St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House

Who we are

St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House is a safe and dignified environment where homeless men can work on securing immediate needs of housing, employment, drug/alcohol rehabilitation and case management. We’ve been an emergency shelter since 1983. Our primary goal is to assist guests in finding permanent housing as soon as possible. We are a Catholic Worker House providing an environment of communal living and spiritual values based on the philosophies of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin.

Our existence is totally dependent on private donations. We receive no funding from federal, state, or local governments. Building a family of personal and community relationships with others who believe in our mission is critical to our success and our survival.

History of the House

1983 St. Francis Catholic Worker House is established when former bar owner/bar tender Jim Mullen purchases a house at 1437 Walnut Street in the inner city neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine near downtown Cincinnati because people told him “they have no place to sleep.” The home for 18 homeless immediately fills up. The sign on the door quotes Joshua 24:15,

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Jim adopts the philosophy of the Catholic Worker Movement and St. Francis becomes a Catholic Worker House.

1987 St. Joseph House of Hospitality, a Catholic Worker House at 528 E. 13th Street in Cincinnati is founded by Richard Steineman and Father Mark Schmieder to give short term housing to homeless men in the city.

David Huber becomes the St. Francis Catholic Worker House full-time house manager.

1990 Jim Mullen is dying of cancer and puts the St. Francis Catholic Worker House building up for sale.

St. Joseph House co-founder Richard Steineman moves away from Cincinnati.

The St. Francis Catholic Worker House and the St. Joseph House of Hospitality are about to close permanently.

1991 In March, at the request of St. Joseph House staff workers, Fr. Mark Schmieder buys the St. Francis House on Walnut Street from Jim Mullen. After extensive repairs, the house on Walnut Street is renamed the St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House to continue the vision, hope and mission of the original houses.

On September 17, Jim Mullen passes away.

1993 The St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House is incorporated and receives tax-exempt status. A Board of Trustees is formed and led by Fr. Mark Schmieder.

1996 The goal to purchase the St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House from Fr. Mark Schmieder is met—at the price he paid for it in 1991.

Grants from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation make possible major rehabilitation, and building repairs are completed in 1996, 2004, and 2007, enabling the ministry to continue.

Board of Trustees votes to begin search for part-time house manager, increase fundraising efforts, and maintain a group of paid staff members.

1998 David Huber retires from St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House, leaving behind a legacy which is the spirit and life of the Catholic Worker Movement.

2000 A dedicated working staff, all formerly homeless and in recovery (a number are ex-prisoners) are in place, leading by both service and example.

2004 Karl Fields becomes the new House Manager. His goal is “to be an example, a light to those in darkness so they may see for themselves a way out.”

2009 This year, The Catholic Worker House provided temporary housing to 220 homeless men. One Third attained permanent independent living; the others had a place to sleep.
On Christmas Eve, the SFSJ community lost its founder Father Mark Schmieder to cancer. Join us in remembering Mark.

2013 On January 4, longtime House Manager Karl Fields passes away after a long battle with lung cancer. He is succeeded by staff member John Clark.

2019 Ten years since the death of Father Mark Schmieder and nearly twenty since the passing of Jim Mullen, St. Francis - St. Joseph Catholic Worker House continues its mission to serve homeless men with dignity and respect in the spirit of the Catholic Worker Movement.

Who we serve

The St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House is a home for homeless men providing 16 beds and a 17^th for a major emergency. Most of our guests are reentering society after prison, and many have a history of drug or alcohol abuse. The house is open to men who have made a personal commitment to make over their life and move on to independent living.

All who live in the house cook meals, house-sit, clean, and take responsibility for themselves and one another. Counsel and care for our guests is provided by a staff of seven including our House Manager, John Clark. Everyone participates in keeping the facility clean and in good repair, preparing meals, and tending to the temporal and spiritual needs of one another.

Our Guests

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Jesus Christ,
Matthew 25:40

What we do

St. Francis - St. Joseph Catholic Worker House operates as an emergency, short-term homeless shelter. We offer shelter to sixteen men, with most stays limited to eight weeks. Exceptions depend upon circumstances. We provide three meals a day. The men must have goals, work on those goals, and start a savings account within three weeks.

• Staff Commitment – Our 8-man staff is a testament to the ability to makeover one’s life. Each staff member is in recovery and formerly homeless; many are former prisoners. They lead by example and share their lives with the guests, encouraging them to overcome their addictions and banish sabotaging thoughts.
• Spiritual Presence – We believe that people change people. Our Board of Trustees is actively involved in the day to day operations along with the Staff. We both lead by setting expectations and through example. Behavioral change is expected and there is a zero tolerance for alcohol and/or drugs. There is a spiritual force present in the House when all are trying to maintain their sobriety and working on their spiritual lives.
• Success Rate – Within the 60-day guest stay, more than a third of our guests move onto a job, independent living, and a new sense of self. This success rate is exceptional—way above the national average of 6% to 8% for a shelter such as SFSJCWH. Our successful guests leave behind expectations that new guests find contagious. A number of former guests return to volunteer and help others at the House. We owe our success rate to diligent adherence to our spiritual values, namely the basic respect for each individual, all of whom are created in the likeness of God.

St. Francis-St. Joseph House is a house for men. We will not discriminate based on race, religion, or age. Any man will be considered for acceptance regardless of his background. We serve about 250 homeless men each year on a first come first served basis. Our capacity is 16, plus one bed reserved for emergency situations. A full-time House Manager provides limited case management on a non-professional basis in order to help connect guests to other professional service providers like the Human Services Department, Veterans Administration, and Social Security. Board members volunteer their time.

To inquire about becoming a Guest, stop by the House or contact John Clark.

Events

Soup Kitchen

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
11:00 am –1:00 pm

"Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
St. Francis of Assisi

House Manager

Board of Trustees

Robert Bertsch

Mary Repaske

Nancy Finke

Nancy Feldman

Mike Harmon

Michael Dufek

Dan Schmits

John Zerbe, MD

Honorary Trustees

Carl Schmieder

"We’d like to change the world — make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as God intended."
Dorothy Day