Mission Kicks Off Capital Campaign
By Janet Phelps (Eagle Staff Writer)
What would you do if you found yourself without work, without money, without family or friends, without options?
That's what Twin City Mission Chief Executive Doug Weedon asked the crowd gathered Tuesday for the nonprofit agency's capital campaign kickoff.
Homelessness isn't a choice, Weedon told the crowd.
"It could happen to any of us."
April Haywood knows it's true.
The 28-year-old and her three children have been living for more than a month at The Bridge, Twin City Mission's residential shelter for homeless men, women and children.
When Hayward quit her job and couldn't find work, she knew it was only a matter of time before her family ended up at the shelter.
So she moved out of her Bryan apartment and into The Bridge while they still had some money left to make a fresh start.
She and her children, ages 6, 4 and 3, share two bunk beds in a tiny room at the shelter.
This is the first time, Hayward said, that she hasn't had a place to live, and she's grateful the shelter is there to help.
"[Living at The Bridge] is not bad because it's somewhere," she said Tuesday.
Hayward is among the many people who seek housing each day at Bryan-College Station's only homeless shelter. But the shelter will soon be closing the doors on its downtown Bryan location and is raising money for another facility.
The city of Bryan recently purchased the land at the northern end of downtown Bryan occupied by Twin City Mission's homeless shelter, community cafe and some offices.
Twin City Mission is seeking to raise $5.5 million to build a new homeless shelter.
But the move is a good thing for the agency, Weedon said after the capital campaign kickoff event ended Tuesday afternoon. The Bridge has been at its current location for more than 44 years and desperately needs more space.
The new facility, which is being planned on 16.3 acres purchased by the agency in 2007, will increase the mission's capacity from 64 to 127 beds. In 2007, The Bridge provided shelter for 1,036 men, women and children.
The planned site, which is about 10 blocks from its current location, will also provide privacy for residents, who often sit outside the facility along Main Street during the day.
Both Weedon and agency spokesman Ron Crozier said it's demoralizing for residents to have people staring at them all day.
"This gives them the opportunity to not be a sideshow," Crozier said.
Twin City Mission has raised $2,690,109, and Weedon said he was confident that shelter officials will reach their goal.
"It's going to work out," Weedon said. "We wouldn't have gotten this far if this wasn't meant to be."
Crozier said the homeless shelter has to be out of the downtown location by June 1, 2009. A groundbreaking on the new property is set for next month.
In the meantime, between 78 and 90 people per night will continue sleeping at The Bridge, and many more will be eating at the cafe and meeting with case managers.
Hayward said her family won't be doing so much longer. She worries about her kids, about her things getting stolen while she's not at the shelter and about making ends meet.
But one thing Hayward said she isn't concerned about is getting back on her feet again.
"I'm not worried," she said. "I know I can do it. I'm just at that spot right now. It'll be all right."
Published Wednesday, June 04, 2008
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