“For precocity, some great price is always demanded sooner or later in life”—Margaret Fuller My name is Joe Simpson. I grew up in a small town called Roper, North Carolina. There was a paper mill there called Weyerhaeuser, where they produced paper products and lumber for building materials. The majority of my family worked at […]
Congratulations MAP Class 186!
Congratulations to the 186th class of the Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program, who graduated with all smiles on February 19, 2021. Despite the coronavirus pandemic altering how we offer our services, the highly successful 14-week life-and-job-skills training course has continued to prep students experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder to overcome barriers, re-enter the workforce […]
Black History Month: History in the Making on Housing and Homelessness
Each February, we observe Black History Month. Many of us use the opportunity to learn about events in our history that may have previously been unknown to us, to celebrate Black achievement, and to see often unsung heroes brought to the fore. One of the undercurrents of Black history in our country has been the […]
Whatever the temperature, whatever the weather, St. Francis House is here.
So far this winter, we’ve been fortunate. Even without snowfall, winter in New England is anything but a wonderland to those experiencing homelessness. For those sleeping in overnight shelters, morning means getting back out on the streets. For those sleeping rough on a park bench or over a heating grate, morning likely means that someone […]
A Message from the President and CEO: 2020
Reflecting on this past year, I put my thoughts into a video. As the year comes to a close this evening, I hope you’ll take the time and reflect on how much your support has made a difference in the lives of each and every individual we have had the honor of welcoming into our […]
Reflections on the Year
As one year ends and another begins, it’s inevitable that we look back at the past year and think about all that happened during it. While the details change, here at St. Francis House there’s usually a rhythm that stays fairly consistent from year to year. New things do happen, new people enter our life: […]
Christmas – here, there, everywhere – thanks to staff and a generous board member.
On December 1st, St. Francis House leased and began operating a motel to be used as a temporary winter shelter in response to the reduced capacity of existing shelters due to COVID. This auxiliary shelter is helping to ensure homeless individuals have a safe place to stay and can comply with the safety guidelines from […]
St. Francis House on WCVB Chronicle Channel 5
On Monday, December 21st, St. Francis House was featured on Chronicle on WCVB Channel 5 as part of a series on helping individuals experiencing homelessness. The segment features Katie – one of our dedicated volunteers at St. Francis House who has been helping out in our kitchen consistently throughout the pandemic. Watch the segment here: […]
National Homeless Memorial Day 2020
The Winter Solstice is the darkest day of the year. The day of the year with the fewest hours of day light and the longest night of the year. It is also the day we mark National Homeless Memorial Day in recognition of all who passed away while homeless. Today, I will join friends and colleagues on […]
Christmas at St. Francis House
The holidays are always tough for the guests of St. Francis House. No stocking to hang by the chimney with care. No presents under the tree. COVID has made things hard for all of us, but it’s even worse when you don’t have a home of your own to go home to. Some of our […]
