offsetting an estimated 40% of the building’s electricity use.

Learn more