HOPE Lives Here

I appreciate Julie and everything she does for everyone and this place. It if weren’t for her, Troy and some of the awesome staff, I would have gave up a long time ago. Once all the stress, anxiety, and negatives were removed from the building, it’s been so much better. I’m so much happier about being here now. I have always appreciated all the good that we do benefit here, like our food, beds, clothes, this beautiful building and the things we get to do. I love that Julie is helping us feel more comfortable and we get to feel like we have a purpose and things we get to look forward to and wants the best for us once our time here is done. We may be inmates and have made bad choices but we are here to get our lives back on track and be transitioned and be trusted to work and do the right thing. When I first got here I would have never recommended anyone to come here due to a couple people who made it hard to appreciate this place, but now I have grown to love it and would recommend anyone to come here.

Thank you for giving us a beautiful place to live. I appreciate everything you do for us. I am glad I was given the chance to be here. You are doing an amazing job!

-Rachel

The St. Francis House has taught me a lot. It’s taught me the importance of how to save money and how to live in a sober environment. Being here has shown me how important it is to ask for help when you need it. The St. Francis House has taught me how to be responsible with the choices I make and how they affect me and the people around me. It has shown me that I can do just about anything as long as I stay focused and determined. The St. Francis House has shown me that I am and can be the best version of myself.

-Michael

Just thanking everyone at the St. Francis House for all the help with my addiction and homelessness. Grateful to be here and not outside freezing. Can’t thank you enough. Staying clean and working on bettering myself. I could not have made it this far without the help. The St. Francis House has helped me stay clean and helped me stay away from old friends to get me on my way to freedom by getting a fresh start and helping with mental and medical needs.

-Ryan

When I first got to the St. Francis House, I was excited and nervous because of how nice and neat the place was. They provided beds, pillows, blankets, clothes, shoes, etc. I wasn’t expecting any of these things.

I got a job in the first weeks of the program to help pay my bills. The holidays came quick and the St. Francis house helped me get my kids presents and warm blankets. It made me very proud to be here! I was shocked on how much they provided for me in my time of need. I even had a unknown donor give the entire St. Francis House $100.00 for Christmas and I was very thankful for that. I am so close to graduating from the program here at the house which means I am closer to going home to my family. My family even came to visit and I explained everything I was doing and when I am going to be home. I’ve been learning about myself in the classes I am taking. It is helping me learn a lot about myself. I am learning what to stay away from cope with other things.

I am so grateful for a place like the St. Francis House. If not for this place I do not know where I would have gone This place has given me a new step in life and I am forever grateful and thankful for God and the people who had heard about this place to put me here. I am grateful they have put me on the path to recovery and allowing me to feel like a person and not a number for my past mistakes. At the St. Francis House they see me for me and remind me that my life awaits me just ahead.

-Derek

I just want to thank the St. Francis House for accepting me in their facility. I came from prison and didn’t have anywhere to parole. So my first suggestion was to go to this place. I am glad I chose the St. Francis House because of the comfort and hospitality it gives here. They helped me get myself back on my feet and financially stable by helping me find a job that I have been at for two months now. They also have been helping me budget my funds. If it wasn’t for the St. Francis House, I wouldn’t have clothes, food or rides to anywhere I need to be.They also helped me make a resume. They are also helping keep me from the streets and keeping me sober. Without this place I wouldn’t be where I am today.

-Tyler

Coming into this program has been the best thing I could have done. I’ve been able to pay off my fines and save money. I continue to save money and move toward my goals. I plan on staying here for the long run. I’m so happy with my life right now. I’ve never felt so good about my future like I do now. I have a job that I love and thanks to the house, they provide transportation to and from work. What other program offers that?! The St. Francis House tops all other programs. Julie is such a great person for giving us a chance. She has definitely inspired me and shown me how beneficial this program is. I am in so many ways thankful and grateful.

-James

My name is David, and I was born and raised in Ukraine. I came to America the summer of 1996 and lived in SIoux Falls for most of my life. I went to a middle school here and Washington High School. I got in trouble in my teen years and later on as an adult went to prison. In prison I got my GED.

In September of 2024, I came to the St. Francis House from prison. The St. Francis House has been a big blessing for me. I came here with just prison clothing on my back and now I have so much that I don’t know what to do with it. Clothing is just a start. I have nice shoes, coats and many other things.

My biggest thanks to the St. Francis House is helping me get my immigration documents. Now I have my work VISA and a job. 

The staff at the St. Francis House are very good and very helpful. Coming from prison with nowhere to go is very hard. Because of the St. Francis House and everyone here, I am able to have a roof over my head and they continue to help me stay clean and sober from drugs. The staff here motivate you to do good. It’s God’s blessing to be here.

-David

Before I got here, I was homeless, unemployed, failing on Parole, wishing that I could catch a break and have things go in my favor for once in my life. I was using and drinking with no real direction. So my P.O. had me put here. I didn’t really know what it was like here at first. Things seemed impossible at first, but I stayed with it. Even though it took me 43 days to get a job, things started going the way it needed to so I could feel confident with my life and feel as if it was turning around. I plan to keep saving money, stay active in my recovery and hope to get things going to get custody of my son back. It’s a long haul that’s real achievable this time around. 

I go to work and come back. I like the environment here. The staff are nice. They go out of their way to help us. I don’t know what would’ve happened if I wasn’t able to come here. I’m just grateful to be here and get a chance to have a fresh start at doings things right.

-Rodney

Since being released from prison, I feel I have grown in ways such as being able to take pride in the work I do, the choices I make, and above all believing in myself. This is far from the person I was. I used to just not care about anything at all. Now I care not because I have to but because I want to. Honestly, it feels good too. I’ve always known I am capable of being a better me, and today that is what I am. I can accredit the St. Francis House, and the resources they promise to my current, and continuing success. Everything I am doing now is helping me succeed.

-Cameron

I wanna say, the St. Francis House has helped me out a lot with getting me clothes and also with my finances. They also helped me attain a job and continue to give me rides back and forth to work every time I need it. The people who work here are very friendly and extremely helpful to my needs and wants. I have been here for three months and it is a nice place to stay. The food is very good every day, every meal. Thank you for it all!

The St. Francis House has helped me save money, pay my court-ordered obligations, and my parole fees. I have learned to be thankful in the process for all of their help. The case managers have been attentive to my needs and have been very helpful in every way possible. I don’t think I could have done this without the program here at the St. Francis House. Hearing positive things from everyone has been a blessing too. I want to thank Julie for giving me a chance to prove myself. I really appreciate Julie and everyone who has helped me. I will never forget it.

-Unknown

 I feel the staff at the St. Francis House are a huge influence on feeling that little bit of hope. The program here at the St. Francis House, I believe, is well put together for helping those in need to succeed. I feel it’s one of the best to help develop good structure and help maintain a healthy daily routine. I feel those are two very positive things people should have in their lives when trying to overcome hard situations and believe in the less fortunate. Even when we sometimes don’t believe in ourselves.

-Bryndi

I came in 2022 with the clothes on my back and $50. The St. Francis House took me in, gave me clothes, and helped me get a job. They also helped me save money and pay off $7000 in fines, pay for $3000 dentures and help me get my drivers license back. Right now, they are helping me get a car, my own place, and they help me with lunch for work as well as getting me to and from there. They continue to help me get back on my feet and show me how to live outside of prison.

-Leonard

When I got out of prison, I had no money, no food, and no place to live. The St. Francis House took me in and stood by me. They gave me a bed, food daily, and helped me get on medicaid. They provided me with bus passes and gave me rides to work and doctor appointments. They also helped me get a job.

I had recently moved into one of the transitional houses here at the St. Francis House. I was getting ready to start work and a few days before I tripped on my way to the bathroom and broke my foot. I couldn’t work for 7 weeks. Instead of kicking me out, not being able to pay rent, they stood by me. Now, I have been working at my job for 2 months, the rent is caught up with and I now have savings in my account. My plans right now are to stay in the program here as long as I can.

One thing I am 100% sure of is I could not have made it without the St. Francis House.

-Tony