Learn More - Trinity Center | Walnut Creek

1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-4037
(925) 949-8712 Fax: (925) 949-8713
www.trinitycenterwc.org
July, 2016
Do you remember the song with the refrain, “summer time and the livin is easy?” Well, it is summer and the “livin” is
not easy for many in our community who live without shelter, or have temporary housing but not a home, and not
enough food to eat, or enough money for essential services.
Your donations continue to support our mission to be the doorway to opportunity for homeless and
working poor people. Your donations help provide basic safety net services, our member advocacy
program, and our winter evening shelter program. We want to thank you and give you an update on what
Trinity Center staff and volunteers are doing to meet the need in our community.
Yours in partnership,
Donna Colombo – Executive Director
Member Advocacy Report
In the last quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, we have placed 15 clients in housing, 10 clients found full-time
employment, and 5 clients secured part-time or seasonable employment. Achieving these numbers is a testament to the
effectiveness of Trinity Center’s focus on providing clients with dedicated Member
Advocates for case management and advocacy services.
In further evidence of the success of Trinity Center’s focus on advocacy, this year’s
Winter Overnight Shelter effected some impressive and surprising outcomes. Of
the 38 individuals who stayed in the shelter from December 2015 through March
2016, 24 clients engaged in intensive advocacy-driven case management. Of these
individuals, 20 (83%) found employment, seven (29%) were stably housed, 13
(54%) had mental health assessments, and all clients made medical appointments.
We did not expect that our services would lead three clients to reunite with family
members and four clients to connect with friends who offered housing. These outcomes give strong evidence that our
approach to service delivery works for our target population.
Winter Evening Shelter 2016 / 2017
June 27th we presented a proposal to the Walnut Creek Housing & Community Development Committee (”HCD”) for
Winter Shelter 2016-2017. The Committee provided a positive recommendation to the City Council to:
a. Enter into a 5-month license agreement with the State Military Department for the purpose of operating a
temporary homeless shelter at the Armory (Nov 12 – Mar 31); and
b. Enter into a management agreement with Trinity Center authorizing its application for a Conditional Use
Permit (CUP) and outlining its obligations with respect to the day-to-day oversight
and operation of the proposed shelter; and
c. Authorize that: 1) $60,000 of the City’s Affordable Housing Fund and
Housing Program Reserve fund be used to help fund the program; 2) that $20,000 of
the current year budget savings be used to help fund the program; and 3) that the
remaining $40,000 of requested funds be allocated from surplus/one-time nonhousing funds. The total cost for the five month shelter is estimated to be $170,000.
Trinity Center must raise the balance of funds.
City Council will vote on the recommendations on July 19th. Your support is
appreciated. Come to the City Council meeting on July 19 to speak in support, or send an email to [email protected].
Two informational meetings will be held for community input: July 13 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1924 Trinity Ave.,
WC at 7:00 pm and July 16 at Civic Park Social Hall, 1375 Civic Drive, WC at 2:30 pm.
We must raise an additional $50,000 that the winter shelter will cost and we will need a lot of volunteers to help with
providing meals. Sponsor a bed now for 1 person for 1 month: $200. Support our planned fundraisers that include a
discount card for local businesses, a fall wine tasting, sponsorships, online and year-end appeals. Please watch our
website for more information on these and other events. www.trinitycenterwc.org.
Trinity Center’s mission is to be
the doorway to opportunity for
homeless and working poor
people.
Around the Center in
Pictures
Volunteers
Our volunteers are very special! We cannot say enough about how grateful we are
and how much our members appreciate what they do for them. Some of the ways
they help: preparing and serving lunch Monday, Wednesday and Friday, serving
shifts in the clothing shed and food pantry, bag lunches for weekends, member
advocacy, fundraising, facility clean up and maintenance and so much more. If you
would like to volunteer, contact Carol Lombard, [email protected]. We are
actively recruiting for our Fund Development Committee and Winter Shelter.
Second Annual Gala
Celebrating Together
Everyone that attended agrees that our second Gala fundraising event at Boundary
Oak Golf Club in Walnut Creek on May 19th was a terrific event. Thank you to
Boundary Oak for their outstanding service, food and the view! Our Emcee, Elyce
Kirchner, NBC Bay Area News was fabulous and a special visit by Senator Steve
Glazer was exciting. Visit our website for more pictures.
www.trinitycenterwc.org/events. Funds raised at this event support our vital
member advocacy program and daily operations.
Youngest Donors
Housing Advocacy – Afforadable Housing
St. Paul’s Commons
Advocating for Members
Important Dates:
July 12 Fund Dev Meeting
July 13 Winter Shelter Meeting
July 16 Winter Shelter Meeting
July 19 City Council Vote
Aug 10 WC Task Force
Oct 8 St. Anselm’s Harvest
Fest
St. Paul’s Commons is the responsible collaboration of a church, a developer, our
city, and the transit agency to complete our community’s pedestrian network and
improve pedestrian and bike safety. It has the added benefit of stabilizing the lives
of the Trinity Center clients and St. Paul’s Commons residents. Low-income workers,
retirees, and disabled residents who will live at St. Paul’s Commons will be able to
use active transportation – biking and walking – to meet their shopping, education,
recreation, and health care needs. Redeveloping St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s
deteriorating Trinity Center facilities provides not only healthy, durable space for the
homeless services center, but also affordable housing near downtown Walnut Creek.
It is important to note that this is a neighborhood where older market rate rental
housing that low-income residents were able to afford has been torn down to make
way for luxury apartments and condos. St. Paul’s Commons reintroduces economic
diversity in this area.
Visit our website to learn more.
http://trinitycenterwc.org/community-center-affordable-housing-update/
Walnut Creek Community Task Force on Homelessness
 Winter Shelter: Sponsor a bed
 Use www.smile.amazon.com
for Amazon purchases for 5% of
purchase donation
 Donate appreciated stock (call for
information)
 Visit our website for more easy
ways to donate:
www.trinitycenterwc.org
Thank You!
Join us! Our task force meets monthly to identify and work on creative solutions to
concerns regarding homelessness. Issues under discussion are 1) mobile showers
and toilets, 2) a permanent winter shelter, 3) free storage lockers. The meeting
schedule is: August 10, September 14 and October 12 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church. All are welcome.
Trinity Center Walnut Creek is a nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Tax ID 37-1706813.
1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-4037
(925) 949-8712 Fax: (925) 949-8713
www.trinitycenterwc.org
Staff & Board of Directors
Staff: Kevin Sugrue, Tommy Edwards, Chanel Gilbert, Donna Colombo, Juliana Pooley, Natalie Sterne, Carol Lombard,
Jessie Jones,
Welcome new Board Members Rev. Jeff Dodge and Mark Johanson!
Board: Andrew Mekjavich, Donna Colombo, Helen Greenwood, Jerry Kaplan, Dave Stewart, Leslie Dawson, Ken White,
Mary Fenelon, Susan Alker. Rev. Jeff and Mark Johanson (not pictured).