Brother Francis Shelter (BFS) is a low-barrier emergency shelter for adult men and women in Anchorage who are experiencing homelessness. BFS serves those experiencing homelessness with dignity, care, compassion, and with an emphasis on moving guests toward permanent stability. We provide the support services necessary to move out of homelessness, including housing case management and healthcare assistance, through The Caring Clinic and Medical Respite program. BFS provides guests access to a variety of different services and supportive programs to help them on their path to permanent stability.


In FY22, Brother Francis Shelter provided 25,388 bed nights and 57,643 meals to our neighbors.


Support Brother Francis Shelter

Get Help from Brother Francis Shelter

To inquire about staying at Brother Francis Shelter, call 907-277-1731.

To stay at Brother Francis Shelter, you must be:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Currently experiencing homelessness
  • Not a danger to yourself or others
  • Able to independently provide self-care (e.g., the ability to get up and down from beds, shower, use the restroom, and dress independently)
  • Free of highly contagious medical conditions (e.g., Tuberculosis, ringworm, chicken pox, whooping cough, measles, COVID-19)
  • Able to comply with shelter policies and procedures

Brother Francis Shelter provides:

  • Overnight baggage storage, dinner, showers, laundry, basic medical care, medicine storage, clothing room, activities for guests
  • The Caring Clinic at BFS provides free access to preventative care, acute illness treatment, wound care, skin infection treatment, laceration repair, injuries, cough/colds/flu, sore throat treatment, and more
  • BFS’s Medical Respite gives guests a safe and semi-private space to recover from surgery and acute injuries after they have been discharged from the hospital
  • Transportation for guests to hospitals and specialists
  • On-site Case Management utilizing a client-centered approach in working with guests to make personalized goals to move forward on their path to permanent stability
  • BFS’s In-House Program helps guests acquire work experience by performing tasks which assist in daily shelter operations. This program increases a guests social and employment skills, while also improving their sense of self-worth

Useful Resources:

Learn More about Brother Francis Shelter

Contact Us

Location: 1021 E 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501

Hours: 24 hours/day, 365 days/year

Phone: 907-277-1731 (front desk)

Senior Director of Adult Homeless Services: David Rittenberg, drittenberg@cssalaska.org