2023 Year in Review

A Message from our Director

Dear Friends,
Each day presents the opportunity for life-improving change. As we enter a new year, we know that our guests will continue to face difficult challenges, but we are encouraged by the strength of our team and the lengths to which we will go to ensure that every individual who comes to us in need will be met with an open heart and a helping hand.

For a community that is often defined by its losses, we are proud to be a Center where we see our guests in terms of their richness of spirit and resilience in the face of adversity.  We are honored that our guests find care, community, safety, and a sense of belonging with us. 
 
As a supporter of the HTC, we know that you care about the wellbeing of our neighbors currently experiencing homelessness. We’d like to thank each and every one of you for supporting our mission in 2023.

We wanted to share some of our accomplishments made possible by you and our amazing community of guests, volunteers, and supporters in our 2023 Year in Review below.
 
We hope that 2024 brings many blessings to you, to our team, and to our guests. 
 
With love, 

Emily Bussen Wain

A Steady Increase in Guests

More people are falling into homelessness every day. In 2023, UNITY of Greater New Orleans measured a 15% increase in individuals experiencing homelessness over the year before. Last summer, we saw a boom in the number of unique visitors seeking help at the HTC. On average, we see 160 individuals each day, up nearly double from this time last year.

Ending Homelessness for HTC Guests

Our award-winning case managers work closely with guests to help them make sense of their challenges and connect them with the resources they need to get back on their feet. In our latest reporting year, their dedicated service has helped navigate 194 people into stable housing, effectively ending their homelessness for good! 

Bike Program

HTC's bike program strives to improve personal mobility and access to transportation for the unhoused community. Participants are paired with a used bicycle supplied by our donor community and led through a series of classes designed to teach the basics of maintenance and repair. We are so proud of the 70 individuals who completed the program in our latest reporting year! Special thanks to our amazing instructor, Malcolm Hall, who spent dozens of hours helping us deliver this program to our guests. 

Do you have a bicycle you would like to donate to our bike program? Let us know by emailing info@harrytompsoncenter.org. We are currently accepting bicycle donations for our 2024 classes!

Volunteers

Our volunteers are the unsung heroes of our operation. Every day, we are graced by the efforts of individuals who give their hearts and volunteer their time towards making life a little easier for our guests. This year, lawyers, doctors, nurses, counselors, hair stylists, occupational therapists,  students, clergy, parishioners, Jesuit novices, and many others offered over 3,448 hours to our guests. We are indebted to their service and grateful for their compassionate care.

Our Wonderful Donors 

A huge thank you to the all of the individuals who supported the HTC through financial contributions this year, including our 2023 Gala sponsors and participants, our amazing sustaining monthly donors, everyone who shared our GiveNOLA Day and #iGiveCatholic Giving Tuesday profiles, and each and every person who thought of our guests, our mission, and the good work Father Tompson, S.J. set in motion all those years ago. We are so grateful for your support! 

Thank you for keeping the goodness going
Without your support, our work wouldn't be possible. 

Community Support 

Thank you to the 100+ individuals and faith-based groups who organized Donation Drives or collected and delivered much-needed items for our guests. We feel so blessed to be the beneficiaries of your generous efforts. Special thanks to everyone who purchased items from our Amazon Wishlist and who worked with our team to identify and deliver the products our guests rely on the most! You are truly HTC Heroes!

We are immensely grateful to the foundations and organizations that supported the Harry Tompson Center in 2023:

Alden and Margaret Laborde Foundation
Ronnie & Gwen Briggs Family Foundation
Joe & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation 
J. Homer Butler Foundation
Calmoseptine Inc.
Catholic Community Foundation 
Congregation of St. Joseph 
Crossroads Foundation 
Daly-Landry Family Fund
Daughters of Charity Ministry
Davis-Moloney Fund
Eckstein Charitable Trust 
Enterprise Holdings Foundation 
Frank J. Lewis Foundation 
Gustaf W. McIlhenny Foundation 
Jensen Family Fund 
Kitchen Family Charitable Fund
La Société Des Dames Hospitalières 
Louise H. Moffett Family Foundation 
McKeen Fund
Methodist Health System Foundation
Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust 
Patrick F. Taylor Foundation 
Perez Family Angels of Katrina Foundation
Reiling Family Foundation
Rice-Voelker Fund for Recovery
Strake Foundation
US Central and Southern Province, Jesuits
Wallace Landry Family Foundation 

Save the Date for HTC's 2024 Gala

We are so excited to announce that our 2024 Annual Gala will commence at:

The Academy of the Sacred Heart
NIMS Fine Arts Center
Saturday, March 9, 2024
 4pm - 7pm

This year  marks 25 years since Father Harry Tompson, S.J. founded our humble but mighty mission. We invite you to commemorate the occasion by joining us for a night of celebration featuring live music, a specially curated silent auction, new prizes in our Big 3 Giveaway, and a delightful dinner buffet and beer/wine bar. Toast to the good work we've accomplished and help HTC remain a leader in providing critical care to our city's unhoused neighbors.

To sponsor or pledge your support visit our events page today!.

To inquire about tickets, auction, or donation opportunities, contact Paisleigh Kelley at pkelley@harrytompsoncenter.org 

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors generously offer their time and expertise in service of our mission. Thank you for your commitment to making our vision a reality.

Mary Baudouin- President

Stephen Romig -  Treasurer
Paul Buras- Secretary
Rev. Anthony McGinn, S.J.
Dwight Barnes
Charles Bourg
Alisa Bright
Dr. Gail Burke
Tasheena Butler
Shannon Daigle
Dr. Peter DeBlieux
Michael Hammer
James Pellerin
Kevin Wilson

Volunteer Spotlight: Brother Donald Dubay, CFC

Just before doors open at 7:30am on an unseasonably cool spring morning, Brother Donald Dubay, CFC, enters the back gate carrying boxes stacked as high as the brim of his signature ball cap. He beams, God is good, as he sets down the load to reveal several cases of underwear, towels, hygiene items, and even a few checks made out to our Center. The whole team is elated – our underwear supply has been low and Brother Don’s donation contains boxer briefs, our guests’ favorite! When we thank him, he is touched but quick to direct the credit to the caring hearts within the Community of Francis and Clare and the greater community. “I am simply grateful to be the messenger.” he says, before making his way to the front gate for his volunteer shift.

With all due respect to his humble service, we are thrilled to uplift Brother Donald Dubay, CFC, in our volunteer spotlight for the impact he has had in maximizing our mission and ministry.

When he first came for a site visit after connecting with our partners at DePaul USA through his work as a Chaplain of the Food Pantry and Homelessness Outreach at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, Brother Donald loved how Eva approached our morning sign in, making time to greet everyone and offering our signature elbow-bump, a moderated COVID-friendly hi-five. He admired that distress was treated with dignity and a desire for better understanding and deeper care. Knowing he needed to transition away from the physicality of the street outreach he was doing for St. Anna’s, he prayed and trusted that God’s answer would show itself in time, and not long after, a perfect candidate stepped into his role, enabling him to regularly volunteer at our Center.

Since then, Brother Don has found beauty and inspiration for his faith in seemingly simple interactions, such as giving guests water, charging their phones, and exchanging small talk. He keeps his heart open to experiencing what he calls holy moments, when he recognizes what a blessing it is to be of service to another person, to see their common humanity, to help put their socks on after they shower or get them a pair of reading glasses so that they can see the world a little better. The thing is, Brother Donald says, we are helping them as much as they are teaching us.

“Christ always said, don’t ever forget the poor, they will be with us always for that is where we find Him. Some people find Christ in nature and art and churches, but for me, I also find Christ in the margins.” Brother Donald goes onto say that part of what this means for him is finding strength in the hope and resilience of our guests. Like all of us, there are days when Brother Donald’s drive into the Center can be fraught with feelings of worry and fear and doubt and dismay about the state of the world or our own interpersonal dealings; but so often that feeling melts away when we see our guests, when we hear them express gratitude and good attitudes to simply be alive and breathing and okay despite major adversity. It is in their hope and determination that we find strength. It is in their anger and fear and frustration with complicated systems and red tape that we stand in solidarity to validate their experiences.

In his former role doing street outreach with St. Anna’s, Brother Donald saw his unhoused neighbors (he calls them his siblings) in various states of distress and despairing conditions. He mourned how many people seemed to have given up hope altogether that they could rebuild their lives. Since starting at the Rebuild Center with HTC, Brother Donald says that the biggest difference between our guests and non-resource seeking unhoused individuals is the sense of hope they have for themselves. “Just by being here and showing up to take a shower they show a quality of care for themselves, and to hear them talking to folks here about finding housing, a bus pass, or their next step is really inspiring and gives me hope for them. It also reminds me that we all have the opportunity to choose joy at every moment, and I try to learn from that as well.”

As he has learned the ins and outs of our operations, Brother Donald has been incredibly generous and prolific in support of our mission. “Franciscans are known as mendicants, we beg! Some people really want to help but can’t volunteer and would love nothing more than to contribute from your Wishlist or donate to your mission. People always ask me what they can do if they cannot contribute, and my answer is to pray. Prayer can go a long way.” Through his own prayers, Brother Donald has been working on ways to help HTC and our partners at DePaul USA in collaboration with St. Anna’s Episcopal and the Community of Francis and Clare. Already, St. Anna’s is working to stock the pantries of recently-housed guests as part of this effort!

We are thrilled that Brother Don found us and we are so grateful that he intends to help us carry out morning services for a long time to come. He certainly adds a lot of joy to our work and we get a kick out of his love for folding towels. We wish him the very best as he travels to Loyola in Chicago for the annual Franciscan gathering and on his 4th trip with Team Brownsville, showing hospitality and compassion to families at the US/Mexico border. If you have found us through Brother Donald Dubay, CFC, welcome to our HTC family! Thank you, Brother Don!

The Harry Tompson Center is excited to invite you to Harry's Homecoming: A Celebration of Good Works on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 3pm-6pm.

Get ready for an afternoon of fun and philanthropy as we celebrate the good works set into motion by our founder, the late Father Harry Tompson, S.J. After two years of needing to forego our annual gala due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to see you again and meet some of our new supporters!  
 
Harry’s Homecoming marks departure from our traditional gala, which we hope to return to in 2023 when our community has had a little more time to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and the continuing economic impacts of the pandemic. Out of respect for our generous community of vendors, we’ve decided to simplify our event by hosting it at our home base: The Harry Tompson Center inside of St. Joseph’s Rebuild Center. We are excited to invite you in to see the magic of our space and give you an exclusive look at how your support impacts the community that we serve.  

This year, our sponsorship levels are organized around our 5 pillars of service: Heart, Health, Hospitality, Hygiene, and Housing. Know that your contribution directly funds positive outcomes for nearly 2,000 unhoused individuals who rely on our life-changing services each year. Sponsors who pledge support before February 23rd will be highlighted in our invitation and other promotional materials. 

Individual admission tickets are also available for purchase for $100/each or $50/each for persons under the age of 35. 

What to Expect at Harry's Homecoming

• Intermingling with fellow HTC supporters, staff, volunteers, and guests

• Get an exclusive look at the services you help make possible for our community

• Presentation of our Legatus Christi Award

• A chance to win one of our Big 3 Giveaway prizes

• New Orleans' small plates & dessert

• Open bar with beer and wine

• Music by T. Marie and Bayou JuJu

• Secure parking in St. Joseph's Church Parking Lot

Big 3 Giveaway 

Don’t miss your chance to win a shot at 1 of 3 Amazing Giveaway Prizes. Tickets for entry are $100/each and only 150 tickets will be sold! Winners do not have to be present to attend and will be informed of their winnings on the day of the event. 

Prize 1: 4 day/3 night stay at a 2-bedroom, 2 bath condo at Leeward Key in Miramar Beach, Florida with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. Donated by Patty & Greg Sibley and Alice Snee. Valued at $600. 

Prize 2: Crawfish Boil for 25 at your own home. Don't miss this opportunity to bring friends and/or family together for this Louisiana favorite! Donated By: George Wilson and Truck and Transportation, Inc.; Mutually agreed upon date and location. Valued at $850.

Grand Prize:
YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING VACATION GETAWAYS VALUED AT $3,000. PACKAGES INCLUDE:

ROUNDTRIP AIRLINE RESERVATIONS
ROUND TRIP TRANSPORTATION AIRPORT TO HOTEL
3 NIGHTS HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS & TAX
ONE SIGHTSEEING TOUR

BILTMORE ESTATE Offering elegant surroundings, personalized service, and fine dining, a stay at The Inn allows you to experience the gracious hospitality for which the Vanderbilts were known.  

• Round trip air transportation New Orleans to Asheville, N.C.

• Round trip transfers airport to hotel

• Three nights Guest room accommodations including tax The Inn on Biltmore Estate – Deluxe King View, non-smoking

• Chef's Breakfast Buffet in the Dining Room daily

• One Daytime Biltmore House Admission

• Audio Guides to Biltmore House

NAPA VALLEY  Enjoy a fun and relaxing Napa Valley Wine Tour. You will visit renowned Napa Velley and Sonoma Wineries for tasting, learn about wine-making techniques, and shop for wine and souvenirs in local shops. Taste the finest wines of Napa Valley, have lunch and shop in Napa Square Plaza.

• Round trip air New Orleans to San Francisco, CA

• Round trip transfers airport to hotel

• Three nights Guest room accommodations including tax at the Hotel Argonaut, housed within Fisherman's Wharf historic Haslett Warehouse building – Deluxe King, non-smoking

• Napa and Sonoma Wine Country Full Day Tour

MARTHA'S VINEYARD This tiny island off Cape Cod remains one of the most popular and picturesque destinations in New England. In the town of Tisbury, established in 1602, you'll find the beautiful harbor village, Vineyard Haven - a touch of seaside elegance combined with a taste of island casual.  

• Round trip air transportation New Orleans to Martha's Vineyard

• Round trip transfers airport to hotel

• Three nights Guest room accommodations including tax at the Mansion House Inn & Spa, Vineyard Haven, King, non-smoking

• All Island Bus Tour

NEW YORK CITY & NIAGARA FALLS Combine a visit to the BIG APPLE, with the tallest buildings, the biggest museums, Broadway theater and the best pizza with a trip to the most important and impressive natural wonders of the world, Niagara Falls. 

• Round trip air New Orleans to New York City

• Round trip transfers airport to hotel

• Three nights guest room accommodations including tax at the Renaissance New York Times Square – Deluxe King, non-smoking

• Niagara Falls in One Day Tour from New York

LAS VEGAS & GRAND CANYON Visit the city of dazzling neon lights, a bustling strip, high stakes casinos, and all-star entertainment 24/7 while still finding time to appreciate the spectacular natural beauty of the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam.   

• Round trip air transportation New Orleans to Las Vegas, Nevada

• Round trip transfers airport to hotel

• Three nights guest room accommodations including tax at the Venetian Resort, Venetian Tower deluxe king room, non-smoking

• Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Route 66 Tour from Las Vegas

Please note that this voucher must be used for travel and has no cash value.
Travel must be booked at least one year from the date of the award.
Prices are subject to availability
Other travel destinations may can be substituted in place of the packages presented here.

*When purchasing tickets, please designate what tickets you are interested in buying and the quantity thereof in the notes section. For instance, if you are purchasing admission tickets, please write Admission (quantity). If you are purchasing Giveaway tickets, please write Giveaway (quantity). Example: Admission (1) Giveaway (2)

YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!

We are so blessed to have an amazing community of supporters who help us say YES to our guests in their time of need. Since January 2021, over 100 organizations and individuals have made in-kind donations to our Center!

Whether you've held donation drives, delivered gently-used goods, or ordered supplies from our Amazon Wishlist, you truly made our mission of improving the lives of unhoused individuals possible!
THANK YOU!

KEEPING THE GOODNESS GOING
As the season of giving approaches, we know many of you are wondering how you can help our unhoused neighbors, and we are here to help! In this resource guide, you will learn more about our in-kind donations program, coordinating your donations, how to pack a ready-to-go hygiene kit, and where you can take items that the HTC cannot accept.

There are more than 560,000 people experiencing homelessness in America - that’s equivalent to 1.5x the entire population of New Orleans living without shelter nationwide.

Though data has not been reported since before the coronavirus pandemic, UNITY of Greater New Orleans’ last point-in-time count released in January 2020 suggested that there were nearly 1,200 chronically homeless individuals living in Jefferson & Orleans Parishes and that number continues to grow.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen an increase in first-time homelessness due to factors including COVID-19, natural disasters, and a lack of affordable housing.

The pandemic has been particularly debilitating for the tourism and service sectors of the New Orleans economy, rendering many people unemployed or living on extremely limited income. Additionally, temporary protections such as the eviction moratorium, boosted federal unemployment payments, and stimulus payments have come to an end, leaving many residents vulnerable to new homelessness. Hurricane Ida displaced thousands of people, and many who previously lived in surrounding river parishes have no home to return to, forcing them to make do on motel stays or in temporary shelters until they can resettle and find relief.

Furthermore, Louisiana, like many other states in the country, faces an affordable housing crisis. Recent reports say that Louisiana has less than half the needed affordable housing available to residents. This leaves 66% of extremely low-income renters seriously cost-burdened and at risk of homelessness. In 2016, former mayor Mitch Landrieu established a plan that would create 7,500 affordable housing units by the end of 2020; however, while some progress has been made, currently less than 2,000 units have been made available.

New Orleans has always been a place wherein our community takes care of each other. We see that here at the Harry Tompson Center, where our network of volunteers, donors, and passionate community members continues to be the backbone of our operations. As we continue to meet the growing needs of the unhoused population in New Orleans, we ask for your extended generosity during #WorldHomelessDay2021.

Please consider the following ways of helping us achieve our mission of improving the quality of life for our unhoused neighbors:

• Make a financial contribution to the Harry Tompson Center

• Donate in-kind goods from our Amazon Wishlist and make life more comfortable for our guests

• Volunteer your time and talent to our shower service or other programs

• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and share our mission with others

• Work with us to conduct a donation drive for our guests

• Designate the Harry Tompson Center as your charity of choice via AmazonSmile

• Vote in support of policies and politicians who put affordable housing first

The homeless population is certainly one of the most vulnerable demographics in the city when it comes to hurricanes. Before a major storm, service providers like the HTC rely on word of mouth and outreach teams to inform unhoused individuals of the impending threat. In the days leading up to Hurricane Ida, we did our best to outline the available options for shelter for as many guests as possible. At our last touchpoint with them on Friday, August 27th, the storm had just been upgraded from a Category 2 to a Category 3, and many guests seemed determined to ride out the hurricane from their tents, not knowing that Ida would rapidly intensify to a strong Category 4 hurricane by landfall. As many Louisianans made their way away from the coast, we worried for the safety and well-being of our beloved guests.

After the hurricane, some of our team returned to check on the Center. We are incredibly fortunate that our site was spared from the worst of the devastation, sustaining only minor damage to the siding. Without power, our services were put on hold as we got to work boarding up holes in the siding and cleaning the debris that littered the courtyard. During our closure, our team members who did not evacuate along with some of our volunteers lent their time and energy towards mutual aid, volunteering with organizations like Grace at the Greenlight and driving around the city to locate and assist our guests.

Our Center officially reopened to guests on Tuesday, September 6th with limited services until our full team could arrive back on site. Nonetheless, during our first week back, we were able to help many people receive their first shower in over a week. Our guests were grateful, but physically and emotionally exhausted. It is clear to us that a person does not have to have a house to feel the physical and psychological impacts of displacement.

As we near the end of our second week of service following the hurricane, things still don’t feel normal. Several of our regulars are unaccounted for. Many people who had been housed through various programs sustained major property damage and are at risk of homelessness once more. We are worried for the folks we have yet to see and pray that they made it to safety.

We understand that the stakes are higher than ever for our guests. Many of them are feeling hopeless and they are hurting deeply, in ways that are difficult to put into words. Still, they come to us seeking comfort and compassion, and we are blessed to be able to offer a place for them to rest while trying to help them make sense of what to do next. If you’d like to support our efforts to help the unhoused community recover, please consider donating today.

Before the delta variant took root, things were beginning to feel a little more like old times at the Harry Tompson Center. Lower numbers of COVID-19 cases meant that we could bring back some of our guests' favorite programs, including art hour, haircuts, and our bike classes. Longtime volunteers were eager to return and new volunteers brought fresh perspectives that led to the creation of new offerings including a foot care clinic and counseling services. Although the immediate future of our volunteer-led programs remains uncertain as we navigate this new phase of the pandemic, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate the people and programs that made this summer special to our guests.

Three Weeks a Jesuit
Earlier this summer, Jake Theriot and Hai Nguyen volunteered at our Center as part of the "Three Weeks a Jesuit" program sponsored by Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province. As part of this vocational-discovery program, Jake and Hai stayed at Immaculate Conception Church, attended the ordainment of new Jesuits, visited Grand Coteau for a weekend retreat, and served with the HTC every day for 3 weeks. During their time at our Center, our prospective Jesuits were able to interface with guests while working our sunrise shower service. Both reported that the work was difficult, but meaningful.

"I loved working at the HTC - it was my favorite part of the program. I have a much deeper understanding of the factors contributing to homelessness, and I think this experience has given me greater appreciation for the little things that seem simple but are really meaningful to them like when we remember their names or set aside a special towel for someone." said Jake Theriot.

"I never had much contact with the homeless before this. It was more of a stranger-danger approach." says Hai Nguyen, "But now that I have a personal connection with our guests, I realize that they are very much like us."

We are so glad that Jake and Hai were open to learning more about our guests from our guests and are thankful for the good work they did during their time in the program.

Haircuts
Haircuts returned to the HTC thanks to our amazing volunteers. Many of our guests hadn't had a haircut since before the pandemic until our dream team of stylists arrived one Monday in mid-June. Our guests were so appreciative for the opportunity to look fresh! Special thanks to Allie Doran who brings 42 years of styling experience to the table, as well as Shane Sylvester who has filled her life helping people look their best, and to Terry Eggleston with Hats Off Salon who has volunteered at the HTC for at least 7 years. Their talent is truly a gift to our guests. Allie, Shane, and Terry are so glad to be back and look forward to offering guests their services in the months to come.

Foot Care Clinic
Over 35 foot care sessions were provided to guests over the course of July thanks to LSU Occupational Therapist (OT) graduate student Rhia Reed and her instructor Mary Delahoussaye. Rhia, who is passionate about mobility and body awareness, helped lead guests through a foot exam, soaked their feet in cool water before scrubbing them with medicated soap, and taught participants how to identify common issues such as athlete's foot, blisters, damaged toe nails, and diabetic neuropathy. Each participant was gifted their own care kit which included nail clippers, medicated for powder, water-wicking socks, an emory board, a washcloth and flip-flops. Not only did Rhia lead these sessions, but they also raised the funds necessary to supply these items to our guests. We are so impressed by Rhia and Mary's passion for helping others and their expertise in all things OT!

Art Hour
Art Hour returned to the HTC this July to the delight of our guests! This was another effort spearheaded by Rhia Reed and new volunteer, Rashad Gray, who brought in oil pastels and other art supplies for guests to use to express themselves. Attendees talked about philosophy and art as they drew colorful pictures and relaxed in our quiet courtyard after service hours. The first session was a hit. We look forward to resuming this program once it becomes safe again to share materials.

Bike Class
After a brief hiatus during 2020, our Bike Program returned this summer! Participants in this program learn the basics of bike maintenance and repair and build community over several weeks under the instruction of Malcolm Hall. Upon graduation, each student receives their own bicycle, lock, and helmet. We are so grateful to our amazing instructor, teaching assistants, volunteers, donors, and staff for making this happen, and are excited for our guests to have greater mobility around the city!

Farewell to Jesuit Volunteer, Laura Power
Over the course of their year of service, our Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) become near and dear to us. This is no exception for Laura Power, who completed her service year on July 30, 2021. Laura had the unique challenge of operating our sunrise shower service amidst the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, but she rose to the occasion at every turn, helping us develop systems to best serve our guests during this challenging time. Among her many accomplishments, Laura will be lauded for her ability to connect with guests, her immaculate organizational skills, her passion for social justice, and her strength in training new volunteers. We wish Laura the best in her next endeavor, which takes her to Boston where she will be teaching social skills to children with autism at The Ely Center. All the best, Laura - you are already missed!

Since last Fall, the HTC has had the distinct pleasure of working with a group of Tulane students to improve and expand services at the Center. As part of their Engineering Physics Team Design Capstone, students were asked to solve real world problems using engineering principles learned over the course of their studies. With the guidance of their professor, Dr. Matt Barrios, architect, Stuart Stoller, and HTC Executive Director, Emily Wain, five students – Matt, Andrew, Sam, Gabby, and Jose – took on the challenge.

Several project ideas were discussed before the students determined to complete two major structural projects for the Center: 1. To build a storage shed to help alleviate overflow from our small storage space, and 2. To design a cell phone charging locker for guests to use during service hours.

The team set to work. In order to make space for the storage shed, a large palm tree had to be uprooted, asphalt had to be cleared, and permits had to be obtained. Matt, the team lead, reflected that the project was not without its challenges.

“Acquiring a permit for something as small as a 6’x10’ shed from the City of New Orleans was an incredibly difficult process.” Matt joked that solving real world problems sometimes means taking on more real world problems. “It’s a good thing that permits are required, generally speaking, since they help promote safety on construction projects, but it was eye opening to see just how much time it took.”

Andrew, who worked alongside Matt building the shed, was also surprised by how much time certain construction elements took. “The hardest part was removing the stump and rootball of the palm tree that were positioned where we needed to build the foundation. Matt and I both thought that digging out the stumps would take a few days tops, but it took nearly two weeks and we had to call for reinforcements.”

The scope of this design project was truly impressive. Not only did the students design and build these structures, but they also worked to secure over $5,000 through grants and fundraising efforts to pay for supplies, permits, and hire professionals, including an electrician who ran power to the shed.

Sam, who spearheaded the design of the phone charging station, listened to HTC’s need for a safe, accessible, and weatherproof option that could handle a lot of use. Ultimately, the team designed a charging station complete with 12 lockers, each of which contain 4 different kinds of chargers for varying devices. Staff act as key holders for the charging station, allowing guests to check their phones and other electronics while utilizing other services. The Tulane team tested the lockers for all kinds of bad weather scenarios, including ensuring that heat and rain would not harm stored devices. They also made 3D printed wooden keyrings that add to the aesthetic appeal of each locker.

The charging station is a huge hit among guests and staff. Surveys distributed to guests reveal that they are pleased with the function, aesthetics, security, and ease of use and it’s become a very popular feature at the Center.

After eight months of hard work, the students were able to bring their projects to completion. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and hope that they are pleased with the positive impacts these additions will continue to make in the lives of HTC staff and guests. We want to extend our sincerest thanks to Matt, Andrew, Sam, Gabby, and Jose for their efforts and congratulate them on graduating! Our most sincere gratitude to Dr. Barrios and Stuart Stoller for their guidance and expertise. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Tulane’s School of Science & Engineering and all of the great ideas these bright students continue to dream up.

Reopening the Rebuild Center Courtyard

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Joseph’s Church has graciously shared the use of their parking lot to the Harry Tompson Center and our partner agencies at the Rebuild Center. The lot functions as an extension of our site, allowing guests to wait for and receive services in an open-air environment with ample space to facilitate social distancing. The lot has been a godsend that has enabled us to continue operating throughout these trying times; however, stationing guests on crates and buckets while they await service is not ideal, and we’ve looked forward to the day when we could reopen the Rebuild Center’s courtyard safely and responsibly. As the City of New Orleans prepares to enter Phase 3.2 of reopening, a subphase which allows community centers to resume operations at 50% capacity, the HTC plans to begin bringing guests back inside. 

HTC feels that it is important to provide what little comfort we can afford to our guests while also taking measures to protect their health and safety. With colder weather approaching, we hope that access to the courtyard will provide refuge from some of winter’s harsher elements. Entry into the Center will continue to function at limited capacity and measures are in place that ensureadherence to the latest recommendations from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the City of New Orleans to reduce the spread of the virus. HTC will continue administering temperature checks, requiring face coverings, sanitizing surfaces and shared spaces, and practicing social distancing within the space. The use of indoor offices will remain relegated to staff only, and meetings will continue to be held in private areas in outdoor corridors of the Center.

We are excited to take some small steps back towards normalcy; however, we remain vigilant and the health and well-being of our team and the individuals we serve are paramount. 

If you have a desire to join us, we are now accepting volunteers. For more information, please contact HTC Assistant Director, Eva Sohl, at esohl@harrytompsoncenter.org. We appreciate you keeping us in your thoughts and prayers as we move forward. Thank you for all that you do in support of the Harry Tompson Center. 

Seeking Shelter:
Homelessness During Hurricane Season

The 2020 hurricane season has been one of the most active on record. Already, 23 tropical cyclones have been named in the Atlantic, and 9 have made landfall. Each time a storm begins brewing in the Gulf, coastal residents swing into action, fortifying their homes, restocking their emergency supplies, and in some cases, evacuating to wait out the weather. But what happens to people experiencing homelessness during a major storm event?  

At the HTC, we recognize that our guests don’t always have access to media channels that could inform them about impending weather events. As part of our practice, we strive to keep our guests updated about approaching storm systems and where they can go to seek shelter. Still, the need to direct unsheltered individuals to safety during tropical storms and hurricanes requires large-scale effort teamwork between several partnering organizations. Shalini Persaud, Volunteer Coordinator at NOLA Ready, explains what steps the Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness and the City of New Orleans take to protect the safety of unsheltered residents.  

During hurricane season, the New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) coordinates outreach teams from community-based organizations that specialize in working with homeless individuals. These teams are tasked with locating people without shelter and letting them know that a storm is coming and what their options are for shelter. 

“The goal is to get residents inside, first to shelters run by homeless service providers,” such as the Mission, Ozanam Inn, and Low Barrier. “Then, if all the available beds are filled, homeless individuals and people with special medical needs are directed to City-run shelters, which are on standby during every major storm event,” Shalini elaborates.  

When hurricanes become so severe that a mandatory evacuation is ordered, the New Orleans City-Assisted Evacuation (CAE) Program provides free transportation out of the city for the 35,000+ residents who are unable to evacuate on their own. In the days leading up to landfall, NOHD launches outreach teams to inform the homeless community of their evacuation options and how to use CAE.  

The CAE Program asks individuals to report to one of 17 “Evacuspots” where residents are registered, picked up, and shuttled to the Smoothie King Center to await bussing to safer places. When the storm has subsided, CAE brings residents back to New Orleans.  

Many HTC guests are longtime residents of New Orleans and have survived multiple hurricane seasons. When asked about their experiences with hurricanes and evacuations, almost everyone had a Katrina story. In fact, Hurricane Katrina directly contributed to cycles of homelessness for a few of our guests who were never quite able to recover financially or emotionally from the loss of their homes and family members.  

Ty*, a current guest, lost his home during Katrina. He ended up on a bus to Texas and found his way to Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he spent the next six months taking care of his disabled father. That set him on a different path and when he finally returned to New Orleans, he wasn’t able to afford a home, didn’t get a FEMA check, and began staying at Ozanam Inn. He’s been in and out of temporary housing ever since. Ty has participated in the CAE Program during other mandatory evacuations and says that the service does a good job. “They set up shuttles for you, feed you and get you set up at a hotel and really take care of you until it’s safe to come back. I appreciate them looking out for us homeless folks.”

Another guest, JJ*, lost his uncle during Katrina and warns anyone without shelter to leave the city however they can during a hurricane. He wasn’t familiar with the city’s efforts to get people to shelter until he came to HTC ahead of Hurricane Laura and was able to shelter in place down the street at the Mission. JJ is working HTC partner agency, Lantern Light, to get his ID so that he can secure work on the cleanup efforts in Lake Charles. “It’s gonna work out. I know it will because it’s in God’s hands and God knows my heart. He knows I want to make a difference.”  

With over a month to go in the most prolific hurricane season to date, we are crossing our fingers that the Gulf Coast remains safe and remain thankful for the heroic efforts of NOLA Ready, NOHD, the City of New Orleans, and our other community partners.

Learn more about NOLA Ready's plan for emergencies. 

*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of our guests. 

Each year, the Harry Tompson Center recruits one Jesuit Volunteer from the national Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Program to work with our ministry. JVC is a service organization that collaborates with the Society of Jesus to place volunteers into organizations that focus on serving poor and marginalized communities in the U.S. and abroad. JVs live in intentional communities with other volunteers, sharing the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, and managing finances. Throughout their year of service, JVs participate in Ignatian formation programs such as retreats and guided spiritual reflections to deepen their understanding of Jesuit values. Throughout their service, JVs become more finely attuned to causes of social injustice, more conscious of the needs of underserved communities, and develop a stronger sense of themselves and their faith.  

We are thrilled to welcome Laura Power as our 2020-2021 Jesuit Volunteer. Laura recently graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with minors in Religious Studies and Sociology. Laura is eager to put her education to work in a more hands-on capacity and was inspired to join the JVC after her brother and biggest role model completed his JV year and she saw what a major impact the program had in impacting his worldview and life goals.  

Laura has a deeply rooted passion for working with people who have special needs and intends to pursue a career helping differently-abled individuals develop the life skills they need to be more independent and successful. Laura was drawn to the HTC’s commitment to treat every individual with dignity and respect regardless of their background. She was intrigued by our mission to create a safe space wherein our guests can cultivate a sense of belonging among a community that is often marginalized and invisible.  

Laura reports that in her hometown of Thousand Oaks, California, homelessness is largely treated with ambivalence or even overt disdain, and people often turn a blind eye to those who live on the streets. This has never sat well with Laura or her family. Growing up, the Power family made a regular practice of preparing and distributing meals to those in need. Laura has fond memories of her father encouraging her to always treat people equally, regardless of their means or appearances. She credits her family and her Catholic upbringing for fostering a sense of responsibility to use the privilege she has to improve the lives of those who have less.  

Already, Laura is gaining a world of experience by moving cross-country during a global pandemic. Upon arriving to New Orleans, Laura entered a period of quarantine, allowing her and the six other JVs she lives with to get to know each other very well. Once able to start at our Center, she hit the ground running, quickly learning the ropes for conducting our sunrise shower service and serving up to forty guests per day at our Rebuild Center site. 

Laura is most excited to build one-on-one relationships with our guests.  

“I love that my role here allows me to talk to the people who I would never otherwise have the opportunity to talk to. People who experience homelessness have such interesting stories to tell, and I’m excited to continue to get to know them better throughout my year here.”  

Outside of her work with the HTC, Laura’s interests include journaling, reading, exploring the city, listening to girl-power popstar Lizzo, and being an avid fan of candy, especially sour flavored gummies. Although her new budget doesn’t allow her to indulge her sweet tooth as much as she would like, Laura is grateful that her personal challenges are quite manageable and looks forward to what awaits her in the year ahead.  

The HTC is monitoring Tropical Storm Marco and Hurricane Laura as they approach the Louisiana coast.

Services at the VA’s CRRC site are closed Monday, August 24th, but services at the Rebuild Center site will continue as normal until at least 9am. Weather permitting, the Center will remain open for shower service throughout the morning.

People experiencing homelessness are encouraged to seek shelter as Marco & Laura make landfall. Several shelters have increased capacity to accommodate these weather events.

Summertime presents unique challenges for our guests. Help those experiencing homelessness feel more comfortable by donating new or gently used items to our Center.

Bottled water is the highest priority in the hot summer months. Great options for snacks include hydrating and nutritious options such as apples, oranges, and bananas. Granola bars, animal crackers, and nuts are also in high demand.

Currently, we are not in need of women’s clothing, but we do accept unisex items. Stretchy shorts, like basketball shorts, are helpful to have on hand for those in need. We always need underwear and prefer men’s sizes M, L, XL, 2XL.

For other personal care items, it’s helpful to donate travel-sized options so that we can include them in our hygiene kits.

Learn more about our donation process by visiting our HTC Wishlist page or by contacting Donations Coordinator, Peter Talkington.

Today marks the end of an era for the Harry Tompson Center as we bid farewell to Executive Director, Vicki Judice, who officially begins her well-earned retirement.

Vicki has been a model for effective and compassionate leadership during her tenure at the HTC. During a short COVID-appropriate celebration marking her retirement, Vicki’s friends, colleagues, and members of the HTC Board of Directors commended her for the incredible commitment she’s demonstrated in improving the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

After 7 years of service at the HTC and 39 total years working to end homelessness with others in the Greater New Orleans area, it's impossible to articulate the profound impact that Vicki's dedication to service has had in our community. She leaves behind a legacy of advocating for affordable housing options for low-income families, for championing community initiatives and policies that protect the well-being of unhoused people, and has gained the respect and admiration of her staff, collaborative partners, and others who appreciate her mentorship, expertise, and kindhearted nature.

Although we will miss her, we are happy that she will have more time to spend with her family and loved ones and know that we’ll be delighted when she comes back to the Center to visit.

Please join us in extending our gratitude for a job well done and warmest wishes for her future endeavors.

Happy Retirement, Vicki!

*Artwork featured in this post is an original piece commissioned as a gift for Vicki by local artist Jennie Lynn Hammatt.

Follow Jennie Lynn on Instagram @jennie.hammatt_art or on Facebook at Jennie Lynn

As our state begins to ready itself for the end of the Stay-at-Home Order, we are finalizing our plans to reopen our services In order to protect the health and safety of our guests and staff, we will be reopening both sites with limited services only prioritizing our shower and laundry services. 

What to expect: 

In order to limit the number of persons on-site, guests will be asked to form a line outside of each location with six feet of distance marked to encourage social distancing. Staff will walk the line and sign guests up for services needed. 

We will be administering temperature checks for all entrants into either site. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4 will not be granted entry into the site and will be referred to the nearest hospital. Cleared guests will be given a mask and escorted into the facility. 

VA Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC) 1530 Gravier St.

Opening: Tuesday May 12

Hours: 7am - 11:30 am

Services Available: showers & laundry 

Shower Service: Services will be rendered on a first-come, first-serve basis. No more than 2 men and 2 women at a time will be permitted inside the facility. Names for shower sign ups will begin at 7:30 am. The first 4 persons in line will be escorted to the shower space and those in line thereafter will be assigned slots on the half hour every hour (e.g. 8:00 am; 8:30 am… 11:30 am). This site can offer up to 16 showers/day. 

Laundry Service: Laundry service will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis until the daily maximum (10 bags) is collected. Laundry dropoff begins at 7:30am. Guests can retrieve their clean laundry between 12pm and 1pm outside. Laundry service is limited to 1 bag/week per person.  

St. Joseph’s Rebuild Center Site 1803 Gravier St. 

Opening: Monday May 18th 

Hours: 7am - 12pm 

Services Available: showers; case management (remote) 

Shower Service: Services will be rendered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Names for shower sign ups will begin at 7:30am. This site is limited to a total of 20 showers/day. The first group of persons in line will be escorted to the shower space and those in line thereafter will be assigned the remaining shower slots for the day. Those unable to receive a shower will be asked to come back the next day for another chance. 

Case Management: Although we will not be conducting in-person meetings, we will continue to provide remote case management and referrals to our guests as we have been doing throughout this pandemic. 

Where to find meals: 

Grace at the Greenlight 1526 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. 

Breakfast: 7am

Lunch: 1pm 

**Please note that  information is subject to change. We will do our best to keep our guests up to date with any adjustments.

As more organizations began to close in the wake of COVID-19, meal services were consolidated. As of March 30th, meals began being served on the back deck of The Rebuild Center at 1803 Gravier Street:

Hot Breakfast 8 a.m.

Courtesy of Grace at the Greenlight

Sack Lunch 1 p.m.

Courtesy of Grace at the Greenlight

with Lantern Light Ministry

Dinner to-go served at lunch time 1 p.m.

Courtesy of St. Jude

Please refer anyone who is homeless or hungry to visit the meal line at these times. There are volunteers from each of these organizations present to help moderate social distancing practices and answer questions. Port-o-lets and hand washing stations are located in front of The Rebuild Center across the street. Thank you Grace at the Greenlight, Lantern Light Ministry, and St. Jude Community Center for continuing to serve during this time.

Harry Tompson Center Board President, Mary Baudouin, announced today that current Assistant Director, Emily Bussen Wain, will assume the position of Executive Director upon Vicki Judice’s retirement this summer. 

The HTC is thrilled that Emily will be stepping into this new role. She is widely admired by guests, volunteers, and staff alike. Congratulations Emily Wain! 

Read more about Emily’s appointment in Mary Baudouin’s official announcement.

During the weeks leading up to Gov. Edwards' Stay Home Mandate, our team of young warriors stood on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic determined to help our guests for as long as possible. 

During this time, our team administered temperature checks, provided access to hygiene facilities, and helped disseminate information regarding where to find meals, medical care, and shelter during these changing times. Our young warriors' courageous commitment allowed us to assist 90-120 people per day.

We are grateful for their heroic service. Thank you, young warriors! 

The Center has been providing services all week. However, due to concerns over the Coronavirus, the Center will be temporarily closed starting Monday, March 23rd until further notice. We will reopen as soon as possible! 

Our HTC staff members are working remotely from home.  To contact us, leave a message at (504) 273-5547 and we will return your call as soon as possible.

For those who are homeless:

Call 211 for info on available services for the homeless in the city.  

Meals are still being provided at these locations:

Grace at Greenlight  

Breakfast & Lunch 6:30a.m and 1 p.m. 7 days/week . 

Location: 1528 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

Ozanam Inn 

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner   6 a.m./2 p.m/6p.m. 7 days/week 

Location: 843 Camp Street

St. Jude 

Breakfast/Lunch  7:30 & 11:30 a.m. Monday – Friday 

Location: 400 N. Rampart Street 

In the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak,  we are postponing our annual Gala, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 18th.

Stay tuned as we will be announcing our new Gala date in the weeks to come.

Please direct any question about the Gala to our PR Coordinator, Paisleigh Kelley, at pkelley@harrytompsoncenter.org.

We are still accepting new sponsorships and donations for our live and silent auctions. Learn more at www.bidpal.net/HTC.

As new information comes out each day about the Coronavirus, we are called to protect the well-being of our guests, staff, and volunteers. Our focus right now is to promote the health of our guests and educate them on how they can take steps to reduce the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.

We are taking this matter seriously and adjusting our practices in accordance with the latest CDC recommendations for disease prevention. We will be providing more information on these and other measures we are taking in the days to come. 

We appreciate your concern and thank you for your support.

The Harry Tompson Center is excited to welcome Paisleigh Kelley as our new Public Relations Coordinator. Paisleigh holds a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Tennessee and has spent the better part of her career working in education and the non-profit world. Originally from Nashville, Paisleigh has been living in New Orleans since 2017 with her husband and their two dogs. 

Paisleigh has a passion for service and has made volunteering a regular part of her life since adolescence. She is excited that her role at HTC allows her to serve a higher purpose while working in a field that she loves. Outside of work, you can find Paisleigh pursuing her own creative writing projects, reading three books at a time for her various book clubs, and enjoying the festivities that New Orleans has to offer. Be sure to give her a warm welcome and reach out to her with any questions you may have about the Harry Tompson Center and our upcoming events.