The Harry Tompson Center day shelter in New Orleans will soon benefit from a renewable energy upgrade thanks to a new partnership with nonprofit solar provider Everybody Solar.
The organization will install a 43.8-kW rooftop solar array at the Rebuild Center, home to three mission-driven nonprofits: The Harry Tompson Center, Lantern Light Ministries and Depaul USA.
Once operational, the system will generate approximately 56,347 kWh of electricity each year, enough to offset nearly half of the building’s total energy use. The project is expected to save an estimated $4,800 annually, allowing the three organizations to redirect funds toward direct services for New Orleans residents experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
“What excites me most about this partnership with the Harry Tompson Center isn’t just the clean energy, it’s the multiplied impact. One rooftop, one system, three organizations all dedicated to serving some of New Orleans’ most vulnerable residents,” said Myriam Scally, Executive Director, Everybody Solar. “People experiencing homelessness are among those hit hardest by climate change, and this partnership will help redirect thousands of dollars annually back into direct services for the people who need it most. That’s exactly why Everybody Solar exists.”
Located within the Rebuild Center campus, the Harry Tompson Center serves more than 200 guests each day, providing a calm, dignified space for individuals experiencing homelessness to access hygiene, health and housing navigation services. In 2025, the center recorded 33,542 guest visits from more than 5,500 unduplicated individuals, a 16% increase from the previous year.
“While electricity may seem like a modest line item, $4,800 in annual savings is meaningful for an organization serving 28,000 guest visits per year,” said Emily Bussen Wain, executive director of the Harry Tompson Center. “Those dollars will go directly back into guest services, whether that’s additional hygiene supplies, extended hours or case management support.”
News item from Everybody Solar
