Join us for a day of art, creativity, music and fun in the sun on the Jersey City waterfront and help our children unleash their artistic talents designing beautiful chalk murals. more

The cycle of poverty is relentless. In order to support herself and her children, a woman needs a decent job. In order to get a decent job, she needs a decent education. In order to get a decent education, she needs a decent place to live and someone with whom to entrust the care of her children while she is at school.

The cycle grinds on, swallowing families, swallowing generations. The only way to break it is take it ALL on. At York Street, we take on the highly-visible factors of Education, Housing and Childcare that block their families from creating self-fulfilled, self-sufficient lives. At the same time we also take on the less visible factors: healing the hidden damage that the cycle exacts. Working with our brave women, we help them take on unlearning the lessons of hopelessness and helplessness. Take on restoring destroyed self-esteem. Take on addressing the insidious developmental delays in their children.

Established in 1989, the York Street Project is actually a network of four interrelated and coordinated, but separate programs to help homeless and economically-disadvantaged women and children break the cycle of poverty and begin a life of self-sufficiency:

    Kenmare High School: A nationally-accredited alternative high school that offer education as well as practical training in job and life-skills to women who have dropped out of the public system.

    St. Mary's Residence: Affordable housing and support for working women with limited incomes.

    The Nurturing Place: A nationally-accredited early childhood development center for homeless and economically-disadvantaged children from 4 months to 9 years of age.

    St. Joseph's Home: A safe and structured living environment for single homeless mothers and their children in transition.

Working with more than 250 women and children each year, we are proud that 85% of our families are able to begin their journey to independence.

York Street Project is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, serving persons without regard to their racial, religious or ethnic background.

Sister Kristin Funari, Executive Director

York Street Project
89 York Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302-3812
(201) 451-9838