St. Joseph’s Family Hope Center in the convent of the former Our Lady of Charity Catholic Church is closing at the end of June. The facility has been open for nine years, serving hundreds of mothers and their children. Brookhaven Borough purchased the property for open space, and council members originally expressed hope that the shelter could stay, but in recent months the borough’s lawyer, John Jay Wills, has advised against that and moved to end the lease. Rob Jordan, president of St. Joseph Family Hope Center, said in April his organization received a letter from Wills that was formal notification that the lease was ending. Brookhaven Council President Terry Heller said officials were told a borough may not lease property to such a facility, and if it did, the borough would risk losing its tax exemption on the portion of the property that the center occupies.
Source: Daily Times; 6/23/2025