Our Mission
The mission of the St. Francis Living Room is to improve the quality of life for low income and homeless seniors in the Tenderloin. A small part-time staff, committed Board, and dedicated volunteers work to provide a safe haven for social interaction, healthy breakfast, and connection to community services such as housing, health and wellness, and clothing.
Today
Homeless and low-income seniors in the Tenderloin have access to the St Francis Living Room on mornings from Monday to Friday. This is their place not only to eat a healthy breakfast from 8:30 till 10 a.m. but mostly to comingle together. Some guests even come here to sit and enjoy the living room friendliness and positive vibration onto their life. Others sit down on the couches for a little nap, in peace. Everyone 60 y.o. and over is welcome, no matter who they are. The only thing we ask is for them to respect the St Francis Living Room as they sacred place.
Volunteers come to the St Francis Living Room to experience helping others, and they may leave feeling emotional, but always thankful to have been able to contribute to older and fragile lives. A few volunteers have been coming for years and love the atmosphere and bring with them their energy and compassion.
The St Francis Living Room survives thanks to grants from generous organizations and some wonderful individual donors.
Our Staff
Pierre Smit, Executive Director
Pierre developed a printing and mailing company in San Francisco for 32 years. Then, he became Executive Director of the Ocean Avenue Association. Pierre is also the founder of the SF Turkey Drive that he started from his home in 2012. The mission of the SF Turkey Drive is to collect turkeys in the neighborhoods around Ingleside in San Francisco and bring it to an organization to feed folks in need.
Deborah Millette, Client Services Supervisor
Deborah’s ties to the neighborhood run deep. She knows the Living Room's guests and makes them feel comfortable and appreciated.
Bruce Peerman, Client Services Assistant
Bruce brings to the Living Room a wide range of skills with an emphasis on hospitality.
Our Board
Jonathan Lowell, President
Jonathan provided legal advice to California public agencies for over 30 years. He serves on the Living Room Board of Directors and was the volunteer Executive Director from 2018 to 2022.
Leonor Barnett, Secretary
Peter DeMarais, Treasurer
Alanna Maldanado
Doug Barnett
Carol Karahadian
Mary Purdy Read
Simone Sims
Current Funders
We are so thankful to all funders of the St Francis Living Room. This safe haven would not be here without their support.
University Mound Ladies Home
United Way (FEMA/EFSP)
St. Aiden’s Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin
Many individual contributors and volunteers
Many Thanks!
The St. Francis Living Room is grateful to many people and organizations who assist us.
The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank allows us to provide healthy, fresh food to our guests.
Philz Coffee at Golden Gate Avenue (at Larkin) is very generous to supply us with breads, pastries and other treats.
The De Marillac Academy has been wonderful to work with. Thanks to their great team and their students assisting us in feeding and in making our clients appreciating life better.
Thank you to Malachi O’Connor, Five Styles School, for his monthly session of QiGong on the third Friday of the month.