where God's love
changes lives
changes lives
Community involvement is vital for the continuing operation of Austin Street Centre. Here you, the donor, decide which services you would like to support.
Approximately ten percent of all the people in the United States live below the poverty line. And a full ten percent of those will spend some time in the next year on the street. This means that approximately one percent of the population of the U.S. - about 3 million people - will be homeless in any given year. This is not insignificant. This is a huge mass of population.
Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources don't cover basic necessities, like housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets.
While the last few years have seen an increase in minimum wages, these increases have not been enough to counteract a long pattern of stagnant and declining wages.
Declining wages, in turn, have put housing out of reach for many workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.
The growth of homelessness has far exceeded the capacity of charitable groups. Government institutions are stuck in running study after study, trying to solve homelessness, while financial resources are wasted on programs without archiving results.
Contrary to popular opinion, welfare does not provide relief from poverty. Current Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits and Food Stamps combined are below the poverty level in every state; in fact, the current maximum TANF benefit for a single mother of two children is 29% of the federal poverty level.
Homelessness is a societal problem that requires whole communities to be involved on multiple levels.
Approximately ten percent of all the people in the United States live below the poverty line. And a full ten percent of those will spend some time in the next year on the street. This means that approximately one percent of the population of the U.S. - about 3 million people - will be homeless in any given year. This is not insignificant. This is a huge mass of population.
Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources don't cover basic necessities, like housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets.
While the last few years have seen an increase in minimum wages, these increases have not been enough to counteract a long pattern of stagnant and declining wages.
Declining wages, in turn, have put housing out of reach for many workers: in every state, more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.
The growth of homelessness has far exceeded the capacity of charitable groups. Government institutions are stuck in running study after study, trying to solve homelessness, while financial resources are wasted on programs without archiving results.
Contrary to popular opinion, welfare does not provide relief from poverty. Current Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits and Food Stamps combined are below the poverty level in every state; in fact, the current maximum TANF benefit for a single mother of two children is 29% of the federal poverty level.
Homelessness is a societal problem that requires whole communities to be involved on multiple levels.
25% of our residents have full-time employment, working in area restaurants, hotels, theaters, manufacturing plants, construction companies, and business offices. These individuals are here because of a personal catastrophe in their lives that caused them to lose their homes. We are helping them get back on their feet. You can help by donating to the programs they attend.
Our clients suffering from mental illnesses receive special care and participate in unique programs designed just for them, under the supervision of our psychiatric nurse. We have witnessed many miracles since we began this program in 1986, as these clients have "come out of their shells" and are integrating back into the social community here. Please help defray the cost of the mental health clubhouse model.
Rev. Bubba and Father Harry conduct services four times each week in Austin Street Chapel, and you are invited to come worship with us. Services are 9:30 AM Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday service is at 10:00 AM.
Many of our clients perform the tasks that keep Austin Street Centre functioning. These include cleaning the cots each day, working in the kitchen, doing the laundry, cleaning offices, and trimming shrubs and planting flowers. It also involves answering phones, processing client check-in, handling building maintenance and providing overall security. Please donate to the work readiness program.
60 percent of our clients who are not employed full time, or who do not participate in the work program here, get at least three days of paid work per week from temporary services. Please donate to the shelter's operation fund.
Our utility bills (heating, cooling, water) average $18,500 per month. Help keep the utilities paid.
Our clients are men, women, children, mentally ill, and the elderly. For many Austin Street Centre provides a save place to stay during the day, giving the sick time to recuperate, for children to do their homework and play on our playground, mothers to spend quality time with their children. During extreme weather conditions the general populations stays indoors all day. Please donate to help these individuals.
Our clients suffering from mental illnesses receive special care and participate in unique programs designed just for them, under the supervision of our psychiatric nurse. We have witnessed many miracles since we began this program in 1986, as these clients have "come out of their shells" and are integrating back into the social community here. Please help defray the cost of the mental health clubhouse model.
Rev. Bubba and Father Harry conduct services four times each week in Austin Street Chapel, and you are invited to come worship with us. Services are 9:30 AM Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday service is at 10:00 AM.
Many of our clients perform the tasks that keep Austin Street Centre functioning. These include cleaning the cots each day, working in the kitchen, doing the laundry, cleaning offices, and trimming shrubs and planting flowers. It also involves answering phones, processing client check-in, handling building maintenance and providing overall security. Please donate to the work readiness program.
60 percent of our clients who are not employed full time, or who do not participate in the work program here, get at least three days of paid work per week from temporary services. Please donate to the shelter's operation fund.
Our utility bills (heating, cooling, water) average $18,500 per month. Help keep the utilities paid.
Our clients are men, women, children, mentally ill, and the elderly. For many Austin Street Centre provides a save place to stay during the day, giving the sick time to recuperate, for children to do their homework and play on our playground, mothers to spend quality time with their children. During extreme weather conditions the general populations stays indoors all day. Please donate to help these individuals.
Our needs year around:
Toilet Paper
Lysol Spray
General purpose cleaner
Kleenex
Hand Sanitizers
Disposable razors
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Disposable plates, cups
Disposable knifes, spoons,
forks
Socks
Back packs
Blankets
Canned Foods
Tylenol, Aspirin, Benadryl
Office supplies
For the cold season:
Coats
Jackets
Hats
Gloves
Earmuffs
Sweatpants
Sweatshirts
Cold Medications
Cough Drops
Throat Lozenges
During the holiday season:
Frozen Turkeys
Canned Hams
New, unwrapped toys for our children
Toilet Paper
Lysol Spray
General purpose cleaner
Kleenex
Hand Sanitizers
Disposable razors
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Disposable plates, cups
Disposable knifes, spoons,
forks
Socks
Back packs
Blankets
Canned Foods
Tylenol, Aspirin, Benadryl
Office supplies
For the cold season:
Coats
Jackets
Hats
Gloves
Earmuffs
Sweatpants
Sweatshirts
Cold Medications
Cough Drops
Throat Lozenges
During the holiday season:
Frozen Turkeys
Canned Hams
New, unwrapped toys for our children
If you would like to help with any of these items, please contact
Father Harry Dailey
214.428.4242 ext 202,
send a gift card for Sam's, Target or Walmart to
Austin Street Centre
Att.: Supplies
P.O. Box 710729
Dallas, TX 75371-0729
or make a donation here
Father Harry Dailey
214.428.4242 ext 202,
send a gift card for Sam's, Target or Walmart to
Austin Street Centre
Att.: Supplies
P.O. Box 710729
Dallas, TX 75371-0729
or make a donation here
"For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, "You should open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and the poor..."
Deuteronomy 15: 11
Deuteronomy 15: 11
© 2006-2010 Austin Street Centre, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
Austin Street Centre - 2929 Hickory Street - Dallas, TX 75226
