A longstanding pillar of San Francisco's Richmond district and haven for the elderly, St. Anne's Home, is set to cease operations on April 8, as confirmed by the Little Sisters of the Poor. The 124-year-old nursing facility, steeped in city history, has succumbed to the relentless pressures of staffing shortages and stringent regulatory demands. Mother Julie Horseman, the Provincial Superior, said, as per the SF Chronicle, "The San Francisco Bay Area has always been very supportive of us and we regret greatly having to make this decision. But we feel it’s something we need to do."

With the burden to maintain and elevate its staffing, a task made near-impossible by a dearth of local workers and a trickle of new staff to replace retirees, St. Anne's has reached an operational impasse. Horseman highlighted the critical nature of stable staffing to their mission: "Having our own staff is a critical piece of carrying out our mission providing (residents) with an environment where they're respected as we would respect Christ himself." Further complicating matters for the facility are the mandatory upgrades needed to comply with state rules and improvements beyond the organization's financial capacities, according to the SF Chronicle.

The decision to close St. Anne's Home is not isolated but part of a larger strategic move by the Little Sisters, as detailed in a notice on the St. Anne’s Home website. According to the announcement, "These decisions are the fruit of our General Chapter in France in 2022 and are in harmony with our strategic plan aimed at strengthening our ministry and the quality of our religious and community life." This step follows the closure of another facility in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the sale of the Jeanne Jugan Residence in San Pedro in 2021.