The St. Francis House announced that it will temporarily be suspending its daily meal services to the homeless in the community starting on April 15.

In a press release sent Monday, St. Francis House, which assists individuals and families experiencing homelessness, stated that escalating operational costs, including a 30% increase in daily expenditures, has forced the organization to reallocate its resources.

“While our commitment to serving those in need remains unwavering, we must make difficult decisions to ensure the sustainability of our core programs,” said Lauri Schiffbauer, executive director of St. Francis House, in the press release. “Given the availability of alternative resources for day and meal services, we have made the careful decision to prioritize our shelter and support services for women and families with children experiencing homelessness, a population facing unique challenges and limited resources within our community.”

St. Francis House, established in 1981, will continue to provide resources, encouragement and shelter for women and families with children through its emergency shelter, which offers three daily meals, housing location assistance, case management and referrals to additional support services.

According to the release, St. Francis House has assisted more than 600 adults and children in families since January 2020.

“Our success is measured not only by the number of people and children we serve but by the lasting impact we have on their lives,” said Schiffbauer in the release. “By providing a safe haven and the necessary resources, we are empowering individuals and families to create brighter futures for themselves.”

St. Francis House is looking to sell its downtown property and relocate to stabilize its financial situation.

“While we recognize the impact of this temporary pause on our daily community meal services, our priority remains the well-being and stability of those we provide safe shelter to,” said Robert Atwood, President of the Board of Directors of St. Francis House, in the press release. “Since our beginning, St. Francis House has remained dedicated to serving those in need with compassion and dignity. In these challenging times, our commitment to our community has never changed, and we are proud to continue our legacy of service. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our community, which enables us to continue our mission of creating new futures for women and families with children experiencing homelessness.”

Anyone wanting to donate to the St. Francis House is asked to visit https://stfrancishousegnv.com/donate or send a check/money order to PO Box 12491, Gainesville, FL 32604. The contributions are tax-deductible.