Welcome to Chapel House

Chapel House Homeless Shelter - Auburn, NY

Chapel House opened in the fall of 2007 under the direction of Father Dennis Shaw, pastor of Holy Family Church, as a compassionate response to homelessness in Cayuga County. Once a shelter for homeless men operating out of the gymnasium of the former Holy Family School on North Street, Chapel House now offers over 4200 square feet of emergency and transitional housing in a residential setting for men, women, and children.

In November 2008, Chapel House became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation which relies on the support of volunteers who refuse to stand idly by while others suffer through bitterly cold nights for lack of housing. Thanks to a generous donation from an annonymous benefactor, the shelter moved in Feburary 2009 to its permanent home — a three-story, wood-frame house on Franklin Street.

Homelessness is the result of complex social, economic and personal factors. Chapel House advocates for the homeless population and pledges to work cooperatively with the community to eliminate homelessness.

Vision Statement

As a non profit organization, Chapel House believes that all people in our community have the right to safe, affordable and decent housing. We are committed to a leadership role in changing this belief into a reality. We will continue to provide temporary shelter while working to end chronic homelessness through innovative collaborations and strategic program referrals in Cayuga County.