FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Final Step Marks Completion of St. Paul’s Commons
Five-year vision comes to fruition
June 24, 2020 (Walnut Creek, CA) May 15 was cause for celebration on the campus of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walnut Creek. On this date, Trinity Center, a non-denominational non-profit serving the homeless and working poor, moved into their new space at St. Paul’s Commons. This move marked the final step in a five-year vision by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to transform their next-door property into a mixed-use, transit-oriented development with community-serving spaces.
The culmination of an innovative public/private/faith community partnership, St. Paul’s Commons consists of 44 affordable housing apartments, occupied just days before the shelter in place mandate, and is owned and managed by Resources for Community Development (RCD) and the John Stewart Company (JSCo). Trinity Center resides on the ground floor, as does meeting space that is available for other parish and non-profit community activities. St. Paul’s Commons not only supports the Church’s outreach ministries but was methodically designed to aesthetically fit into and enhance the Church campus as well as the surrounding neighborhood. Even campus signage and courtyard benches were crafted out of repurposed wood from trees that once grew on the lot.
The partnership between St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Trinity Center was sparked when a former homeless services agency retired and St Paul’s came to its aid. Parishioner Donna Colombo stepped up to lead that work on behalf of St Paul’s and in 2013, founded Trinity Center as a separate non-profit organization. Under her leadership, the recently retired executive director propelled Trinity Center from humble beginnings to one of the East Bay’s most influential service providers, serving more than 850 people and providing over 55,000 services each year. Among a few of the services offered are hot meals, shower and laundry facilities, counseling, assistance with health, housing, employment, and more.
With Trinity Center now in place and the apartments at full occupancy, St. Paul’s Commons has come full circle from vision to reality, serving those who need a helping hand. To learn more about St. Paul’s Commons, please visit stpaulswc.org/st-pauls-commons.
About St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Established in 1887, St. Paul’s is an Episcopal parish church of nearly 300 members in Walnut Creek, CA, in the Diocese of California. We are members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, part of the third largest group of Christians in the world. We follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and have a legacy of inclusion, sharing God’s love for every human being, regardless of sexual identity or orientation. We are a parish of diverse viewpoints, bound by a common and unshakeable commitment to serving God through service to others. One such ministry is St. Paul’s Commons, a new complex (est. 2020) on our campus that offers affordable permanent housing, community meeting spaces, and day services, provided by Trinity Center, for our homeless neighbors. To learn more, call (925) 934-2324 or visit stpaulswc.org.
About Trinity Center
Trinity Center is a non-residential program serving homeless and working poor adult men and women in Walnut Creek and Central Contra Costa County, offering a safety net of basic human services including food, breakfast and lunch; showers and laundry; mail and telephone access; clothing; referral services; and help with benefit applications. Trinity Center is an opportunity for community and a safe place for people who are homeless and those experiencing poverty. To learn more or donate, visit trinitycenterwc.org.
About Resources for Community Development (RCD)
RCD develops housing that creates community assets, enhances surrounding neighborhoods, and provides housing and amenities that improve the quality of living for residents. Since 1984, RCD has developed nearly 2,400 affordable housing units that serve 4,860 residents in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. With a pipeline of 845 new units, RCD continues to develop in the East Bay and is developing new properties into Marin and Santa Clara Counties to help meet the regional need for affordable housing. In addition to housing development, RCD provides programming in resident services and community development, as well as asset management. RCD’s mission is to create and preserve affordable housing for those with the fewest options, to build community and enrich lives. To learn more, visit rcdhousing.org.
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Contact
Eileen Mitchell, Chief of Staff
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1924 Trinity Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94583
(925) 934-2324 | [email protected]
