St. Anthonys, S.F.s biggest soup kitchen, lays off 12 of staff

St. Anthony Foundation, a prominent soup kitchen in San Francisco, laid off 30 employees, amounting to 12% of its workforce, in response to financial pressures. The foundation's CEO, Larry Kwan, called the decision "heartbreaking," highlighting a need to refocus on essential services in the Tenderloin area. Affected programs included workforce development and community safety services, which are vital for training individuals facing homelessness. St.

Anthony's serves around 1,000 meals daily and supports approximately 15,000 clients each year with various services, including addiction treatment programs. Although the organization recently celebrated its 75th anniversary and reported more than $45 million in revenue, it faces a deficit, prompting a restructuring of departments. A spokesperson confirmed that while the foundation is currently stable, future funding uncertainties pose financial risks. Employees had been aware of budget issues, which led to speculation about the layoffs. This restructuring aims to reduce redundancies and enhance coordination to continue supporting clients effectively.