About Us


Front view of St Francis House 2008
 A History of the St. Francis House

In mid-1984, in response to a need to help the poor and hungry in
St. Augustine, a group of clergy and laity met and agreed to sponsor a local soup kitchen.With community support, the group incorporated and began serving meals at St. Paul's A.M.E. Church on Washington Street
several days a week.




 


In February 1985, an empty and dilapidated building at
70 Washington Street was purchased and renovated.  It became the St. Francis House. By October 1985, meals were being served at St. Francis House seven days a week. In the Spring of 1986,
a men's shelter upstairs was completed and opened.

 
Men's dorm 2008


Women's dorm 2008
On October 18, 1987, a women's dormitory was added.
This total of 20 bunks for men and 8 for women still exist
and is the only facility for the homeless and needy in
St. Johns county.

 

A migrant feeding outreach program began in 1987 and became permanent in 1989. 
This seasonal, supplemental feeding program serves approximately 300 to 500 farm workers daily
in the various camps around Hastings, Florida.





The St. Francis House is the only full time emergency shelter between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, serving St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, and Flagler Counties.








To find out how you can help, you can e-mail us at info@stfrancisshelter.org
or fill out our Contact us form.