Jack Ream, 95, honored at $5.5M Jack’s House of Hope shelter opening
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (April 24, 2026) – A new homeless shelter named for Friends of the Homeless founder Jack Ream opened to the public Thursday, giving the 95-year-old philanthropist a chance to see his long-held vision take shape.
Community members gathered for a ribbon cutting and open house at Jack’s House of Hope, a $5.5 million project that organizers say will expand emergency housing options in the area.
Ream said seeing his name attached to the shelter for years to come is humbling. He urged supporters to keep backing the effort as it moves from construction to day-to-day operations.
Ream estimated it will cost about $5 million a year to operate the shelter. Fundraising will continue through Friends of the Homeless.
The 20,000-square-foot facility includes 27 individual rooms and several larger family rooms, along with a chapel, interior courtyard, play area, dining room, offices and community space for shelter activities.
Ream also founded the Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry, which distributes more than 2 million pounds of food each year, according to organizers.
