For over 135 years, The Leo House has been a refuge of peace, faith, and compassion in the heart of New York City. Since our founding in 1889, we remain steadfast in providing affordable accommodations and welcoming travelers from around the world.

Today, The Leo House is in urgent need of your help and is requesting donations to keep our doors open. Our beloved institution faces serious financial and structural challenges that threaten our ability to continue serving guests who rely on our hospitality and care.

As a historic Catholic guesthouse, The Leo House always opens its doors to all, regardless of background or circumstance. With your generosity, we can preserve this sacred mission and ensure that generations to come will find comfort, peace, and welcome within our walls. We would like to share the following letter from our Chairman and President, Michael Coneys.

Dear Friends of The Leo House,

I’m going to be straightforward with you. The Leo House is suffering.

We’re not any different from anyone else when I say that the economy hasn’t been kind to us. Over the past five years, we’ve faced significant hardships, many beyond our control.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were forced to close our doors twice, each time for several months. With no income, we took our “charitable institution” status to heart by extending charity first to our own staff. We drew deeply from our resources to continue paying our dedicated staff and keep their health insurance active. It took a tremendous strain on our reserves, but we knew it was the right thing to do.

When we reopened in late 2021, we found ourselves rebuilding almost from the ground up. Many of our staff sought employment in hospitals and nursing homes to provide for their families. As we welcomed new staff members, we also renewed our commitment to the founding vision of The Leo House: to provide an atmosphere of Christian hospitality where every person is respected, valued, and offered safe, affordable accommodations in New York City.

Then in 2023, a devastating flood struck when a pressure valve burst in the second-floor restroom. Once again, we had to close our doors temporarily. Our staff continued to receive pay, and our guests had to be relocated at our expense over Memorial Day weekend. The damage was extensive affecting our elevators, lobby and several guest floors. Yet even through this hardship, grace found its way to us. When we removed the soaked carpet, we uncovered the original terrazzo floor from 1926, a beautiful piece of The Leo House history. We restored that floor, along with our Boardroom and hallways, bringing back the charm and warmth of our early days.

But now, new challenges lie before us. Our building’s infrastructure is failing, with much of it dating back to 1926. The plumbing and electrical systems are outdated, our technology systems are obsolete, and essential machinery is wearing out. Our phone system is nearly 50 years old, and our hot water tanks are showing signs of breakdown. Utilities and operating costs are soaring. While our staff is doing everything possible to manage repairs internally, many issues require professional technicians, and as you well know, these repairs come at a steep cost.

For these reasons, we are reaching out to you today.

Would you consider making a gift to help preserve The Leo House and its legacy? Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. Your generosity will help us keep our doors open, maintain our historic home, and continue welcoming guests from around the world who come here seeking peace, reflection, and kindness.

We are exploring new avenues of support to sustain our future while keeping our rates affordable. But today, we need your help.

Please take a moment to make your donation today. Any gift is greatly appreciated.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, administration, staff, the Sisters of Saint Agnes, and all those who find comfort at The Leo House – we say “thank you, and may God bless you always!”

Thank you again for your support of The Leo House.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Michael Coneys
Chairman and President
The Leo House