Francis House is an Interfaith Center designed to respond with compassion and justice to the emotional and spiritual needs of persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Francis House is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, whose love for all people as brothers and sisters inspires our staff and volunteers. (1990).

We open our home to our client members, staff and volunteers, as well as welcoming all who will enter our doors. There are no qualifications for admittance and no questions are asked regarding how anyone became infected. Everyone strives to maintain an aura of home, showing care, concern and warmth for each other, and the house. A conscious effort is made to avoid any appearance of it being an institution. We are a "home away from home."

Everyone associated with Francis House - clients, members, friends, staff and volunteers, are encouraged by example to affirm and respect the humanity and uniqueness of every person. Through the pursuit of attitudes that are non-critical, non-discriminatory and non-judgmental, Francis House provides a haven of love, peace, relaxation, safety and serenity. The warm embrace or hug is our seal of acceptance and self-worth, given to each client. We commit ourselves to make Francis House a true "home away from home" to all who enter our doors for whatever reason. They become members of an extended, supportive family. We believe when people are free to be themselves, they are better able to devote attention to their personal growth and spiritual well being. The client members are encouraged to live one day at a time; to accept life as it is rather than how they would like to be; and to enjoy the grace and sacrament of the present moment.

Francis House accomplishes its mission by opening its doors Monday through Friday from 8:30-5:00. Client members participate in leisure, recreational and social activities which are formal and informal, spontaneous and structured. There are comfortable rooms, conducive to conversation and relaxation. Our clients will find provision for their special needs: sharing medical information and treatment programs, informed sessions for emotional and spiritual counseling within a group or on an individual basis, and the presence of qualified staff and volunteers who interact with the client members not as authority figures but as equals and companions on the pilgrimage of life. Francis House is designed to provide caring, healthy and supportive relationships within a safe environment. To further implement its objectives, Francis House provides a lending library. A listening viewing-room is available, offering a wide selection of books, tapes, audio and videos. Francis House provides a chance for disseminating and sharing information on and about the HIV Community. This is conducive to implementing or coordinating a variety of activities and recreational therapeutic events. Our members have access to an art studio, fitness equipment, card games as well as an outside basketball hoop. The following programs are essential to the mission of Francis House. We have 300 men, women and children registered in our programs, with clients participating in one or all of the activities provided by Francis House. We have an outreach program to visit those in the hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, who can no longer come to Francis House. When there is no scheduled support group, that time is used for social skills enhancement and learning to live with HIV/AIDS. These skills are essential to the general well-being of the individual, especially in a society affected by AIDS: care givers, family members, and friends - are also vulnerable and are welcomed to share in all the Francis House programs.

Throughout the week, we provide nutritious and wholesome meals with clients assisting in the preparation and selection of the menu for the week. At Francis House, mealtime is an important time. The majority of our members live alone, or are too weak to prepare a hot meal for themselves or their children. Some are not interested in eating. Depression over their circumstances or their loneliness robs them of their appetites. By sharing in a common meal, the clients experience a special outlet and fellowship which deepens their relationship with each other and adds to our sense of family. Some even receive indirect instructions on how to manage a balanced diet on a modest budget. Meals also provide a setting for informed sharing and teaching. Therefore, no one is excluded from the table; all are welcomed as brothers and sisters.

Throughout the week, individual counseling is available for those with scheduled appointmentsand for walk-ins. Counseling sessions focus on the person’s emotional as well as spiritual needs. Because of the terminal nature of AIDS, grief, anger and loss remain vital aspects of Francis House. Fitness and Tai Chi classes are available for our clients who are haunted by the possibility of becoming physically disabled. Many of them benefit form the positive energy they receive from working out. They experience improved health, increased energy, improved appetite and have some fun while learning the various exercises. The meditative movements of Tai Chi and massages have been very popular. Francis House has been blessed by volunteers who donate their expertise and time. The clients enjoy individual massage therapy which helps them relax and relieve their stress in a quiet environment. Francis House provides expressive art therapy in oil painting and stained glass. Through these media, clients have found a means of expressing anger and depression. They use painting to portray themselves, AIDS, their God.

The volunteer program at Francis House is vital to its daily operation and continuity. Volunteers contribute their talents and time throughout the week. Only through such dedicated servants is Francis House able to provide such a variety of programs. Many of our clients become involved in the operation of Francis House.

The children’s program provides a daily 9 to 5 warm, confidential environment for children ages 0-5, who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The after-school program for children ages 5 to 12 is provided two times a week. The focus of the children’s program is to meet their emotional needs through creative experiences in art, music and play. All programs are supervised by our professional staff and trained volunteers. Our Hispanic children are assisted by a member of the staff who is fluent in Spanish. Pastoral Care Counseling services are provided to anyone who is infected or affected with HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this counseling is to assist members in seeking their God or higher power, and to provide comfort and hope during their spiritual journey; to acquaint or refer clients to resource materials to assist in their own spiritual growth; to encourage problem solving or spiritual issues, for example, rejection by one’s church or family; to provide a beacon of hope to a client facing the imminence of death; and to bring pastoral solace and comfort to those who mourn. The planning and conducting of memorial services is a necessary ritual at Francis House. Many of our clients are not affiliated with their churches, and nuclear families are estranged from their particular denomination. Although reconciliation with families and churches is a reality for some, it is not a possibility for others. In fact, Francis House has become a spiritual haven for those who profess no faith. Francis House continues to grow and expand its many programs. As the face of AIDS changes so does Francis House in the hope to meet the many needs of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.