Communities Under the Bridge and Church Under the Bridge

Communities Under the Bridge is a ministry with a twofold vision: 1) to provide a safe place for churches, organizations, non-profits, and individuals to come and serve those in need (a local mission field or hub for community service) and 2) as a place where the homeless and those in need can come for church, spiritual growth, food, clothing, and referral to longer-term social services. Community teams hosts church, worship, prayer, bible study, meals 7 nights a week, clothing, medical and dental clinics, veterinary clinics, emergency winter shelter, and more. Our vision this year is to build a new facility that will house a laundromat, showers, and a barbershop on property that was graciously donated to CUB. Our goal is to help restore dignity and hope in the unhoused to catapult them to decisions to move forward and seek restorative services. Our goal is to help them RESET (Reset Everyone who desires to Secure Eternity through Transformation)

Who We Are

Communities Under the Bridge is a ministry with a twofold vision: 1) to provide a safe place for churches, organizations, non-profits, and individuals to come and serve those in need (a local mission field or hub for community service) and 2) as a place where the homeless and those in need can come for church, spiritual growth, food, clothing, and referral to longer-term social services. Community teams hosts church, worship, prayer, bible study, meals 7 nights a week, clothing, medical and dental clinics, veterinary clinics, emergency winter shelter, and more.

Church Under the Bridge began in the Spring of 1997 as the name suggests, under the overpass bridge at US Highway 281 adjacent to the old Pearl Brewery near Broadway Street. For years, individuals with a true heart for the homeless would bring the Gospel message of hope and salvation in this setting and with a simple camp stove from the back of a van, would prepare and serve a meal, and minister one-on-one to the needs of those attending. In 2005, three benefactors united, purchased the land, and built a church with a large commercial kitchen, dining room, clothing lockers, and backyard picnic area. The new church opened in November 2011.

In February 2020, the board of directors began a strategic review and realized CUB had become a community-led organization in many parts of the program. With needs and services multiplying during the pandemic which began the month after the planning began, the direction of the ministry took shape as we responded to the needs of the unsheltered homeless individuals in San Antonio. In January 2021, we began a transition to a community-based program where we steward the delivery of spiritual and practical responses by the larger family of God to those who need them most.

During the pandemic in 2020, we served more than 55,000 meals to the hungry, provided over 2,000 bags with changes of clothing, thousands of hygiene products, sleeping bags, cold weather gear, and other items as needed. In 2021, we have continued provided the same support 7 days a week but have included or reestablished medical, dental, and veterinarian services, emergency winter shelter, and opened many new volunteer opportunities for additional community involvement.

All of your donation dollars go back into sustaining programs currently offered and toward our vision of providing expanded services to facilitate changed lives and support the community goal of ending homelessness in San Antonio.