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New Center Serves the Homeless
In the shadow of
downtown Austin’s skyscrapers, a new three-story white stone building
occupies the corner of Trinity and 7th Street. Nestled
against historic St. David’s Episcopal Church, the new parish hall
includes offices, kitchens, a preschool, meeting rooms and worship space
for youth and adults. The ground floor – 3500 square feet –
houses Trinity Center, a ministry to the homeless.
During the 1960’s,
when many downtown congregations were moving to the suburbs, the people of
St. David’s made a commitment to remain in the inner city and provide a
spiritual home to an increasingly diverse population. As part of
that vision, the church determined to provide not only spiritual, but also
physical and emotional support to the individuals and families who were
hungry or homeless.
From that commitment
grew the Trinity Streets mission, which hosted worship services and
provided meals and small grants to about 120 homeless parishioners every
week.
Trinity Streets
operated in space provided by other nearby agencies such as the Salvation
Army and Caritas, coordinating with them to avoid duplication of services.
The vision expanded
in 1995, when Board Chairman Doug Bell attended a Diocesan Conference in
Houston, and was inspired by that city’s Lord of the Streets program.
In 2000, Trinity Center was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3)
corporation.
St. David’s has
donated the space for Trinity Center. Half of a $100,000 bequest
from the estate of the late Barbara Jordan has been used to begin the
interior build-out, and the remaining $50,000 will support operation of
the program.
Through services
donated by Coleman and Associates, new grants will enable Trinity Center
to serve many more clients and expand its services. Plans for the
future include a medical referral clinic, and expanded recreational and
educational programs.
Trinity Center is
staffed by volunteers. A part-time chaplain, Kern Huff, conducts
worship services and provides pastoral counseling. The congregation
includes men, women, and families. Some of them have work, but all
live in extreme poverty.
Both volunteers and
clients say Trinity Center has enriched their lives. There is a
strong spirit of community. Huff has conducted several baptisms and
blessed a marriage.
Doug Bell says,
“The greatest satisfaction I get from Trinity Center is meeting our
neighbors face-to-face. Sometimes their stories are very sad, but
sometimes they are joyful. I often meet people who are just happy to
be alive. They have daily struggles just like us. They have hopes
and dreams just like us. They get discouraged just like us.
Their faith sustains them just like us. We accept them for who they are,
and we make them feel welcome. That is our mission in downtown
Austin.”
By Jillian Coleman Wheeler
2008 (c) Live Oak Tree, LLC
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