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By Matthew Heyd

Trinity’s history of homeless outreach has distinct chapters. There have been mission houses on Fulton Street, a drop-in center in John Heuss House, and a shelter at St. Paul’s Chapel. Each chapter has had different support and funding models, and different levels of congregational involvement.

In the current chapter, Trinity has had strong discernment to gather into our community those most in need, rather than engage solely in traditional models of social outreach. What we are trying to grow is direct discipleship, in which homeless persons are not seen as apart from the parish, and a group of people whom agencies support, but flesh and blood people next to you in the pews, alongside you on mission trips.

At the same time, we also support the Bowery Residents Committee as they work on what they are best at: successful housing placements. And we do what we are best at: through our Brown Bag lunch and Charlotte’s Place hospitality, we are inviting everyone in, because we believe that the homeless need more than shelter; they need fellowship, beauty, art, and community. Don’t we all?

The Rev. Matthew Heyd is Director of Faith in Action.