Andre House of Arizona became more than a concept on November 1, 1984, when two Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame University rented a house in a working-class neighborhood in Phoenix. They came to live in the community and serve in the tradition of the Congregation of Holy Cross and the Catholic Worker Movement. Their mission was to respond to the basic needs of the poor while encouraging others to do the same. On November 29, 1984, the first guest was welcomed into their house, beginning a long tenure of hospitality.

On Christmas night, 1984, Andre House and a community of volunteers made a thick turkey stew from donated food and served it at a nearby city shelter. The recipients were deeply appreciative and the volunteers enthusiastic. From this humble beginning, the food-line developed: serving one night a week, then two, then three…  Volunteers and donations increased and the evening meal is now offered six nights a week, serving on average 600 plates per night.

Other services sprang up in response to the needs of the guests, including: a house in which to welcome homeless women (January 1987), emergency foodbox distribution to the neighbors, free clothing distribution, and education and recreation programs for the neighborhood children.

From its modest beginnings in 1984, Andre House has grown to be a significant provider of basic and transitional services in Phoenix.  Despite its size, it has not lost the hospitality which is its essence.  Throughout Phoenix, Andre House is recognized as a place where faith and service meet, where generosity is discovered and praised, and where the Body of Christ both serves and is served.