An Update from Gubbio

Dear Friends and Supporters of The Gubbio Project,

We hope that this finds you and your loved ones safe and well during this holiday season. At Gubbio we continue to be mindful of those for whom the holiday season is especially challenging – our neighbors who are unhoused. 

We want to let you know that we are continuing to monitor the Covid-19 pandemic and are taking direction from public health and infectious disease experts.  We continue to interact with our local partners to monitor the situation, provide our input and engage in advocacy.  In addition, we have been exploring potential new partnerships and additional sites. The Board of Directors remains committed to reopening and engaging our mission of providing Sacred Sleep as soon as it is safe to do so. We will continue to keep you updated on any developments.  

We are grateful for your support of The Gubbio Project and our unhoused neighbors. We wish you well this holiday season.  

In gratitude,

The Gubbio Project

An Update from the Board Chair, Tom Nolan

Dear Friends and Supporters of The Gubbio Project, 

I am writing to you as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Gubbio Project to inform you of a recent painful decision we had to make. As you may know both of our churches, St. Boniface in the Tenderloin and St. John’s in the Mission have been closed for some time now.

We have spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how and when we might be able to reopen. We have met with City Health Department officials, an infectious disease specialist working with people who are unhoused, and colleagues in other organizations serving our unhoused neighbors. The overwhelming consensus of those we consulted was that reopening safely could be a year away. Some said they believed it is safer for people to be outside rather than in a closed facility such as the churches.

The Board agonized over this and finally concluded that we would go into a pause period until we know more from the City and health experts. We have decided that we will look at the situation in quarters, namely monitor where we are every three months and decide next steps at that point. Our firm intention and hope is to be able to return as quickly as is safely possible. We will do all we can to serve the community by assisting other agencies serving people who are unhoused.

For me personally, I was always deeply touched when visiting our guests at both churches. Our mission of providing sacred sleep touches our hearts deeply. My pledge to you on behalf of the Board of Directors is that we will keep you informed at least quarterly on any progress we have made toward reopening.

Please know that we are deeply grateful to you for your support and love for Gubbio.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us. The most up to date information will be posted here on our website.

Faithfully and sadly,

Tom Nolan

Gubbio Board Chairman

FROM THE DIRECTOR: REFLECTING ON COVID-19 AND A MESSAGE OF HOPE

April 9, 2020

Dear Friends and Supporters of Gubbio, 

This crisis has shown us that we are inextricably connected.  We are learning how the decisions we make impact others near and far.  We wear gloves and masks, practice social distancing and shelter in place to flatten the curve, for our safety and the safety of others.  But what about our neighbors who live on the streets?  What does it mean to shelter in place when you have no shelter or to practice social distancing when you have no place? 

In recent weeks, as the city is struggling to determine how it will respond and step up to protect our unhoused kin, we are seeing a barrage of statistics – infection rates, numbers of homeless people, numbers of meals served, numbers of available hotel rooms.  These numbers matter.  But what can get lost in the wash of these numbers is the fact that behind them all are people. Behind the numbers are living, breathing, dynamic humans.  Humans with beautiful, complicated lives of love, and loss and dreams.  Humans inherently deserving of safety, shelter and care. 

When we focus just on numbers, it becomes dangerously easy to “other” one another.  Whole groups of people become one generalized monolith, and as a result, can be considered less human and are more easily ignored. For many of us right now our only link to the “outside” world is a screen, making it easy for others to feel less real. 

This is the power of Gubbio - we provided sanctuary yes, but a core piece of that sanctuary is relationship.  At Gubbio we believe that we get close to one another, particularly those we consider to be so different from us, transformation is possible and we discover our common humanity.  

So this week, considered Holy by so many, as you gather with loved ones online, in the safety of your homes, I ask that you pause, take a moment to acknowledge, to feel the truth our interconnectedness and remember those who cannot shelter in place, who cannot practice social distancing. Breathe with that truth. Allow it to move you. 

As we move forward, with whatever is ahead of us, may we hold close the example of San Francisco's namesake, St. Francis. May we recognize the inherent worth of all and to be what he was – the living embodiment of our inter-connectedness and a model of compassion in service of and with those most marginalized. 

In Solidarity,

Shannon Eizenga

Executive Director

The Gubbio Project

FROM THE DIRECTOR: CONTINUING OUR MISSION IN A TRYING TIME

March 17, 2020

Dear Friends and Supporters of Gubbio, 

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. 

I am writing with the sad news that, due to COVID-19 and San Francisco's shelter-in-place order, The Gubbio Project will temporarily suspend its programs. 

We are heartbroken that it has come to this. However, we also understand on the basis of information from the public health experts and conversations with our church partners that we were increasingly unable to keep our unhoused guests, volunteers and staff safe when bringing them together in the numbers that we were. 

We remain committed to our guests and, at this point, intend to shift into more of an advocacy role for a period of time. We have also begun reaching out to other partners to offer our assistance. If we cannot serve our unhoused guests in our traditional way then we will find other ways. And we look forward to the time when we will be able to welcome our guests once again.

Thank you for your continued support of The Gubbio Project in these challenging times. 

In solidarity,

Shannon Eizenga

Executive Director

The Gubbio Project