Extreme Heat, Real People, and the Power of Showing Up

“I never thought I’d be in this situation,” James told us, reflecting on how quickly life changed. It’s a phrase many of us could say—but for James and so many of our neighbors, it became all too real.

James grew up in San Marcos. He had a job, friends, and loving parents who always had his back. Life was stable—until it wasn’t. When his parents fell seriously ill, James gave up everything—his job, his relationship, his home in another city—to care for them. Ten days. That’s how quickly his world changed. He lost both parents within ten days of each other. And in their absence, he was left not only with heartbreak, but also with their home, debts, and no safety net.

The weight of grief, bills, and unemployment began to close in. Eventually, he lost the house—and with it, his footing in the world. Suddenly, James found himself living on the streets, navigating fear, isolation, and the daily struggle for survival. The harm these situations cause to a person’s mental health is often not emphasized enough—and how easily one can slip into drug abuse as a result. That’s what happened to James.

In May, James walked into Trinity Center for help with ID assistance. He found more than just paperwork support—he found people who saw him, who welcomed him.

Since then, James has become a part of our community. He receives his mail here, picks up clean clothes, and watches movies with popcorn and lemonade on Fridays, and comes on Sundays for a worship service. He told us that taking communion has helped him stay grounded and resist falling back into addiction. “It’s helped me stay focused,” he said. “It’s helped me feel a little like myself again.”

When we launched our Cooling Center in July—with extended hours, showers, meals, air conditioning, and more—James became one of our most frequent visitors. Every afternoon, he gets to shower and get fresh clothes, and enjoy a safe place to sit, relax, watch TV and just be. He recently started playing basketball in the gym with other neighbors, something that’s brought both movement and joy into his days.

With our extended hours, case management has become more accessible—and James is now working one-on-one with our team to retrieve his documents, become eligible for work again, and ultimately reconnect with the life he lost.

'I just want to feel normal again, go back to work, and get in touch with the people I care about—the ones I pushed away during these years,' he told us. 'I want to feel happy again.'"

James is one of many in the unhoused community downtown who just need a little push—a bit of help to regain hope. And we’re grateful to be able to offer that.

The Cooling Center is so much more than cold water and air conditioning—it’s about reminding our neighbors that they’re not alone, that being safe from extreme weather shouldn’t be a privilege, and that they are human, with rights and dignity, just like everyone else.

Stories like James’s—about regaining hope and access to basic needs once taken for granted—are only possible thanks to contributions from YOU, our supporters, who believe so wholeheartedly in our mission and in the work we do.

Together, we’re not just meeting basic needs—we’re reminding people they matter. Help us keep going—for James, and for the many others still waiting for that small but powerful push toward a better tomorrow.

DONATE TODAY!