With the arrival of six Little Sisters on October 14, 1874, the Little Sisters of the Poor established their mission in Richmond, where their work of caring for the elderly poor was desperately needed due to the poverty and hardships caused by the Civil War.

First located in a house at the corner of 9^th and Marshall Streets near St. Peter’s Church, the Little Sisters’ Home was called St. Sophia’s. After only three years in Richmond, Bishop Gibbons recognized the Sisters’ need for a larger home and on June 24, 1877 gave them a four story building on Harvie and Floyd Avenues in Richmond’s Fan District. Over the years the Home was enlarged, renovated, and modified to meet the Residents’ needs, but in the 1970s the building was too old to pass fire codes and state regulations. With the help of many friends and the intercession of St. Joseph, the Little Sisters were able to raise the funds needed to build a new home in western Henrico County. In July 1976 they moved to their current residence, which they named St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged.

Since coming to Richmond in 1874, the Little Sisters have cared for more than 6,000 of Virginia’s elderly poor. Today, we offer independent living, assisted living, and nursing care. Regardless of ethnic background or religious affiliation, we welcome the elderly poor as members of our own family, and care for them until death. There are up to 72 Residents in St. Joseph’s Home and 24 Residents in the adjoining Jeanne Jugan Pavilion for Independent Living, which was added in 2002.

The Little Sisters and a devoted lay staff strive to provide the finest care and personal attention to the Residents’ physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. Each Resident is recognized as a valued member of society and is encouraged to remain as active as possible.

The Little Sisters are assisted by more than 50 volunteers who come regularly to help with the laundry, food service, housekeeping, transportation, bed making, parties, one-on- one visits, and other tasks. These acts of charity help reduce the Home’s operating expenses, while maintaining a high level of quality. Similarly, local merchants, who generously donate poultry, produce, bakery items, gasoline, auto repair, printing, and other goods and services, significantly impact the Home’s overall expenses and share in the joy of caring for the elderly poor.

The Little Sisters incur annual expenses of approximately $5.4 million to operate St. Joseph’s Home. Because of our faith in Divine Providence we do not maintain endowments to support our work. Following in the footsteps of Jeanne Jugan, we continue to go out into the community and bring the story of our work wherever we are welcomed. As a result, we receive approximately 60% of our operating funds each year from generous benefactors throughout Virginia and elsewhere.