At the St. Francis Residences, we are a caring community that supports each other.

This year, we’re sharing more about how our community comes together—highlighting the comprehensive services we provide tenants and the staff that make it possible.

Read on to hear from two long time staff members, Abdul and Sheila, about how they each provide for tenants in very different ways.

Meet the St. Francis Staff: Abdul

How long have you worked at the St. Francis Residences?

”33 years—since 1992. I started as a part-timer. I became a Building Manager in 1995.

There were two building managers before me as I had refused the manager job twice before. It was during that time that Fr. McVean and Fr. Felice said ‘Hey, Hassan I know you refused us twice, but what about this time?’ Father McVean made a joke, he said, ‘You know maybe we have to bless this office for you to work with us.' They asked me one more time and I said ok.”

What does the day to day of your role look like?

I see the tenants everyday, we talk, we joke, we deal with everything as it comes, we get along. A lot of my job is protecting the tenants. 20 years ago, you wouldn't have recognized the neighborhood, it's completely different now, but you still have to keep an eye open. Everyday I come in and check the folder, where the clerks from the night before write down everything that happened while I was gone. First, I look at the serious things, if anyone went to the hospital mostly, then I look at the maintenance log, if anyone needs anything fixed, I check and tell my team. Then, I go and do my rounds, right before 10 AM. From 12 - 1 PM I do my rounds again and make sure everyone is okay, all the bathrooms are running properly, stuff like that.

What do the St. Francis Residences mean to you?

This is family. Seriously, this is my second family. I always say I’m used to the tenants and they are used to me. We all share jokes [and sometimes, you wouldn’t] know who is the tenant, who is the manager.

Photos of Abdul, Building Manager of Residence 3

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Meet the St. Francis Staff: Sheila

What drew you to the St. Francis Residences?

I was an artist, my mother was an artist, I grew up in New York and went to an arts high school and later got my Masters in Fine Art, it was the only thing I really wanted to do. I was a very ambitious artist and traveled a lot for my career.

After my son was born, I was looking for what was going to drive me since I was suddenly no longer driven by being an artist anymore.

What does the day to day of your role look like?

In general, I am here to enrich [tenant’s] lives. I enrich details of their environment, in the residence, in their creative healing and through experiences in the city too. To me it’s about taking that extra piece of their creations and passions to enhance their experiences. For example, they love to sing, so I want to get surround sound speakers in order to fill the space with what they love to do.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I [find] the drive not to create art alone in a room through visual pieces or whatnot but rather in creating my life as a whole. My son’s life, my life, and their lives (tenants of St. Francis Residence 3).

I carry their stories and pass them on, I take pride in that.

Photos of Sheila, Art Coordinator of Residence 3

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Get Involved with St. Francis Friends of the Poor

Your support makes a tremendous impact on the lives of our 300 tenants. We appreciate any form of support you can provide.

Donate Today. Your support provides a permanent home and community to nearly 300 formerly homeless folks living with serious mental illness at our three residences in New York City.
Volunteer. Share your talents to enhance our social, artistic, educational, and recreational programming as we work together to build community and promote well-being.
Corporate Sponsorships. We provide opportunities to individuals and corporations wishing to make an impactful gift to a program or activity that resonates with their philanthropic or marketing goals.
Career Opportunities. Join our mission-driven team to transform the lives of our tenants.