The Downtown Cluster of Congregations and Social Agencies was organized by Austin Metropolitan Ministries (now the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries) in 1996 in an effort to join the interfaith voices in the downtown area as advocates for those who come to our doors needing help.  The Cluster has always included representatives of both congregations and social agencies.

Agencies

• ARCH/Front Steps
• Front Steps, based on the belief that all people deserve the dignity of a safe place to call home, seeks to end homelessness by providing shelter, affordable housing and community education.
• Austin Area Interreligious Ministries
• Austin Area Interreligious Ministries unites faith and cultural communities to foster respect, partnership and transformation in service of the common good.
• Caritas of Austin
• Caritas of Austin assists with basic needs in times of crisis and envisions a community of hope, respect and self-reliance.
• The Care Communities
• The Care Communities, formerly known as Interfaith Care Alliance, provides care team services through practical and compassionate support to those suffering from cancer and AIDS.
• Mobile Loaves and Fishes
• Salvation Army Austin
• The mission of the Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
• Stand Down Austin
• Travis County Health and Human Services
• Travis County Health and Human Services is committed to the vision of optimizing self-sufficiency for families and individuals in safe and healthy communities.
• Trinity Center
• Trinity Center is a faith-based organization, conducting programs that improve the spiritual, mental, and physical well-being of the poor and homeless in inner-city Austin.

Congregations

• Central Presbyterian Church
• Deliberately diverse and fully inclusive, Central Presbyterian Church of downtown Austin is community of Christian faith, where each person is welcomed as a unique child of God.
• First Baptist Church
• The First Baptist Church of Austin extends its mission across the city, giving its diverse and progressive membership meaningful opportunities for worship, friendship and ministry.
• St. David's Episcopal Church
• St. David's is a diverse worshipping community of believers, unified in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to receive and share God's love, hope, joy, vitality, and vision as we serve others.
• St. Martin's Lutheran Church
• St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral

During monthly meetings through the years, members have learned about and planned strategies for addressing the issues facing the downtown, particularly the needs of the homeless.  Over the years, members have raised their voices as one before City Council and other groups in advocating for affordable housing, living wage and a downtown shelter.  Volunteers, representing the congregations and agencies, have jointly participated in projects, such as Stand Down, an event that contributes to bettering the conditions of the homeless and working poor.  Congregations have pooled resources in order to assist the social agencies in meeting rental demands of the disabled and working poor.  Members of one congregations have packed sack lunches to be distributed from the food pantry of another congregation .