March is Women’s History Month! In addition, for more than 100 years, International Women’s Day has been celebrated on March 8th. To celebrate this day, we thought we’d talk about the work we do week in, week out with the women who come through our doors. Named for long-time St. Francis House supporter Carolyn Connors, […]
Last fall, the City of Boston asked St. Francis House if we could run an overnight shelter for them. With winter just around the corner, there was heightened concern about an influx of people who’d been sleeping outside when the weather was tolerable, but who would now be looking for a place to stay the […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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 […]
There’s no getting around the fact that, on a holiday that’s all about sitting around the table with family and friends, things can be rough for those who don’t have a table of their own. It’s heartbreaking thinking of those who may not have family and friends to enjoy the day with. Which is why […]
