Change can happen. Big change.

It can happen to anyone: An illness, a layoff, or a lapse in judgment turns your whole life upside down. Suddenly you can't afford food and clothing. Or worse yet, you lose your home and the belief that life can improve. Where do you go for help?

In Boston, the answer is St. Francis House.

Since 1984, we have welcomed poor and homeless men and women who fear that their best days are behind them. We provide comprehensive services, wrap-around support, and a hope that inspires our guests to envision what their lives can become: productive, healthy, fulfilling.

At St. Francis House, our mission and approach are simple: We believe in the worth of every human being, and we know from experience that when people have the right tools, change can happen. Big change. That’s why we provide our guests with everything they need to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives: nutritious meals, clothing, access to medical care, counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and housing, all under one roof at 39 Boylston Street.

In the past year, we have

• Served more than 382,588 meals
• Provided more than 8,700 showers
• Distributed more than 13,000 changes of clothes
• Provided more than 16,000 counseling sessions
• Partnered with Boston Health Care for the Homeless to provide nearly 9,000 medical appointments
• Advised guests in more than 10,000 sessions on substance abuse, housing, employment, legal matters, and other issues
• Trained 156 people in our First Step Employment Program
• Graduated the 97th class from the Moving Ahead Program (MAP), our vocational rehabilitation program, whose alumni now number more than 1,100
• Housed 62 men and women in our Next Step Housing Program

We know our approach works. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino calls us tremendously effective. We’ve been named a model program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker’s Task Force on Homelessness, and the Social Security Administration. And every day, our guests tell us that we have saved and changed their lives.

Please join us in helping our brothers and sisters leave homelessness behind. Because everyone deserves a place to live and a second chance.