St Francis Manor in Sacramento, CA

Pros

• Lili H., the assistant property manager, is helpful, kind, and caring.
• The staff are nice and supportive.
• Leslie, the social worker, is helpful.
• The building is clean and well-kept.
• The apartments are a good size.
• St. Francis Manor offers nice apartments with staff who care for and keep the building nice.
• The community is a very nice senior living option with great staff and great food.

Cons

• The manager is described as extremely rude and showing very little concern for tenants’ well-being.
• The bedbug infestation is addressed ineptly, leaving the residents homeless and losing everything.
• The complex is accused of becoming slumlords and taking advantage of elderly residents.
• The atmosphere is described as a nightmare and the building as dirty.
• The on-site social worker is not actually employed as a social worker and does not advocate for residents.
• Residents without family face safety concerns at the property.

Review

St Francis Manor is best suited for low- to moderate-income seniors who want a clean, well-kept independent-living option in midtown Sacramento, with accessible on-site staff and a welcoming community feel, and who can tolerate a significant wait for a bed. The combination of affordable, income-based housing, decent apartment sizes, and a location that puts amenities within easy reach makes it a compelling choice for residents who prioritize value, a sense of home, and ongoing resident support from a team that appears capable of handling day-to-day needs. This is not a luxury option, but for those who need to keep housing costs manageable while staying connected to city life, the appeal is meaningful. The caveat is that this community is not a quick move-in solution, and potential residents should plan for a wait that can stretch years, during which circumstances and perceptions of management may shift.

Alternatives should be considered by families whose top priorities include near-term occupancy, impeccable pest control history, or consistently proactive on-site leadership. If immediate placement is essential, or if the absence of lingering pest issues and steady, respectful management is non-negotiable, it may be prudent to look elsewhere. For seniors who require stronger assurance of ongoing pest prevention, or who want a facility with uniformly responsive administration and a track record of steady morale, other subsidized or privately paid options could offer greater predictability. In essence, this community fits best for buyers of time and budget who are willing to balance a good environment and helpful staff against the realities of a long wait and occasional leadership tensions.

The strongest positives here are tangible and meaningful. The building is described as clean and well kept, a basic but vital foundation for daily comfort. Apartments are noted to be a good size, enabling comfortable living and the possibility to host family when visits occur. Residents frequently highlight staff who are caring, approachable, and willing to help, with specific mentions of a few team members whose assistance makes a real difference during moves and everyday life. The midtown Sacramento setting adds convenience, and several reviews point to pleasant on-site amenities, plus attractive aesthetics and even positive remarks about the food. For residents who prize a homey, community-oriented atmosphere and value the support that attentive staff can provide, these factors offset several drawbacks, making the community feel like a solid, if imperfect, match.

The most serious concerns revolve around pest management and the quality of overall leadership consistency. Longstanding bedbug issues and a sense that infestation responses have been insufficient or poorly communicated recur in multiple accounts, creating real anxiety about safety and daily living. When resident morale appears to dip and descriptions shift toward “slum lords” or unprofessional leadership, it’s a red flag that cannot be ignored. The perception that a social worker role may be misrepresented or not consistently backed by formal authority compounds trust questions. These factors do not erase the positives, but they do tilt risk in favor of families who demand transparent, reliable problem-solving and a demonstrable track record of effective remediation. The bottom line is that pest and management reliability are the hinge points, tenants may tolerate other virtues if those issues are conclusively addressed.

Management experiences in the reviews are clearly variable, yet there is a thread of commendation for a few staff members who consistently show up for residents. When the team is described as helpful and kind, and when administration is responsive to move-in logistics or tenancy questions, the value rises sharply. However, the conflicting narratives, instances of rude behavior by a manager, concerns about ongoing pest treatment, and questions about the legitimacy of staff roles, signal a need for prospective residents to perform thorough, proactive due diligence. Before committing, it is wise to request current pest-control records, tour multiple units, and speak with several residents about day-to-day interactions with the management team. The reliability of service and the steadiness of leadership should not be assumed; they must be verified in the current climate.

In the decision-making calculus, this community offers a clear upside: affordability, decent apartment sizes, a clean environment, and a responsive, albeit uneven, staff. It serves well those who want stability within a budget and who value a friendly, social living environment alongside dependable basic services. The clear cautions are the most decisive: a history of bedbug issues that may recur, and management experiences that range from laudable to problematic. For families prioritizing immediate placement or a pest-free, consistently well-led setting, alternatives deserve serious consideration. For those who can wait, monitor the current leadership dynamics, and demand transparent remediation plans, St Francis Manor can deliver a satisfying, long-term home that aligns with practical housing goals in Sacramento.

This part of Sacramento, California, offers a diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to live in the area. There are several places of worship nearby, including St Francis of Assisi, providing spiritual support and community engagement. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians and hospitals within close proximity, such as the Sacramento Center For Hematology & Medical Oncology and Sutter Center for Psychiatry. Additionally, there are various cafes and restaurants offering a variety of dining options for socializing and enjoying meals with friends. Parks like McKinley Park and Sutter's Landing Dog Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisurely strolls. Pharmacies like CVS Pharmacy are conveniently located for medication needs, along with transportation options such as Amtrak Sacramento Valley Station for easy access to travel. Overall, this neighborhood offers a well-rounded lifestyle for seniors seeking comfort, convenience, and a sense of community in their daily lives.

Places of Worship

• St Francis of Assisi (0.1 miles)

Cafes

• Temple Coffee Roasters (0.3 miles)
• Temple Coffee (0.8 miles)
• Milka Coffee Roasters (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Temple (1.3 miles)
• Temple Coffee (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)

Physicians

• Sacramento Center For Hematology & Medical Oncology (0.3 miles)
• UC Davis Medical Group- Sacramento- Family Medicine & Pediatrics (0.6 miles)
• Lenaerts Marc Mercy Medical Group Md (0.7 miles)
• Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California (1 miles)
• McIlraith Thomas B MD Mercy General Hospital (1.1 miles)
• California Sleep Solutions (1.3 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Sports Medicine Center (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Del Taco (0.4 miles)
• LowBrau (0.4 miles)
• Mercantile Saloon (0.5 miles)
• OBO' Italian Table & Bar (0.6 miles)
• Zocalo Restaurant Midtown (0.6 miles)
• Mikuni Japanese Restaurant (0.7 miles)
• Midtown Spirits (0.8 miles)

Parks

• McKinley Park (0.6 miles)
• Sutter's Landing Dog Park (0.8 miles)
• Sutter's Landing Park (0.9 miles)
• Capitol Park (1 miles)
• Riverfront Promenade (1 miles)
• Kobe’s Bark Path (1.2 miles)
• Roosevelt Park (1.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Save Mart Supermarkets (2.2 miles)
• Kaiser Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak Sacramento Valley Station (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Sutter Center for Psychiatry (3.6 miles)