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Leading the Way in 2023
February 22, 2023
A Look Ahead in 2023
By Nils Behnke, CEO
Thank you for your unwavering support of St. Anthony Foundation in 2022. I’m proud to share highlights that supporters like you made possible despite San Francisco’s unprecedented challenges this past year. We remain committed to the city and to making positive change happen. I especially want to recognize members of our new Leadership Council, whose visionary support helped to provide the extra margin of excellence that our innovative services require as we uplift St. Anthony’s guests on their journeys to create more stable lives.
In 2023, we are committed to taking action to fundamentally change what success looks like. Planned new initiatives and energetic leadership will make possible more guest opportunities for stability and renewal.
A FIVE-POINT PLAN FOR SAN FRANCISCO: LEADING THE WAY
As we enter 2023, we believe that the status quo in San Francisco must be challenged. We propose a five-point plan for San Francisco and will work with local change-makers to achieve it.
- Lay out a vision for San Francisco’s future and prioritize projects and actions that support the vision.
- Focus on results and accountability, defining clear deliverables and rewarding achievement of results.
- Enable bold actions by leaders who drive entrepreneurial action and experimentation.
- Invite innovative ideas and talent from people with new perspectives and fresh energy who desire to change a system that is not working well for those in need.
- Start with a blank sheet, focusing on how things should be, not justifying what is already being done.
OPPORTUNITIES: LEADING BY EXAMPLE
The Companionship Model of Care: We have launched this multi-year intensive peer support model that provides our guests with a comprehensive approach to recovery and renewal. A companion with lived experience is paired with each person in our substance use recovery and transitional employment programs for up to three years, guiding and supporting the difficult journey through ten elements of stability. In practice informally for more than seven decades, we know this model works, and in 2023 we will scale it to serve more guests, designing each individual’s program for results.
Women’s and Children’s Services: With the pro-bono help of McKinsey & Co., we will expand services to unhoused women and children in San Francisco who experience homelessness very differently than men. Given the lack of women-focused programs, shelters, and mental health programs in San Francisco, we will partner with existing providers to provide our Companionship Model to support residents who have suffered from domestic violence, mental health, and substance use disorders due to trauma.
St. Anthony’s Expert Advisory Council: Our new interdisciplinary Scientific Expert Advisory Council includes renowned experts from Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCSF, and the Franciscan School of Theology who specialize in addiction medicine, psychiatry, social enterprises, housing, and homeless services spaces. The Council will provide scientific review of study design and data to validate success. Implementing our new Salesforce CRM system will enable us to track measurable results, outputs, and outcomes for guests across all service areas.
We invite you to join us at one of our weekly campus tours and see firsthand the results of your generosity. Your ongoing support is vital to our mission. Please get in touch with me or Chief Advancement Officer, Marti Sullivan, at msullivan@stanthonysf.org to learn more about how you can help us this coming year.
Peace and All Good,
Nils Behnke, CEO
A Look Back At 2022
Your past support allowed us to do more with less as costs have risen for essentials. Your commitment to our mission enables us to make real transformational changes for our guests experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, and behavioral health challenges. We look forward to your partnership as we offer new ways for them to flourish in 2023.
- The Dining Room serves 1,500 meals daily, over 592,075 meals in 2022 (-9% decrease)
- 155,000+ pieces of free new and gently-used clothing were distributed to 7,115 adults and children (+47% increase)
- 115 resident guests spent 12,776 nights at Father Alfred Center (+26% increase)
- 1,100 Laundry users washed and dried 5,721 loads (+68% increase)
- More than 100 former guests with lived experience make up 40% of St. Anthony’s staff.
- 2,000+ individuals and families, many undocumented and housing challenged, received quality care and preventative services through 11,000 Medical Clinic visits (+22% increase)
- 4,525 Resource Center visits by 1,343 guests helped them access essential services (+17% increase)
- 1,583 Hygiene Hub shower guests took 8,829 total showers (+49% increase)
Our Mission
In the spirit of the Gospel, inspired by the joy and compassion of Francis and Clare of Assisi, in solidarity with all who hunger and thirst for justice and peace, and together with those we serve, our mission is to feed, heal, shelter, clothe, lift the spirits of those in need, and create a society in which all persons flourish.
Continue Your Support in 2023!
With more than 100 former guests employed at St. Anthony’s, we prioritized professional development throughout the Learn2Earn program for St. Anthony’s employees with lived experience. We have raised compensation for entry-level positions significantly above minimum wage, as our people are our greatest asset.
The new Hygiene Hub at 150 Golden Gate celebrated its 1st birthday in October 2022, proving to be an essential facility in the Tenderloin neighborhood.
August Back to School Day was a huge success, as over 400 underserved children chose from an array of free, quality clothing and backpacks filled with supplies to kick off the school year with renewed hope and confidence.
