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.

Due to Covid-19, this year’s celebration of the Feast of St. Francis was a virtual Dinner-in–Reverse. Watch this video to join in the fun of our virtual party. There is music by Patti Munsen who has shared her gift of music at past dinners. Through the wonders of technology, she is joined by Fr. Joe Rodrigues, formerly on the staff at Most Holy Trinity and now residing in Rome. Also watch Br. David Buer along with our Master of Ceremonies, Carl Zawatski, draw the names of this year’s raffle winners. 

Our Services

Daytime Rest

We want our guests to feel at home. Guests are encouraged to kick up their feet, read a book, watch TV, or catch up on some sleep.

Home-Cooked Meals

As soon as guests enter the door, they are greeted with a delicious, home-cooked breakfast, and later enjoy a hot lunch made with care.

Laundry and Showers

Washing machines and shower facilities are available throughout the day so guests can shower while they do a load of laundry.

Volunteer
Donate
Our History

Day time hospitality from 7:00 am to noon Wednesday – Sunday
Call us at 520.624.0589 to reserve a space.

If you are homeless and you are looking for a safe place to spend the day, call us at 520.624.0589 to reserve a space.  Guests have access to showers, laundry, a full breakfast and are given a take-away sack lunch. Due to limited space, we can only serve 12 guests per day and guests are assigned their day in advance.  Please note that Poverello House DOES NOT offer overnight shelter. View other resources.

Poverello Yard Reopening

Good News! Although the Poverello House has been closed since early April due to Covid-19, our guests are now being welcomed back on a limited basis.

Beginning on August 26th, the yard at Poverello House has opened to meet some of the needs of the homeless guests who previously came to the house. All activity takes place outdoors and is in keeping with CDC guidelines regarding the wearing of masks, social distancing, etc. The men are provided with a hot breakfast, have an opportunity to take a shower (an outdoor shower tent has been set up with careful attention to drainage issues provided by a professional  plumber). Two clothes washing machines have also been set up in the yard for the use of the men. Triage takes place in the alley outside the yard before the men enter. Snack Sacks of non-perishable foods and bottled water are available for the men to take with them when they leave. The yard is open from Wednesday through Sunday from 7:00 am to noon and serves up to twelve men each day.

While the men who come express the wish that things could get back to normal and be done the “old way”—they miss being able to relax in comfort and watch TV or catch some extra sleep in a cool house—they are glad to be back even if it is just in the yard!

Our Impact Each Month

236

Guest Visits

472

Meals Served

236

Showers

250

Loads of laundry

Volunteer with Us

Board of Directors

Br. David Buer, ofm
Jeanette Arnquist
Charles R. Dunn, K.M
Br. Charles Hannan, osf
Suzanne Machain
Vicki Myers
Anne Reissner
Conrad Wall

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 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 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.

Br. David Buer, ofm

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 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 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.

Br. David Buer, ofm

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 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 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.

Br. David Buer, ofm

Contact Us

Poverello House of Tucson

Phone: 520.624.0589
Street: 221 E. Lee St. Tucson, AZ 85705
Mail: PO Box 50782, Tucson, AZ 85703
Hours: Wed - Sun, 8am to 4pm

Guests: Please c​all to reserve a space​.​

Clothing donations: Stop by Wed to Sun, 8:30am to 3:00pm or call 520.624.0589 to schedule a drop-off. Thank you for your generosity!

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