Downtown Capstone Team

Abstract

The downtown capstone team project is an attempt to understand and formu late a plan to address some of the needs of residents in downtown Detroit in close proximity of St. Aloysius church and specifically related to the closure of the church’s community outreach center. The capstone students were approached by Deacon Don Leach of the church to do a needs - assessment and assist the church in finding new ways to fill the void created by losing their community center. The center was more than just a place to meet for the residents. The community center provided socialization for the residents, and it also provided food, clothing, counseling, healthcare, and other essential needs for the surrounding community. The center predominantly serviced the senior and homeless populations in the surrounding community. It was located on Washington Boulevard directly across the street from St. Aloysius Church and was staffed by the church with volunteers from both inside and outside of the community. Since the closure of the center, there has been a decrease in homeless persons in the community and the church has been searching for alternative delivery methods for providing their social services to the remaining homeless persons and elderly (Leach , Interview )