- St. Francis House will permanently close its downtown shelter and service center by mid-April to sell the building and stabilize finances.
- The nonprofit will stop its Day Services Program and emergency shelter at the downtown location in 2024 while continuing services at Arbor House.
- St. Francis House sold its 35-unit Sunrise Inn to Alachua County as part of restructuring and hopes to open a new service location after selling the downtown center.
St. Francis House announced Monday that its downtown shelter and service center would permanently close as the nonprofit homeless provider tries to sell the building.
A press release said St. Francis House would stop its Day Services Program on Friday. The program provides access to case management services, donations, meals, laundry facilities, client phones and bathrooms.
St. Francis House will end emergency shelter and cold night shelter at the location by mid-April, the press release said.
The closure of the nonprofit’s downtown location, bought in 1993, has been foreshadowed for years. St. Francis House Treasurer Al Cockerell told Mainstreet in 2024 that the nonprofit was searching for a buyer to stabilize finances and pivot services.
As part of its restructuring, the nonprofit sold its 35-unit Sunrise Inn to Alachua County.
“For many years, St. Francis House has been committed to helping women and families with children experiencing homelessness create new futures,” the press release said. “While these changes are difficult, our mission continues, and we remain dedicated to supporting women and families as they work toward stability and housing.”
St. Francis House will continue to operate Arbor House, a program helping women and children find a permanent home and stability.
The press release said the nonprofit is hopeful to open a new location to continue the discontinued services. But a new space remains pending, contingent upon the sale of the downtown center.
The center has just over 11,000 square feet and sits on an acre of prime real estate. The property fronts South Main Street on the west and SE Fourth Avenue to the north in Gainesville.
This is very disheartening. There are a lot of unhoused people downtown who need these services, so it was an opportune location. I worry for the people who need assistance in the interim.
They need to clean up Downtown. Too much crime, homelessness and vagrancy.
Oh. Exactly what St. Francis would say!???? What the bloody HELL are you talking about???????
Thank you the delusional progressive policy promoting homelessness have destroyed downtown Gainesville
No one has “promoted” homelessness. You and I are fortunate that we are not in that category, but some people have no choice. What would you recommend for unhoused people to? Please answer respectfully.
How disappointing. St. Francis House has been a leader in providing shelter and services in the community for over 40 years. I hope they will be able to continue in the future.
❤️🩹 the many have received help from st. Francis House, nearly half a century 😯…
Church 💒⛪ people are
great miracle workers .
Give praise 👏🙏 for miracle workers.
At the same time ,time has grown.
Prime location for what is now
not 50 years ago .
God is the director.
Sherparding flock …
Help is always on the way .
So did a developer buy it and gonna build condos?
I didn’t see that mentioned anywhere. The article says they are looking for a buyer. I sincerely hope it is NOT another condo development. The cost of housing in Gainesville is very high for those of us who are retired and/or disabled. For many people, buying or renting a home is an impossible dream. I would love to see the area turned into something that everyone can use, although I’m sad that st. Francis House has to close.
Maybe we need to re-think how we help mothers, fathers and families determine their best futures. Please advise them of their choices now and ask President Trump (a good agent) to bring forth quickly all that Golden Treasure In our NEW TREASURY now in Temple, Texas! Maybe I can help.
Which golden treasure is that?
How unfortunate. Absent the services St. Francis House has provided, we’ll see more needy, desperate homeless people downtown with nothing to lose.
At least with St. Francis they could have a meal, shelter from the cold, general delivery for USPS mail, etc. Now, nothing.
The closing of St. Francis House is an incredible loss to foundational services for the homeless population in downtown Gainesville. There is no other reliable, daily option for hot meals, showers, and basic necessities (clothing, toiletries) for folks who are struggling against or who have succumb to the trauma, pressures, and barriers that bring and trap people to living a life on the street. While there are a multitude of piecemeal services people can try to navigate to get what they need, to do so further removes folks from a constant resource that is desperately needed.