St. Francis House expresses gratitude to community, Task Force, and Family Promise

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After Monday’s announcement that St. Francis House will be closing its downtown shelter and yesterday’s announcement that the Continuum of Care will increase funding to Family Promise for families needing shelter, St. Francis House Executive Director Lauri Schiffbauer released the following statement today:

“We are truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, compassion, and encouragement from our community following our recent announcement about program changes at St. Francis House. The messages, calls, and offers to help have meant more to us than we can fully express.

“St. Francis House has always been rooted in the strength of this community, and your response to the closure of our Main Street facility is a powerful reminder of how deeply people care about our mission and the individuals and families we serve.

“While these decisions have been incredibly difficult, they were made with careful consideration and a focus on the long-term sustainability of St. Francis House. At this time, we must consolidate our services to stabilize, rebuild, and ultimately return stronger — better able to serve our community.

“We are deeply grateful to Task Force and Family Promise of Gainesville for working alongside us to ensure that the families currently in our shelter can secure housing before the shelter closes and do not face unsheltered homelessness. Together, we remain committed to the shared vision of helping families achieve permanent housing.

“St. Francis House continues to serve our community through our Transitional Housing Program at Arbor House, where we will walk alongside women and children as they work toward stability, independence, and a place to call home.

“We remain hopeful about what lies ahead and are actively exploring opportunities for the future. Our commitment to helping women, families, and children move from homelessness to permanent housing has not changed. With the continued support of this community, we believe we can build the next chapter of St. Francis House.

“Thank you for standing with us, believing in our mission, and helping us continue to create new futures for those in need.”