About 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. On October 18, 1987, a women's dormitory was added. The shelter beds for 16 men and 8 for women still exist and remains only full time emergency shelter for homeless and needy in St. Johns County between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, serving St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Duval and Flagler Counties.

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.

Heartfelt thanks to our volunteers and contributors for their compassion and dedicated service to those who come to St. Francis House to help. For more information you can call us at (904) 829-8937 or e-mail our Executive Director, Renee Morris at reneemorris@stfrancis.fdn.com. You can also fill out our Contact Us form.