New Chapter for Trinity Ave. Homeless Program

Homeless services will continue on Trinity Avenue on Nov. 1 with a change of management.

The Fresh Start program will be called Trinity Center.

A unanimous vote by the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church Tuesday night means "there will be no interruption in services," wrote the Rev. Sylvia Vasquez of St. Paul's in an email.

The Vestry is grateful to for Trinity Center, Vasquez said.

The motion passed by the Vestry reads: "Having determined that the goals of the Trinity Center Project are within the mission of St Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Vestry resolves to legally and fiscally sponsor the project, and establish a restricted account to receive and disburse funds solely for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of the St Paul’s Trinity Center Project.  Trinity Center Project is expected to apply for and achieve its own tax exempt status within the year to stand on its own with St Paul’s Sponsorship."

Fresh Start, staffed by volunteers including some homeless people, has been open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, offering a living room atmosphere, showers and laundry, a food pantry, financial support and motel vouchers.

Fresh Start has been led for years by unpaid administrators Bill and Robin Lunghi, who informed St. Paul's a couple of months ago that they would "re-retire" Tuesday, Oct. 30, to "enjoy a good measure of rest and relaxation and to spend time with our children and grandchildren."

Lunghi shared an email noting that Fresh Start would donate office equipment, a washer and a dryer to the Trinity Center. Fresh Start had been using two sheds for food and clothing on the property next to the church, used as part of a facilities usage agreement with the church.

Donations can be sent to St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 1924 Trinity Ave., Walnut Creek, CA, 94596. Please put Trinity Center in the memo. A restricted account has been established to ensure that all donations are used only for Trinity Center, Vasquez said.