Poverello House of Tucson
Poverello House of Tucson is a homelike place of welcome and a safe environment providing daytime rest, food, laundry facilities, showers, and companionship for homeless men. We are a registered 501(c)(3) charity.
Dear Loving God,
At this important moment of transition for our Poverello House, we give you thanks for the many graces you have bestowed on us these first 15 years. We ask your blessings upon each guest who has come for hospitality. We ask your blessings upon each supporter, each board member, each live-in staff person, each volunteer who has provided a meal, who has done the shopping, who has volunteered a shift or who has supported us spiritually or financially over these last 15 years. And we also pray for those few guests who have had a hard time respecting our Franciscan spirit.
We ask you Lord for Your Wisdom and guidance, as we press forward to re-opening in a new house. And we ask your blessing upon the Blacklidge house and all who will cross its threshold in the months and years ahead. –AMEN
News and Events
Poverello House is Temporarily Closed
Poverello House is in the midst of transitioning to a house that we were able to purchase. Plans for renovation of the new place have been submitted to the city, and we are waiting for permits to be issued.
Read Our Newsletter
Our Summer 2023 newsletter includes a letter from Br. David, news about our temporary closing, an introduction of our newest board member, information about our upcoming Annual meeting and more.
Our New House
Poverello House will soon have a new home! In July 2020, after years of hard work, prayers, and generosity from supporters, we were able to purchase a larger house which will allow us to better serve our guests.
Board of Directors
Jeanette Arnquist
Jerry Ledesma
Julia Lindberg
Lawrence (Pat) Long
Vicki Myers
Anne Reissner
Conrad Wall
Newsletters
January 2023
Winter 2022 *
Spring 2022
Winter 2021 *
Fall 2021
Spring 2021
Winter 2020 *
Fall 2020
Spring 2020
Fall 2019
Spring 2019
Spring 2018
Spring 2017
* End-of-the-Year Message
Our History
Eight hundred years ago in the Umbrian Valley north of Rome, wandered Francis Bernadone and a small group of rag tag brothers of penance. At first, the local population looked with scorn at these young men from Assisi, who gave up wealth and prestigious future careers to follow Francis. Over time, the brothers won over the hearts of many as they tended to the needs of the lepers and led lives of solidarity with the poor with humility and joy. When villagers saw Francis and his brothers walking toward them, they would say: “Here comes ‘Il Pov-erello’ (the little poor man.)” Over the centuries “Poverello” has been a name used in ministries with the poor in the Franciscan tradition.
On October 29, 2008, Poverello House of Tucson opened its doors and invited homeless men to come in off the street for a day to sit down, decompress, get cleaned up and have healthy meals in a homelike environment. Poverello House of Tuson was founded by Br. David Buer, ofm, a Franciscan Brother who for many years ministered to the homeless and those living in poverty. Br. David was first introduced to the concept of a Poverello House in The Tenderloin of San Francisco, California in the early 90’s. Having establishing two Poverello Houses in Nevada, it was not surprising that that when in 2005, he was assigned to Tucson, Br. David envisioned a Poverello House here.
