Specialties
The St. Francis House is an ecumenical emergency shelter for the homeless offering hospitality, fellowship, and support to those who have nowhere to sleep. We provide a warm bed, showers, laundry, food, and other referrals. We offer special services for reaching long term goals including employment, independent housing, and addiction recovery.
Those served at the St. Francis House include tired travelers, those coming from hospitals, treatment centers, and prisons, families looking to relocate, and anyone looking for a chance to start over. Guest have ranged from newborn infants to the elderly. We are open 24 hours a day seven days a week including holidays.
The St. Francis House depends entirely on private donations for its operating funds. Various grants from private foundations and the state of South Dakota have funded some new programs and renovations to the house, however, these grants are a one time gift and the improvements they funds must be maintained through our regular budget.
History
Established in 1987.
The St. Francis House is a homeless shelter in Sioux Falls SD, showing the love of Jesus
Christ through its ecumenical ministry to the homeless. People of all races, genders and creeds are welcome at the St. Francis House for emergency and transitional housing.
The St. Francis House opened its doors to serve the homeless on March 15, 1987. The late Bishop Paul Dudley of the Catholic Diocese provided the building,which is now owned by the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, and Pastor David Holm of the Lutheran Church, through a fund established by First Lutheran Church, provided the original financial support.
Six months after opening, the St. Francis House was left to stand on its own through assistance from local churches of all denominations, civic groups and businesses and individual volunteers serving meals, providing financial support, clothing and other personal needs for the guests.
Now, 25 years later, the St. Francis House still stands strong.
Meet the Manager: Julie B.
Julie Becker is the Executive Director of the St. Francis House.