St. Francis House

What St. Francis House does

St. Francis House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 in Boston, Massachusetts, operating as the largest day shelter in New England. The organization provides an integrated continuum of social services to adults experiencing homelessness and poverty in Greater Boston, serving approximately 500 guests daily and 9,695 unique individuals in fiscal year 2025 across a single 39 Boylston Street facility that is open 365 days a year.

The organization's service portfolio spans six core program areas operating under one roof: a day shelter providing 252,319 hot meals annually plus showers, clothing, mail, and ID services; the Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP), a 14-week workforce development program; the Marie L. Arky Medical Clinic operated by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program delivering 7,000+ appointments annually; behavioral health services including the LINK case management system and the Carolyn Connors Women's Center; the Room to Grow Recovery Support Center (1,600+ members since 2019); and Fresh Threads, the largest free adult clothing distributor in greater Boston. Permanent supportive housing is delivered through 56 Next Step units at 39 Boylston and 26 Union units at 48 Boylston, with 126 additional units under development at 41 LaGrange Street.

St. Francis House generates no fee revenue from guests; all services are provided free of charge. Operating funds are derived from a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate and foundation grants (Bank of America, Liberty Mutual, Eastern Bank, Citizens Bank, Cummings, Yawkey, McNeice, and others), government contracts with the City of Boston, signature events such as the "All the Way Home" gala (which raised $820,000 in 2025), planned giving vehicles, and volunteer-driven fundraising. The organization is led by President & CEO Karen LaFrazia (28-year tenure), is governed by an independent Board of Directors, holds a Four-Star Charity Navigator rating and Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, and has been designated a National Model Program by four separate federal bodies since 1988.

Name

St. Francis House

Legal name

St. Francis House, Inc.

Website

https://stfrancishouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

St. Francis House is Boston's largest nonprofit day shelter, serving approximately 500 adults experiencing homelessness daily with integrated day shelter, workforce development, behavioral health, medical, recovery, and permanent supportive housing services under one roof.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Workforce development programs
• Supportive housing services
• Behavioral health services
• Social services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct charitable contributions from individuals through the organization's website, mail, and in-person giving. Includes one-time and monthly recurring donations.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Grants and sponsorships from corporations, foundations, and local businesses including Liberty Mutual Foundation, John A McNeice Jr Charitable Foundation, Eastern Bank, Citizens Bank, Cummings Foundation, and others.
3. Special Events: Revenue from signature events including the 'All the Way Home' gala, YPS Game Night Fundraiser, Ride and Stride for Food, and Team St. Francis House marathon fundraising.
4. Planned Giving: Deferred giving vehicles including bequests, IRA charitable rollovers, donor advised funds, and planned gifts included in supporters' estate planning.
5. Government Contracts: Partnerships with City of Boston and other government entities for shelter operations, housing programs, and services.
6. Corporate Matching Gifts: Employer matching gift programs where corporations match employee donations to amplify charitable impact.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St. Francis House operates New England's largest day shelter from a single 39 Boylston Street location in Boston, providing integrated services 365 days a year for up to 500 adults experiencing homelessness daily. Core offerings include day shelter (meals, showers, clothing, mail/ID services), permanent supportive housing (Next Step and The Union), workforce development through the 14-week Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP), behavioral health and substance use recovery services, an on-site medical clinic, and clothing distribution.

Product overview

St. Francis House operates as New England's largest day shelter providing an integrated continuum of social services under one roof. The organization offers multiple interconnected programs including a Day Shelter serving daily essential needs, the Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP) workforce development initiative, permanent supportive housing through Next Step and The Union, behavioral health services, a medical clinic operated by Boston Health Care for the Homeless, the Room to Grow Recovery Support Center, professional clothing boutique (Studio Shine), MassHire employment services, and clothing distribution (Fresh Threads). All services are centrally located at 39 Boylston Street in Boston and are designed to overlap and build upon one another to provide continuous and comprehensive support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Shelter Provides essential daily services including meals, showers, clothing, daytime shelter, mail and ID services, and computer access. Operates 365 days a year, serving up to 500 individuals experiencing homelessness daily.
• Sullivan Family Moving Ahead Program (MAP) A comprehensive 14-week job and life skills training program for individuals who have experienced homelessness, helping students identify, pursue, and succeed in careers matching their abilities and work values.
• Next Step Housing Program Permanent supportive housing program offering 56 units of supported housing on floors 7-10 of 39 Boylston Street for low-income men and women who have experienced homelessness.
• The Union Affordable housing development at 48 Boylston Street in partnership with Planning Office for Urban Affairs, providing units for individuals who have experienced homelessness and others with modest incomes.
• Marie L. Arky Medical Clinic On-site medical clinic operated by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program providing approximately 7,000-10,000 appointments annually, including primary care, episodic care, preventive health, and foot care services for guests experiencing homelessness.
• Behavioral Health Services Comprehensive behavioral health services including LINK Case Management, Access Clinicians, day treatment (Seeds of Change), and the Carolyn Connors Women's Center supporting guests with substance use, mental health challenges, and trauma.
• Room to Grow Recovery Support Center Peer-based, member-driven recovery support center launched in October 2019, offering multiple support pathways and educational groups for adults in recovery from substance use disorder.
• Fresh Threads Clothing Program Largest free clothing distributor for adults in greater Boston, providing clean everyday clothing, undergarments, shoes, and other essentials to guests experiencing homelessness.
• Studio Shine On-site professional clothing boutique providing guests with interview attire and business casual clothing, including styling consultations for job attainment.
• MassHire Access Point Physical center and resource for unhoused job seekers designated as a one-stop access point by the Boston Private Industry Council, providing specialized employment support since 2017.
• Expressive Art Therapy (Margaret Stewart Lindsay Art Studio) Art therapy program hosted in the on-site studio offering self-expression, personal insight development, and coping skills through various artistic activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,695 unique individuals served in FY2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBHCHP operates the Marie L. Arky Medical Clinic on-site at St. Francis House, providing approximately 7,000-10,000 medical appointments annually. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses treat the unique health concerns of guests experiencing homelessness.
• Planning Office for Urban Affairs (Archdiocese of Boston)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for affordable housing development including The Union at 48 Boylston and 41 LaGrange Street project. Collaborative development of 126+ new affordable housing units.
• City of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Boston on initiatives including the Charles River Inn temporary winter shelter, Willow at Woods facility for women from Mass. & Cass encampment, and housing the chronically homeless.
• MassHire (Boston Private Industry Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesignated MassHire Access Point since 2017, providing job coaching and connecting job seekers to workforce development resources for those experiencing homelessness.
• Elaine ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for the transformative multi-year renovation of 39 Boylston Street, completed May 2026. Honored at ribbon cutting ceremony for partnership and dedication.
• WBURminorOthersLocal public radio station covering stories about St. Francis House including the trauma-informed renovation transformation story.

Scale indicators26 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sanctuary for Families: New York City-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and support services for survivors of domestic violence and trafficking. Comparable integrated service model for a vulnerable population, but regional rather than direct geographic overlap.
• Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Boston-based nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk youth and young adults with shelter, healthcare, education, and employment services. Comparable integrated service model serving an overlapping guest population.
• Coalition for the Homeless: One of the nation's oldest homelessness organizations, operating shelter, housing, and advocacy programs in New York City. Directly comparable model and service mix at a larger scale.
• Heading Home: Greater Boston nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Closely aligned mission and service model.
• GLIDE Foundation: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing meals, housing, recovery, and workforce services under one roof to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Highly comparable integrated service model in a similarly high-cost urban market.
• Pine Street Inn: Boston's largest emergency shelter and housing program for individuals experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable as a regional peer providing shelter, housing, and workforce services to the same unhoused population.

Emerging players

• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP): BHCHP operates the medical clinic inside St. Francis House, but is itself a major Boston nonprofit delivering comprehensive healthcare to people experiencing homelessness. Functionally a co-located peer for clinical services.

Others

• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: Statewide advocacy and service organization focused on preventing and ending homelessness in Massachusetts. Comparable policy/advocacy footprint, but operates as a coalition rather than a direct service provider.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities Boston: Regional social services affiliate of the Catholic Church providing shelter, refugee resettlement, basic needs, and housing programs across Massachusetts. Operates a much wider portfolio of services in the same space.
• Salvation Army (Massachusetts Division): National faith-based organization operating shelter, food, addiction recovery, and housing programs including in Boston. A broad incumbent in the same space, operating at significantly greater scale but with a more distributed service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sfhboston
• Facebookfacebook.com/sfhboston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sfhboston
• Instagraminstagram.com/sfhboston
• Xx.com/SFHBoston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Francis House