Archive for February, 2009
by robin on Friday, February 27th, 2009, Filed Under The Latest | Leave a Comment
On March 1, 2009 Union Rescue Mission will be holding their quarterly graduation ceremony for their Christian Life Discipleship Program participants.
This one year, residential, Christian Life Discipleship Program is the first phase to help broken men build positive new lives. Today, as many as 186 men are working hard to build new lives through the Mission’s year long Christian Life Discipleship Program. With a solid biblical foundation, we address the root causes of homelessness and offer lasting solutions.
Graduates have completed…
Work Therapy: 1,000 hours
Bible/Recovery Classes: 144 hours
Biblical 12-Step Program: 36 hours
Education and Vocational Training: 200 hours (at URM’s Bank of America Learning Center)
Physical Fitness: 200 hours
Devotions in Servant Leadership and URM Family Devotions: 72 hours
Sunday Church Attendance: 36 weeks
Individual Counseling: 18 hours
After the successful completion of twelve months in the CLDP residential program, men celebrate their graduation and begin the transition to independent living. The final phase of recovery is often the hardest. As graduates reach their goals, extensive support is provided to ensure the transition to independence is achieved with success.
CLDP Graduation Photos November 2008
by robin on Friday, February 27th, 2009, Filed Under General, The Latest | Leave a Comment
On February 26th, friends and family gathered to celebrate 9 graduates of the Women’s Ministry 2nd Step Program at Union Rescue Mission. The ceremony was a joyful time with worship and praise, special music by Tess Escoto, graduate testimonies, a keynote address by Dr. Paulett Melina, and special remarks by Union Rescue Mission’s CEO, Andy Bales. For completion of URM’s 2nd Step Program, graduates fulfilled the following requirements:
- 92 hours of Personal/Spiritual Development: weekly chapel attendance, Bible study, evening devotions twice a week, journaling, and creative writing.
- 38 hours of Life Skills: money management, goal setting, housing search and social skills.
- 28 hours of Healthy Relations: parenting, a series called Within My reach, and Boundaries.
- 22 hours of Health and Nutrition: women’s wellness hygiene, and nutrition.
- 110 hours of Educational/Vocational classes: computer literacy, math/reading skills, customer service skills resumes, and job applications.
- 52 hours of Physical Fitness
- Commitment to a savings plan.
Thanks to your prayers and support from wonderful friends like you, these women now have a second chance in life.
Here’s a brief testimony from one of the graduates
I ended up at the Union Rescue Mission because after losing my job I used the little money I had stay in an SRO. I got another retail job, but my money ran out the same week I was getting my first pay check so I needed a place to stay for a few nights. Then I learned of the 2nd Step Program. It took me a while to warm up because I’m not used to the social service environment. It’s been a big challenge for me to live with all these people. But from the first day to the last day everyone has been very kind, helpful, and comforting to me. I feel even more grateful today. The program has allowed me the ability to save some money. And now I am back in school pursuing my dream of a career in the creative arts/art therapy field.
–Demetria
Click here to browse pictures from the ceremony:
2nd Step Graduation Photos
by robin on Monday, February 23rd, 2009, Filed Under Rev Andy's Blog | 6 Comments
I am in my office, preparing to go on Union Rescue Mission’s yearly 2 day Senior Leadership Planning retreat. Normally a very exciting time, a chance to get away, cast a wonderful vision, bond as a team, enjoy a few meals out together. This year is very different, my wife and I are providing the venue, in order to be frugal, I am cooking most of the meals(we have a brave group), and our strategic sessions will be more about surviving this deep recession than casting a powerful vision.
I have to admit I am leaving with a lot of concern, and I say concern because many believe worry is a sin, and I don’t want to sin, but frankly I am worried. Our staff has responded well to wage freezes, a hiring freeze, stopping the employer match to their 401K’s, and even the knowledge that as of March 1st, our wages will be cut 5% across the organization, with some of us possibly reducing our wages by 10%. We’ve reduced costs in our warehouse by 66%, halted renovation and construction projects, and have tried to reduce costs in nearly every area, but with the economic news and recent trends in donations, I am afraid that we have not done enough. That, possibly not enough can be done.
Like many of our friends who have come to us homeless, this was not my plan. When I came to URM it was to be the pinnacle of my career of serving people who are struggling. I did not plan on the greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression happening on my watch!
Yesterday, I must admit, I was overwhelmed! Today, after a prayerful night, I know that we need to continue to step up to meet the needs of people coming to us. The number of families is up nearly 400% and climbing, our Chapel is beginning to fill with an overflow of desperate women and their children. They need us! People coming into our Mission looking for a meal is up nearly 40%, 900 a day! Somehow the Lord is providing because for the first time in our history we served 1 Million meals in 12 months with food purchases of only $300,000, a reminder of what Jesus can do with fishes and loaves and willing hearts.
I also realized last night in a prayerful night that I need to go directly to heads of Foundations and personally tell them our dilemma, and plead for help, as that is all I can do and must do.
I also must ask you personally for your help. I am troubled going to the well one more time, but for the sake of our guests, and the sake of Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center I must. Your giving in December was incredible! We were blessed in so many ways we could not have imagined, but that generosity and the growing bad news must have taken their toll because January’s giving was less than half what we projected, and February’s giving has decreased even more. We at Union Rescue Mission are facing events that I can’t even imagine; widespread layoffs, loss of services, closing of facilities, if this trend continues. The only power I have is to pray to our Lord, and to ask you personally to give what you can. I’d actually like to meet with you personally and talk to you if you would have time to meet with me and ask me questions to understand our circumstance. Please consider giving what you can today so that we can continue together to meet the needs of families with children losing their homes, hungry people needing a meal and an encouraging word. Please feel free to call me at 626-260-4761 or email me at abales@urm.org to schedule and opportunity to meet face to face. Thank you, for taking time to listen.
by mindy on Friday, February 13th, 2009, Filed Under General | Leave a Comment
Responsible for the accurate and efficient receiving and recording of all purchased merchandise and GIK donations, and distribution and/or short/long-term storage of same. This person will: Prepare and maintain daily logs of incoming product. Inventory product received against manifests, and resolve any discrepancies. Deliver items and/or coordinate delivery with warehouse. Data input of delivery information using the Platinum computer system. Inventory GIK donations against Donation Receipt, and resolve any discrepancies. Must be able to lift 50lbs and complete forklift operations. Must have forklift certification or able to obtain within 60 Days of employment. High School diploma required plus 2+ years progressively responsible, related experience, preferably non-profit accounting experience. Able to analyze complex data and develop innovative solutions; excellent planning, organizing, written, verbal and PC skills, particularly Excel and Word. Knowledge of Win PC Pay and ADP payroll systems preferred.
by Dan on Friday, February 13th, 2009, Filed Under Advocacy, In The News | Leave a Comment
Sue Doyle and Troy Anderson, Staff Writers for the Daily News, interview Union Rescue Mission’s CEO Andy Bales about the potential impact of the new state budget.
The California Budget Project estimated 234,400 children statewide could be dropped from the welfare rolls, including 75,380 in Los Angeles County. Additionally, in- home care services for 81,000 Californians, including 34,290 in the county, could be eliminated.
Andy Bales, president of the Union Rescue Mission, said the possibility that tens of thousands of children could be cut from the welfare rolls would only exacerbate the rapidly growing homeless problem in the county.
“We’re already facing a tsunami of homeless families,” Bales said.
“Our fourth floor is completely full of homeless families and we have begun to fill up our chapel with families sleeping in pup tent-like units.”
Click Here to read the article.
by robin on Thursday, February 12th, 2009, Filed Under General, hope gardens family center | 2 Comments
Hope Gardens Family Center, a ministry of Union Rescue Mission, is a transitional housing and residential facility in Sylmar, California that provides a safe environment, free of crime and full of hope so that moms and their children can get a fresh start. Through our comprehensive program, moms are able to transition from homelessness to independent living in 12-36 months. In addition to the family program, Hope Garden’s Sequoia Lodge supports up to 23 formerly homeless elderly women with permanent supportive housing.
2008 Report Back
A total of 56 families were served at Hope Gardens through 2008. Of those families, 26 have transitioned out. The majority of families who have transitioned from Hope Gardens (54%) have moved into permanent housing. Hope Gardens provided housing, meals, and services to an average of 27 moms, 52 children, and 23 seniors each day in 2008.
Please watch for our new web pages coming in March.
by monica on Thursday, February 12th, 2009, Filed Under The Latest | Leave a Comment
You are invited to participate in the Union Rescue Mission’s 3rd Annual Spring Golf Classic benefiting URM and Door of Hope. Once again, the day will be filled with excitement, fun contests, prizes, great food, and awesome people.
Golfers will compete on Monday, March 2, 2009, at the beautiful Mountain Gate Country Club. The tournament format will be a shamble. The top three finishing teams will win TaylorMade irons.
Whether you’ve been a longtime friend of Union Rescue Mission and/or Door of Hope, or this is your initial engagement, you’re sure to have a great time! Remember, the support you lend to our cause is not measured in dollars and cents, but in transformed lives.
Click here to register now!
Download the brochure here
by robin on Thursday, February 12th, 2009, Filed Under General, In The News, The Latest | Leave a Comment
Union Rescue Mission was featured in the February 10th NPR story regarding the impact of California’s State Budget crisis on LA’s homeless.
The State Controller has threatened to withhold payments to Counties until a budget deal is reached….The money is desperately needed…A year ago, the [LA County] department was serving 3,000 families. Now there are more than 7,000.
Union Rescue Mission CEO, Andy Bales says the staff at this homeless shelter has never seen anything like it. ’25% more individuals and over 300% more families than we saw last year. And we’re serving 40% more meals everyday. So any cut back in resources to us is going to be devastating.’ And yet that is exactly what is about to happen. Homeless shelters throughout the state offer programs like job training, welfare, and parolee assistance—all services funded by the state. But because legislatures can’t agree on a budget, the money for these services is now drying up.
Click here to listen to the Audio Interview
http://www.californiareport.org/archive.jsp
by Dan on Saturday, February 7th, 2009, Filed Under Additional Resources, In The News, The Latest | Leave a Comment
Dave Schechter, CNN Senior National Editor, interviewed Union Rescue Mission’s CEO Andy Bales about the work being done by the mission to assist the increasing number of individuals who are homeless.
Most of the families living at the Los Angeles shelter are homeless for the first time in their lives. They’re coming from everywhere around Southern California, an epicenter of the nation’s mortgage meltdown and foreclosure crisis.
“These are not people who have been in the cycle of poverty,” Bales tells me. They are working people who have lost jobs, who juggled expenses for food, utilities, clothing, health care and housing until they no longer could keep a roof over their heads.
As a result, the number families at the shelter is up 300 percent in a year and the number of individuals up 25 percent. The number of meals served is up 40 percent — to more than 1 million in a year.
Click here to read the article.
by robin on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009, Filed Under Rev Andy's Blog | Leave a Comment
It is hard for me to describe how proud I am of the URM team and the honor I feel in working alongside them. This year we have faced overwhelming odds. Our numbers of single guests are up significantly, at least 25%. Our number of meals served has grown from around 750,000 last year to an incredible number of more than 1,000,000 meals for the 1st time in URM 118 year history! We now have 59 families with 111 children at our downtown URM facility, with another 32 families and 62 children at URM’s Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar. We have already had an astounding 113 families in the first two months of our Winter Shelter Program compared to 35 families in the entire 3 ½ months of last year’s Winter Shelter Season. Yet our staff is not only holding up, but exceeding the need of people who are coming through our doors, desperate for help. Our staff has even adjusted to the new challenge of housing families in EDAR units (see http://EDAR.org) in our chapel, and we are expecting many more families to do so.
I am honored because our staff is doing this with less resources, less food donations, and during a time when the economy has forced us to freeze hiring, freeze wage increases and suspend the employer matching portion of their 401-K retirement plans. I’ve also had to alert them to a potential 5% pay cut across the board, and still they carry on with joy. Challenged to become a Hero of Hope this morning in our weekly Chapel service, more than a dozen employees immediately marched to the Human Resources office and signed up to have a donation automatically given to the Mission from their paychecks every payday in the future. All this, despite the possible impending wage cuts. I have to tell you, that I am amazed!
Partly amazed because I see many National, State, County, and City officials stunned, stymied, almost paralyzed by the gravity of the emergency situation as we face a Tsunami of families facing homelessness. I am thankful for URM and agencies and ministries stepping up to meet the need, and I am honored to be part of this team.
