Members of the Downtown Cluster have joined together to improve the quality of life among the poor, the addicted, the mentally ill, the abused and the homeless who are our downtown neighbors.

Our Vision

The Downtown Cluster meets each month

• to gain and share information,
• to identify problems,
• to plan and implement steps that address those problems, and
• to support one another as members of faith-based organizations.

Our Goals

Coordinate Available Services

• Monitor the resources available to the homeless and/or the working poor in the downtown area
• Make sure that information about such resources is current and readily available to member organizations and to those in need.
• Reduce duplication of services wherever possible.
• Work to fill the gaps in services.

Advocate For Social Services

• Attend community meetings that often discuss and make decisions concerning the homeless and/or working poor in the downtown Austin.
• Present to the Cluster information about social justice issues and recommend action steps.
• Speak with one voice in the community when decisions are being made that involve the downtown homeless and/or the working poor.

Involve Downtown Congregations

• Organize volunteers for projects related to bettering conditions for the homeless and working poor.
• Be responsible for gathering information for the Cluster website.
• Continue to develop ways that congregations and agencies can work as an interfaith team.
• Raise consciousness of the mission of the cluster within each individual congregation.