Mobile mission

Effective Compassion: Connecting the homeless to physical and spiritual lifelines | Mark Bergin

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — A 3-acre plot of land across the railroad tracks from this bustling suburb's downtown is stirring churches, businesses, and local government leaders. Scheduled to begin this fall: construction on that land of buildings with 30,000 square feet for training and rehabilitation, along with shelters containing 158 beds for homeless men, women, and children.

The Bridge to Life Center's 10-building design includes family housing units, a day-care center, men's transitional living quarters, a dining hall, education facilities, playing fields, and a 200-seat chapel. The center is a long-held dream of entrepreneurial minister Ron Marlette, but by 2008 he should finally be able to trade in his itinerant rescue mission for a stable residence for the addicts and low-income families he hopes to assist.