New Visions Homeless Day Shelter
523 Stevens Street
Camden, New Jersey
(856) 963-0857
New Visions is a day service center that meets the needs of basic human dignity for all homeless and at-risk patrons. Providing a place of shelter and warmth, it is the only center in Camden that serves men as well as women and children (during non-school hours). The shelter provides breakfast and lunch, shower and laundry facilities, a food pantry, a clothing closet, mail services, and assistance to patrons in finding jobs. It is the only day shelter in Camden that provides showers for women.
New Visions has deep roots in the faith-based community and is founded upon the belief that God has created all people to live in dignity and mutual respect. Due to this deeply held commitment, staff and volunteers perceive all who come as whole persons who are to be treated with respect and in a non-judgmental manner.
OUR HISTORY
New Visions Homeless Day Shelter was incorporated in 1995. It brought together three separate programs originally begun by the Camden Lutheran Parish and, taken together, representing more than 35 years of faith-based service delivered to the poor and homeless in Camden. The three projects involved in the merger, which formed New Visions, were:
- The Good Samaritan Center started in 1974 and was located at 325 Market Street in downtown Camden from 1976 until 1995. “Good Sam” as it was affectionately called, developed into an ecumenical food pantry, clothes closet, and emergency services agency supported by more than 100 churches and denominations as well as synagogues.
- Frank’s Place Day Shelter for the homeless, opened in 1989 as a result of a study on homelessness commissioned by the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders and spearheaded by CPAC; the program continues today in essentially the same form but as part of the New Visions’ agency.
- PROJECT J.O.B. is a community-based employment counseling and referral program started in 1986 and originally located at Epiphany Lutheran Church at 7th and Market streets in Camden.
Since the 1995 merger, New Visions has continued these programs at its location in the former Trinity Lutheran Church on Stevens Street, adding a youth service component for a number of years with a satellite site at Grace Lutheran Church at 4th and State Streets in North Camden.
In January 2009, LSM/NJ became the managing agent for New Visions. The shelter continues to serve between 125 and 200 people a day, every week day.
YOU CAN HELP! Many volunteer and donation opportunities exist for you, your organization or congregation. Here is a short list of ways you can provide assistance:
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Sort donated food for the Food Pantry
- Paint the dining hall
- Organize a Clothing Drive in your family or congregation
- Sign Up to provide breakfast or lunch on the day of your choice
Donations:
- Baby items (formula, jars of food, diapers)
- Canned goods (peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti o’s, fruit, etc)
- Cleaning supplies (bleach, Cleaning Wipes, Lysol)
- Laundry detergent
- Clear storage bins with lids (for cereal and other dry goods)
- Outright donations
Support New Visions Homeless Day Shelter. Click here to make a secure Online Donation with your VISA or MasterCard. Be sure to designate your donation to New Visions.
If you prefer to mail your donation, the address is:
Development Department
Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
3 Manhattan Drive
Burlington, NJ 08016
Thank you for your continued support!
