Shelter Development

Francis homes acquisition and expenses are necessary to the success of Shelter Development in securing properties, maintaining the properties and eventually reassigning the property to families to prevent homelessness. Shelter Development absorbs the costs of purchasing improving and maintaining until a family is ready to handle the expense on their own at which time the home is transferred.

The exchange serves as the la crosse area charitable furniture bank program within the Shelter Development agency. The exchange receives almost exclusively donated household goods from the community and works with more than 30 local nonprofit partners to distribute these needed household items to community members experiencing hardships such as homelessness, domestic violence and aging/ disability.

Salaries and wages- it is necessary to incur salaries and wage expense for program directors and assistants in order to support our charitable mission statement of providing services intended to end homelessness. Paid staff positions support effective communication, coordination, volunteer workforce support, administrative duties and direct client/ partner communication to meet the needs of programming and deliver quality services to those experiencing hardships including homelessness.