OUR HISTORY
Safe today,
empowered tomorrow.
Our History
Ocean's Harbor House was founded by community leaders in conjunction with Anchor House (Trenton, NJ) in 1985 to address the needs of homeless youth in crisis at the Jersey Shore. In over 4 decades, the organization has evolved from a single emergency shelter to a multi-service organization, addressing the complex issues faced by unhoused teens and youth.
Emergency Youth Shelter: From 1988 to 2023, the Emergency Youth Shelter at Windsor Avenue provided safe shelter, crisis intervention and referral services and counseling to over 6,000 runaway, homeless youth ages 10-19. The program was short-term (average stay of 14 days) with specific goals to reunite and reunify children, families, and relatives where feasible and possible. The shift in government policies from short-term congregate care to an enhanced focus on kinship care created a marked decrease in requests to place unaccompanied youth in short-term shelters throughout the region. Concurrently, the need for longer-term, housing-focused programs for teens and young persons 16-21 increased by 30% year over year. The shelter building on Windsor Avenue ceased program operations in July of 2023. The building was sold to HABcore, Inc., in March of 2025, and continues to serve the community as a transitional family shelter program.
Our Family Crisis Intervention Unit: provided crisis management, counseling and education to 35,000 families and over 50,000 community members through the Ocean County Department of Human Services, over 17 years through December 2023.
Our Flagship Program:
The SHORE House:(Supportive Housing Opportunities through Restoration and Encouragement) supervised transitional living program meets the needs of teens and youth ages 16-21 facing imminent homelessness or in crisis. through positive youth development and a trauma-informed lens on education and job readiness. Since 2004, over 700 young people have participated in the SHORE House program on Conifer Street, finding their way to attainable hopes, dreams, and a stable, successful adulthood.
In 2026, our SHORE House expands its reach to:
Residential Support (Ages 16–21)
• Six bedrooms, two-story home serving up to 12 youth
• Safe, structured housing with individualized case management and life skills support
Harbor COMPASS Outreach and Wellness Support
• Engagement with youth experiencing housing instability in the community
• Connection to basic needs, mental health supports, and pathway services
After Care Supportive Services
• Ongoing guidance for youth transitioning out of residential placement
• Continued engagement to strengthen employment retention and long-term housing stability
Drop-In and Day Services
• Accessible case management for non-residential youth
• Resource navigation, referrals, and consistent support
Life Success Curricula at Ocean’s Harbor House
• Financial Literacy: budgeting, banking, credit awareness, and income management
• Workforce Development: job readiness, resume building, interviews, and workplace expectations
• Housing and Leasing Readiness: understanding leases, tenant responsibilities, and sustaining stable housing
• Civic Engagement: leadership, accountability, and community connection
Youth participating in these services are expected to demonstrate improved financial management skills, increased income stability, and a stronger ability to navigate landlord and employer expectations.