Montclair’s Hidden Corner

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The Cornerstone House looks much like other Victorian–styled residences in the town of Montclair, N.J. For the sake of privacy, it has no Salvation Army signage or even a shield to show that it is associated with the Montclair Citadel Corps, the closest Salvation Army church in the area.

Nonetheless and for 30 years, The Salvation Army has used it to provide safe living quarters for needy men, women, and families who aspire to eventually gain permanent housing and employment. Families can access a private bathroom. Dormitory–styled rooms for single residents can allow up to four persons in each room. Residents share kitchen, dining, and recreational areas. They can reside at Cornerstone for up to 60 days.

“Homelessness can fall in a wide range of situations,” says Anna Goglia, the family services case worker at Cornerstone. “There are the street homeless who we see outside and help. But there are other people who suddenly become homeless from being unable to provide for themselves, even with income. They fall on hard times and may not be eligible for services, like welfare.

The Cornerstone House in Montclair, N.J.

photo by Lu Lu Rivera

“For example, we have a woman living here whose only source of income is child support. But if it goes over a certain amount, she’ll be denied other services. She might be eligible for food stamps, but that won’t help her and her children find a place to live. That’s where we come in; to take them to self–sufficiency.”

Cornerstone differs from other shelters in the state because it takes women, with or without children or a spouse. “Welfare shelters, for the most part, are not a mixed population. Even finding housing after they are here is not always easy,” says Goglia.

Seniors are also among Cornerstone’s most frequent residents. Many of them live on a limited or fixed income. The waitlist for affordable housing for them is long; they can wait years before getting a response. Goglia says that helping seniors become stable is one of Cornerstone’s biggest challenges.

“A young, healthy person can find work, but where is an older person going?” asks Goglia.

The house out of which Cornerstone now operates stood during the pandemic of 1918. Almost 100 years later, and in the middle of another pandemic, Cornerstone residents have a place to stay where they can be safe and socially distanced. The House stays open longer hours for the residents who hope the day will soon come when they can apply for work and freely visit others, without the fear of contracting COVID–19.

“We hired extra staff to be at the shelter from March to August of 2020 and it stayed open 24 hours a day. As I look back on our schedules, I still don’t know how we did it,” says Goglia.

“We’re good at staying under the radar, so people don’t always see all the work that The Salvation Army is doing in a city like Montclair,” says Goglia. “But we’re happy to help a segment of the homeless population that is sometimes forgotten. When they arrive here, Cornerstone House is their home, and we want to make them as comfortable as possible.”

ITEMS THAT SHELTERS NEED

Pillows and bedding: When new residents arrive at a shelter, they receive new bedsheets and pillows.

Cleaning supplies: Cornerstone residents help maintain the house.

Bagels, donuts, and coffee: Food that can be stored is useful, but a meal that can be enjoyed immediately, such as breakfast, is always welcomed.

Toiletry and feminine products: These items are crucial for long–term care and walk–ins.

‘Comfy’ and interior clothing: Sweats, socks, and underwear are simple garments that residents sometimes need when they arrive.

Shower curtains: People rarely think of donating these, but at shelters, bathroom shower curtains are changed often.

by HUGO BRAVO