Information for this article was provided by Michael P. Kerwin.
On Thursday September 19, 2019 the St. Francis team coordinated by the 4th Degree assembly and American Legion Post 123 sponsored a Social with finger food for the Vets at St. Francis House.
28 Veterans, 6 staff and 9 volunteers were present. The finger food was provided by many team members from both the Assembly and the American Legion.
Mission of the St. Francis House
The mission of St. Francis House is to provide a means of addressing the diverse, critical needs of the under-served, which are not addressed by others in the community.
History of the St. Francis House
Opened in 1970 as a social outreach of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas.
In 1975 under a Title XX contract with Arkansas Social Services, a
licensed social worker was hired to administer a social program.
In 1980 St. Francis House was relocated to its current location at 2701 South Elm Street.
In 1988 a new Re-Entry program was contracted with the Veterans Administration to serve as a transitional program for homeless Veterans that St. Francis House and American Legion Post 123 supports.
Facility Description
The facility is a mix of dormitory and single room occupancy. In addition, there are three family rooms and a self-contained area for female residents. The facility is authorized by the VA to house a maximum of 45 Veterans at any one time. The average attendance in
the past 2 years is between 30 to 35 Veterans. This does not include dependents such as spouses and/or children.
Description: Homeless veterans program
The Veterans Re-Entry Program provides transitional housing for homeless veterans having difficulties re-entering society because of post-traumatic stress syndrome or substance abuse or other problems. Funded under a contract with the Veterans
Administration and located at St. Francis House 2701 South Elm Street, the program provides a therapeutic setting for homeless veterans, including the services of counseling, transitional housing, meals, laundry and activities.
Residents are placed at St. Francis House through the VA Day Treatment Center located at 1000 Main Street, Little Rock, 501-244-1900. Upon arrival, client’s personal needs are assessed, and, if needed, they are provided personal items of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste. The average stay is 3 months but can it be as long as
2 years.
Veterans participate in various training groups 4 days a week, including life skills. The support services offered at SFH are on-site case management, three meals a day, health care, daily shuttles, Vet to Vet Education Program, vocational counseling, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, safe and secure housing,
monthly outings and advocacy. Outside activities are provided for the veterans, including bowling, movies or going out to eat, and “game nights” are organized periodically.
Able veterans are required to seek full time employment.
Assistance with employment is provided by St. Francis House staff and the Veterans Administrations Those unable to work are assisted with securing other types of income, such as VA pension or disability. All residents, when they secure employment or have a
source of income, are required to save 75% of their income to assist with the procurement of permanent housing. Once their savings are sufficient, they are assisted in finding housing. St Francis House has over a 75% success rate in finding employment and suitable housing for the Veterans that complete the program.
Homeless Female Veterans and Veterans with Families receive employment services. This program is funded by the Department of Labor.
St. Francis House also operates a Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). This program provides services to help homeless Veterans in 14 Arkansas counties, Pulaski, Lonoke, Saline, Jefferson, Garland, Arkansas, Conway, Faulkner, Grant, Hot Springs, White, Benton, Madison and Washington, regain housing and also assist Veterans in danger of becoming homeless.
Staffing to Support Veteran’s Programs Re-Entry Program
Administrator - Ken Mace Assistant Director at St. Francis House
Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Mental Health Tech
Maintenance Worker
Desk Staff
Cooks
Supportive Services for Veterans Families
Program Director (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Outreach Coordinators
Case Managers
Note: The Outreach Coordinators and Case Manager all have College Bachelor’s Degrees
Funding for Above Veteran’s Programs
75 - 85% - Per Diem for each resident Veteran and VA Grants
15 - 25% - Church, Community Organization and Individual Donations
Items in Need to Support the Veterans
Personal hygiene items
Underwear - shorts and tee shirt
Shoes and socks
Coats
Clothing
Items for starting up their new household such as blankets, cooking utensils, pots & pans, small appliances, furniture, etc. American Legion Involvement is to collect and deliver items in need from the Hot Springs Villagers and Hot Springs Village Churches and other Organizations. Provide onsite a hot meal and finger food social every quarter
and engage in other activities at the request of the Assistant Director.
How Can You Help
Financial Donations
Donations of items in need
Participate in the dinners and social
Now for a little history of the St. Francis House Team.
In the fall of 2012 The Fr. Victor A. Bieberle 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 2316 located in Hot Springs Village became involved with the Veterans Reintegration program at St. Francis House in Little Rock. Working with the Assistant Director Ken Mace a long term working relationship began.
The initial involvement was limited to delivery of needed clothing items and execution of 2 maintenance projects. As 2013 started our involvement began to evolve into the form it is today. We currently provide on an annual basis dental supplies for 100 Vets to include tooth brushes, dental floss and toothpaste. Each quarter we put on 1 hot meal and 1 finger food social on site. At times the meals are theme based such as a Thanksgiving feast or St. Patrick’s Day Irish Stew. At Christmas time along with food we provide each Vet with a $10 Walmart gift card and have many door prizes. We make at least 2 deliveries and sometimes 3 per week of donations that include clothing, small household items, cooking utensils, books, shoes and personal hygiene items. One of our drivers, who recorded his miles during 2017, put 4000 miles on his truck. We currently have one volunteer work 1/2 day per week at the front desk. We coordinate our activities with the Hot Springs Village American Legion Post 0123. We currently have a list of 45 volunteers from the Assembly Post and other caring Hot Springs Villagers who participate in one or more of the activities during the year. It is with great pleasure we support those who have served our Country. The St. Francis House staff is always very accommodating in supporting our programs and are a great group of dedicated people to work with.
On Thursday September 19, 2019 the St. Francis team coordinated by the 4th Degree assembly and American Legion Post 123 sponsored a Social with finger food for the Vets at St. Francis House.
28 Veterans, 6 staff and 9 volunteers were present. The finger food was provided by many team members from both the Assembly and the American Legion.
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| As you can see in the photo, there was plenty of food and a good time was had by all. |
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| Pictured above is Vivian (on the right) and her sister, Ann standing in front of the American Flag Vivian hand sewn and presented it to the St. Francis House on June 14, 2018. |
Mission of the St. Francis House
The mission of St. Francis House is to provide a means of addressing the diverse, critical needs of the under-served, which are not addressed by others in the community.
History of the St. Francis House
Opened in 1970 as a social outreach of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas.
In 1975 under a Title XX contract with Arkansas Social Services, a
licensed social worker was hired to administer a social program.
In 1980 St. Francis House was relocated to its current location at 2701 South Elm Street.
In 1988 a new Re-Entry program was contracted with the Veterans Administration to serve as a transitional program for homeless Veterans that St. Francis House and American Legion Post 123 supports.
Facility Description
The facility is a mix of dormitory and single room occupancy. In addition, there are three family rooms and a self-contained area for female residents. The facility is authorized by the VA to house a maximum of 45 Veterans at any one time. The average attendance in
the past 2 years is between 30 to 35 Veterans. This does not include dependents such as spouses and/or children.
Description: Homeless veterans program
The Veterans Re-Entry Program provides transitional housing for homeless veterans having difficulties re-entering society because of post-traumatic stress syndrome or substance abuse or other problems. Funded under a contract with the Veterans
Administration and located at St. Francis House 2701 South Elm Street, the program provides a therapeutic setting for homeless veterans, including the services of counseling, transitional housing, meals, laundry and activities.
Residents are placed at St. Francis House through the VA Day Treatment Center located at 1000 Main Street, Little Rock, 501-244-1900. Upon arrival, client’s personal needs are assessed, and, if needed, they are provided personal items of soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste. The average stay is 3 months but can it be as long as
2 years.
Veterans participate in various training groups 4 days a week, including life skills. The support services offered at SFH are on-site case management, three meals a day, health care, daily shuttles, Vet to Vet Education Program, vocational counseling, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, safe and secure housing,
monthly outings and advocacy. Outside activities are provided for the veterans, including bowling, movies or going out to eat, and “game nights” are organized periodically.
Able veterans are required to seek full time employment.
Assistance with employment is provided by St. Francis House staff and the Veterans Administrations Those unable to work are assisted with securing other types of income, such as VA pension or disability. All residents, when they secure employment or have a
source of income, are required to save 75% of their income to assist with the procurement of permanent housing. Once their savings are sufficient, they are assisted in finding housing. St Francis House has over a 75% success rate in finding employment and suitable housing for the Veterans that complete the program.
Homeless Female Veterans and Veterans with Families receive employment services. This program is funded by the Department of Labor.
St. Francis House also operates a Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). This program provides services to help homeless Veterans in 14 Arkansas counties, Pulaski, Lonoke, Saline, Jefferson, Garland, Arkansas, Conway, Faulkner, Grant, Hot Springs, White, Benton, Madison and Washington, regain housing and also assist Veterans in danger of becoming homeless.
Staffing to Support Veteran’s Programs Re-Entry Program
Administrator - Ken Mace Assistant Director at St. Francis House
Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Mental Health Tech
Maintenance Worker
Desk Staff
Cooks
Supportive Services for Veterans Families
Program Director (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Outreach Coordinators
Case Managers
Note: The Outreach Coordinators and Case Manager all have College Bachelor’s Degrees
Funding for Above Veteran’s Programs
75 - 85% - Per Diem for each resident Veteran and VA Grants
15 - 25% - Church, Community Organization and Individual Donations
Items in Need to Support the Veterans
Personal hygiene items
Underwear - shorts and tee shirt
Shoes and socks
Coats
Clothing
Items for starting up their new household such as blankets, cooking utensils, pots & pans, small appliances, furniture, etc. American Legion Involvement is to collect and deliver items in need from the Hot Springs Villagers and Hot Springs Village Churches and other Organizations. Provide onsite a hot meal and finger food social every quarter
and engage in other activities at the request of the Assistant Director.
How Can You Help
Financial Donations
Donations of items in need
Participate in the dinners and social
Now for a little history of the St. Francis House Team.
In the fall of 2012 The Fr. Victor A. Bieberle 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 2316 located in Hot Springs Village became involved with the Veterans Reintegration program at St. Francis House in Little Rock. Working with the Assistant Director Ken Mace a long term working relationship began.
The initial involvement was limited to delivery of needed clothing items and execution of 2 maintenance projects. As 2013 started our involvement began to evolve into the form it is today. We currently provide on an annual basis dental supplies for 100 Vets to include tooth brushes, dental floss and toothpaste. Each quarter we put on 1 hot meal and 1 finger food social on site. At times the meals are theme based such as a Thanksgiving feast or St. Patrick’s Day Irish Stew. At Christmas time along with food we provide each Vet with a $10 Walmart gift card and have many door prizes. We make at least 2 deliveries and sometimes 3 per week of donations that include clothing, small household items, cooking utensils, books, shoes and personal hygiene items. One of our drivers, who recorded his miles during 2017, put 4000 miles on his truck. We currently have one volunteer work 1/2 day per week at the front desk. We coordinate our activities with the Hot Springs Village American Legion Post 0123. We currently have a list of 45 volunteers from the Assembly Post and other caring Hot Springs Villagers who participate in one or more of the activities during the year. It is with great pleasure we support those who have served our Country. The St. Francis House staff is always very accommodating in supporting our programs and are a great group of dedicated people to work with.