Adaptability & Resilience
By Andrew Spinks & the Rev. Liz Costello
The story of St. Francis Center (SFC) is one of adaptability and resilience. As SFC continues to forge their way forward amid the pandemic, SFC’s history of adaptability and resilience continues to help them carry out their mission of serving the needs of unhoused persons.
SFC was birthed under the leadership of the Rev. Bert Womack, who died this past year. May Bert rest in peace and rise in glory. Originally named the Pastoral Care Center, SFC opened in 1983, a time reported by the Denver Post to be the second worst economic downturn in Colorado’s history. In partnership with the Episcopal Church in Colorado, Bert created this ministry that served the needs of 50 to 60 people per day in its first year. As the needs of unhoused persons in Metro-Denver grew, the SFC adapted and grew to meet their needs by moving into a larger space at 2323 Curtis Street in 1985, later adding employment services at the Day Center.
When best practices showed that solving the housing crisis included a multi-faceted and integrated approach, SFC adapted once again, including social workers and outreach workers, as well as exploring the possibility of building permanent supportive housing. The SFC realized that possibility in the 21st century by opening three permanent supportive housing residences as well as continuing in their important work through the Day Center. Today, SFC operates Cornerstone Residences at St. Francis Center, St. Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square, and most recently the newly renovated St. Francis Warren Residences on E. Fourteenth Avenue, near Cheesman Park — with grant money to expand.
As a 48-unit supportive-housing complex for low-income individuals (those who make less than 30 percent of the area median income), the St. Francis Warren Residences are a model for ministry growing in new and unexpected ways. Originally home to the Warren United Methodist Church, the building was for 113 years a place for worship, fellowship, formation, and outreach.
After years of watching Warren Methodist’s declining numbers and dwindling finances, their administrative council made the difficult decision of selling the building to SFC, which has just recently celebrated the grand opening of the Residences. We take joy in knowing that the Spirit continues to do “a new thing,” including with church buildings and grounds.
SFC continues to forge a path forward amid the pandemic. As with most ministries and institutions today, the pandemic has added an additional layer of challenges not only for those who seek to serve unhoused people, but unhoused people too. As SFC’s story continues to unfold, guests, dedicated staff, volunteers, and donors continue to rely on the same adaptability and resilience that is part of the SFC’s origin story.
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ANDREW SPINKS is the Development Director of St. Francis Center and THE REV. LIZ COSTELLO is a board member of St. Francis Center and Priest-in-Charge of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Littleton.
