"Lady," Norberta Hunnewinkel’s friendly four-year-old greyhound, roams around the Hoboken Homeless Shelter on 300 Bloomfield St. almost every day. Hunnewinkel, a Franciscan nun from Syracuse, N.Y., has been the shelter’s executive director for 19 years, while Lady has been an honorary assistant director.
"She loves helping me out. She makes sure everything is alright," Hunnewinkel said last week at the shelter.
On Oct. 14, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Hunnewinkel will host a rededication ceremony at the shelter to showcase the shelter’s new look after more than four months of renovations. The ceremony will be attended by representatives of the shelter’s sponsoring churches and synagogues in Hoboken. They will reaffirm their commitment to continue ministry to the homeless and poor in Hoboken, according to Hunnewinkel.
"I expect about a 100-person turnout for the event," Hunnewinkel said, smiling.
The shelter, which will be in operation for two decades in March, is located in the 2,000-square foot basement of St. John’s Lutheran Church. It has been able to implement renovations with the support from a New Jersey grant from the Department of Community Affairs. With the grant money, Hunnewinkel was able to hire workers to paint the facility, add closet space, install a new washer and dryer, install a drinking fountain, renovate its four bathrooms, and install new doors.
"It has been a while since they last renovated the place," Hunnewinkel said.
The shelter’s mission is to assist homeless adult men and women develop the skills needed to gain employment, achieve independence and re-integrate into the community, according to Hunnewinkel.
Owned and operated by the Communities of Faith, Inc., a non-profit housing corporation made up of ministers and laity from houses of worship, as well as several Hoboken community leaders, the shelter is a place where people in need can find comfort and support.
Those who seek assistance from the shelter first need to go through an interview process. If Hunnewinkel and her staff recognize the individual as a worthy case, the guest has up to 30 days of food and a place to sleep at the shelter. After that, they have to move on and wait on a waiting list for several months before they can come back. The shelter has room for only 30 guests to stay overnight. Hunnewinkel asks that guests live in peace, be willing to work on their issues and be willing to help out cleaning their surroundings.
"The guests are extremely grateful to be here," she said.
At the shelter, Hunnewinkel and her staff work hard guiding people to educational institutions and public housing and welfare offices in order to get them back on their feet.
"We’re heavy on referrals. We’re always looking for ways to help people," Hunnewinkel said. "The day they have a job is wonderful for them."
The shelter also offers a variety of activities like drawing, music, sketching, computer classes, dance and addiction counseling.
Hunnewinkel receives large contributions from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, which distributes 18 million pounds of food and other groceries a year to shelters statewide.
Food Bank spokeswoman Meara Nigro said that due to the events of Sept. 11 in New York City, some shelters may need their support more than ever.
"We’re doing the best to help people," Nigro said.
And Hunnewinkel added that she hopes people don’t forget about the shelter throughout the aftermath of the tragedy.
"I want the WTC families to have support, but that doesn’t mean people should stop helping us," Hunnewinkel said.
Volunteers can always be used at the shelter, and they can even play with Lady, Hunnewinkel said. The shelter also at times has a need for specific items like toiletries, towels and socks. For more information on ways to help or on the rededication ceremony, call the shelter at 656-5069.