St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality

St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality is a member of the Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance campaign, through which it received a $35,000 grant in 2023 from Vocal New York, a left-of-center membership organization. ⁴

In 2019, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality published an article by one of its members that called “MAGA hats” worn by supporters of President Donald Trump racist and argued that those who wear them want to “Make America White Again.” ⁵

History and Activities

St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality was founded in 1941 in Rochester, New York, as a service organization to help the poor. The organization is part of the Catholic Worker movement, a network of autonomous Catholic communities inspired by Dorothy Day, and is devoted to the daily practice of “the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy,” including instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, forgiving, bearing wrongs patiently, feeding the hungry, providing closing, visiting the sick, and giving aid (alms) to the poor. ^{1 2 3}

Volunteers at the St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality are expected not only to help manage the house and provide services to the homeless, but also to attend rallies on issues such as tenants’ rights, homelessness, and immigration. ³

St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality provides food, clothing, and other support to the homeless of Rochester, New York, including a daily lunch program, free bags of groceries every week, and showers three days a week. At its location in Rochester, the organization also provides space for local organizations offering health, legal, housing, and other services to meet with the poor. ⁶

In 2019, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality published an article on its website by James Murphy, a member of the organization, entitled “To My White Catholic Sisters and Brothers: MAGA Hats Are Racist.” The piece claimed that to racial minorities in America, “MAGA means Make America White Again” and that those who wear the “MAGA hats” common to supporters of President Donald Trump dress themselves “in [President Trump’s] racist rhetoric.” ⁵

Leadership

The house coordinator of St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality is Jasmin Reggler. Reggler is also listed as the president of the organization, according to tax filings. Reggler is also a political organizer with the Rochester City Wide Tenant Union and previously founded the Rochester Free Store, which gave away used items for free. ^{7 8 9}

Affiliated Organizations

St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality describes itself as part of “Social Justice Alliances” with the City-Wide Tenant Union of Rochester, which meets at the office of the St. Joseph’s House, and the Police Accountability Board Alliance, which it says contributes to “discussions around ethical and equitable policing.” ¹⁰

According to Cause IQ, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality is a member of the Upstate Downstate Housing Alliance campaign, through which it received a $35,000 grant in 2023 from Vocal New York, a New York-based membership organization that advocates for left-of-center policies on criminal justice, drug policy, housing, and homelessness. ⁴

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2023, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality reported $347,187 in revenue, $385,291 in expenses, and $718,410 in assets. Of its expenses, the organization spent $339,391 on providing meals, clothing, laundry service, and other services to poor individuals in Rochester, New York. ⁸ Of its revenue, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality received $320,911 from gifts, grants, and other contributions as well as $25,753 from rental income. ⁸

According to CauseIQ, in 2023, St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality has received a $40,000 grant from the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, a left-of-center grantmaking foundation; a $35,000 grant from Vocal New York; and a $30,000 grant from Right to the City Alliance, a left-of-center advocacy group involved in tenant organizing. ⁴