A lot of places that provide direct services for people experiencing homelessness scaled back or closed down due to COVID-19. The Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center picked up the slack.

Effective Compassion explores what’s really working in the fight against poverty and how thinking biblically aids in the restoration of human dignity. This seasonal program is made for people who want to elicit real change because they know true hope.

Chris Baker speaks with Pastor Mark Hilbelink, the Lead Pastor at Sunrise Community Church and the Director of the Sunrise Navigation Center. In this episode, Chris and Mark examine the trials, tribulations and the opportunities of providing social services in this most trying of times.

Resources such as food, shelter or a shower are limited for people experiencing homelessness in Southwest Austin. As a result, homeless individuals are flocking to camps created on undeveloped land where they can sleep and live without being confronted by authorities, police say. Joshua Visi, an Austin Police Department liaison who represents the portion of Southwest Austin between Hwy. 290 and Brodie Lane, said most homeless individuals choose to stray from the downtown area to avoid drugs and crime.

In this episode, Cassie talks with Mark Hilbelink, Emily Grace, and Michelle Thompson of Sunrise Church in south Austin, “the weirdest little church in Texas.”

As we take the off-ramp of US-290 West, I am shocked to see groups of homeless individuals huddled in the darkness beneath the overpasses. A short block later, on the right, more groups of men and women are gathered on a patio around some picnic tables. A sign on the lawn reads, “Hot diggity. You’ve made it to the Weirdest Little Church in Texas.”

At the suggestion of a colleague (thanks, Kathryn), I stopped by the Sunrise Community Church, that calls itself as the Weirdest Little Church in Texas. There was a buzz of activity with many people milling about the outdoor picnic tables. I bumped into Pastor Mark who happily offered to introduce me to the ministry and give me a tour.

You may see them on your way to work, or in parks: homeless people panhandling or sleeping under overpasses. Residents in a South Austin neighborhood say they’re concerned the problem is getting worse in their backyards, specifically the Ben White corridor. While Austin police say they believe the problem has improved over the years, some neighbors say more work needs to be done.