Archive for July, 2009
by Rev. Andy on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009, Filed Under Rev Andy's Blog | 2 Comments
In 2009 at Union Rescue Mission downtown we served an average of 389 additional meals per day, a 15% increase from 2008! We housed an additional 175 individuals per night, a 26% increase. At our downtown facility we housed an additional 21 families per night, a 126% increase, and we housed an average of 13 additional single moms per night, a 76% increase. Of all the parents with kids at URM, including single moms, single dads, and married couples, we saw a 154% increase. The number of children increased by 160%, an average 40 additional kids per night. The number of guest men was up 5% over last year, and guest women up 9%.
At our Hope Gardens Family Center facility in Sylmar, we had a 37% increase in the number of families (average 8 additional moms per night) and a 32 % increase in the number of precious children (average 14 additional kids per night) from 2008.
The numbers and increases are incredible, but the picture of the many families living in tent like structures, called EDARS, in our chapel, community rooms, and conference rooms is an even more amazing sight to behold. The volume of people who get in line for one of our 9 meals per day is also staggering.
More striking however, are the life transformations that happen here every day. 14 of our 5th Floor Project Restart families (two-parent and single dad families), many who were homeless for the first time in their lives, have now moved back out into society. They have overcome the trauma of homelessness, saved their money, many found employment, and are now in a place of there own again.
In the last year, 66 men have graduated from our 1 year, intensive Christian Life Discipleship Program. Of those 66 who worked hard to transform their lives, 46 (70%) are still doing well—active and sober; many are in school, job training, or have a job. This is the greatest percentage of success that we have experienced in this program, which is remarkable considering most recovery programs have only about a 10% success rate. It might be hard to find 46 out of any 66 “average Joe’s” or even men in a church who have not slipped up. This is true transformation.
I heard an encouraging story yesterday about one of our young ladies at Hope Garden Family Center. An experienced business professional contacted HG some time ago and asked if he could design and teach a job preparation class for our residents. The class is quite intense as it is three sessions, four hours each class and with role play business interviews at the class’s conclusion. One young mother attended seemingly only as a requirement. Her lack of focus and attention was obvious by her unwillingness to answer questions, her sullen look and body language. After the class was over, however, this young mother took the lessons to her room and to her heart. Part of the class is on re-building self esteem and requires memorization of Joshua 1:5-9.
During a subsequent visit by our volunteer to HG the young mother approached him with a smile previously not frequent on her face! She beamed: “I found a place. My own place to live with my children and we are getting ready to move in real soon! And I have two excellent job prospects!” … “How did you do on the interviews?” Our volunteer asked with a grin. … Her smile only grew brighter “Oh – after your class – those were easy!” It is a joy to see the Holy Spirit rebuild a life.
Our numbers are up and seem to be overwhelming, but the good news is that life transformations are skyrocketing as well.
Blessings, Andy B.
by robin on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009, Filed Under In The News | Leave a Comment
Associated Press brings to light questions regarding April’s $1.6 million patient dumping settlement. Union Rescue Mission and other shelters affected by the surprise patient drop-offs were awarded a small portion of the settlement, while the bulk share went to an organization unrelated to the case.
By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER (AP)
LOS ANGELES — The city attorney stood on the roof of a homeless shelter high above the human misery of Skid Row in April and announced a $1.6 million settlement from a hospital accused of dumping about 150 mentally ill patients on the streets.
Rocky Delgadillo trumpeted the penalty, castigated those who took advantage of society’s most vulnerable and praised the Union Rescue Mission’s chief executive as an inspiration for the investigation that led to the settlement.
What seemed like a big payday for the shelter and other nonprofits that have fought homelessness, mental illness and drug abuse on Skid Row for years, however, turned out to be no such bonanza. Instead, the lion’s share went to an organization in Pasadena — a suburb a dozen miles away — to provide grief counseling to school children.
Three months later, the shelters say they can’t figure out why Delgadillo, who finished his term of office last month and is considering a run for state attorney general, let $900,000 go outside the community they serve.
The Mission and three other Skid Row providers received $50,000 apiece, and another group got $100,000. Another $400,000 in fines went to the city and county.
Along with a handful of other shelters, the Union Rescue Mission was essential to discovering the practice of dumping patients — some still in hospital gowns — on Skid Row.
Read Full Article
by robin on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009, Filed Under The Latest | Leave a Comment
For the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009
Total Meals Served: 1,075,703
• average 2,947 a day
Total Nights of Lodging: 310,705
• average 851 a night
- Single Guest Women (Emergency Shelter*) 52,859
- Women with Children (Emergency Shelter*) 10,645
- Married Parents/Single Fathers with Children 4,713
- Children at URM (Emergency Shelter*) 23,667
- Women in Program 5,650
- Senior Women at Hope Gardens 8,113
- Mothers with Children at Hope Gardens 10,784
- Children at Hope Gardens 20,819
- Guest Men and Seeds of Hope (Emergency Shelter*) 82,152
- Men in Program 71,559
Families (per family unit—URM & HGFC) 24,460
• average 67 families a night
Clinics:
• Health Center Visits, UCLA School of Nursing 5,617
• Dental Clinic Visits, USC School of Dentistry 5,948
• Legal Aid Clinic Visits, Pepperdine University 1,049
• Mental Health Clinic Sessions, Pepperdine University 1,302
Volunteer Services:
• Total Volunteer Visits 12,469
• Total Volunteer Hours 43,897
• Guest Requests for Prayer 3,306
• Guest Life Dedications to God 938
Program Graduates:
• CLDP Graduates 66
• Women’s Ministry Second Step Graduates 14
• Hope Gardens Second Step Graduates 15
*A guest is a person receiving emergency shelter and services.
Comparative Figures: FY09 vs FY08
Meals served:
• 15% increase (average 389 additional meals per day)
Nights of Shelter:
• 26% increase (average 175 additional individuals per night)
Families at URM (downtown):
• Families: 126% increase (average 21 additional families per night)
• Single Moms: 76% increase (average 13 additional single moms per night)
• Total Parents: 154% increase (figure includes: single moms, single dads, married couples)
• Total Children: 160% increase (average 40 additional kids per night)
Families at Hope Gardens:
• Moms: 37% increase (average 8 additional moms per night)
• Children: 32% increase (average 14 additional kids per night)
Emergency Shelter for Singles:
• Guest Men: 5% increase
• Guest Women: 9% increase
by robin on Monday, July 27th, 2009, Filed Under General, The Latest | 2 Comments
On Friday, July 24th, Andre Ethier joined CEO Andy Bales in cooking hot dogs for the men, women and children of URM.
He barbequed hot dogs on the sidewalk in front of the Mission on San Pedro St.
Dodgers’ sponsor, Farmer John, donated hot dogs that Ethier helped cooked and serve.
After grilling, he helped served lunch in the dining room to over 400 men, women and children.
He gave out Dodgers hats and often stopped to sign autographs and take pictures with the guests.
What a fun Friday lunch for the community at URM!
Thank you, Andre and Farmer John for your time, generosity, and support.
by robin on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, Filed Under The Latest | Leave a Comment
Ice cream on a hot day and an evening concert on the roof! That’s the life!
- How ice cream brings us together!
Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who served 750 scoops worth of ice cream to our families and program participants. Mmm…Mmm…
A special thank you to Bel Air Presbyterian Church’s City Sound group for blessing not only URM, but all of LA with worship music from our rooftop!
What an incredible time of praise and worship!
Even this teenage boy was drawn in–finding a peaceful spot in the back to listen while finishing his homework.
City Sound has been blessing URM with Christmas concerts for years! This was their first ever summer concert at URM.
by robin on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, Filed Under URM Job Posting | 7 Comments
Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the poor and homeless. Established in 1891, URM is one of the largest rescue missions of its kind in the United States and the oldest in Los Angeles. We provide a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services to our guests, including: food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training to needy men, women, children, and families.
We currently have a opening in our Hope Garden’s Facility in Sylmar for part time youth assistants.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Must enjoy ministry related environment. To assist the youth coordinator with scheduled program activities, planning and support. Keep current records of students enrolled in the program, generate reports as needed. Monitor homework assignments and tutor children. Assign educational exercises. Monitor computer Internet. Keep daily log of interaction with children. Prepare and teach classes on various subjects. Oversee and assist with children’s worship and praise dancing. Event attendance and planning. Carries out all responsibilities in an honest, ethical and professional manner.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Equivalent of High School diploma required and at least 2 years progressively responsible or related experience. Strong customer, quality and results orientation. Ability to solve practical problems and carry out responsibilities under general supervision Ability to organize workload for effective implementation. Ability to write correspondence and present information in one-on-one and small group situations. Ability to interact effectively at all levels and across diverse cultures. Ability to be an effective team member.
Please e-mail your resume to jobs@urm.com
by robin on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, Filed Under URM Job Posting | Leave a Comment
Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the poor and homeless. Established in 1891, URM is the largest rescue mission of its kind in the United States and the oldest in Los Angeles. We provide a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services at no cost to guests, including: food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training to needy men, women, children, and families.
Responsibilities and Skills
Prepare breakfast meals, weekend lunch meals, assist with weekday lunch preparations, and special event meal preparations by performing the following duties.
• Set up cooking area.
• Begin meal preparations, and hot breakfast beverage preparations.
• Carries out all responsibilities in an honest, ethical and professional manner.
• Provide relief support for the Union Rescue Mission’s kitchen staff.
Knowledge:
High school diploma or general education degree (GED); college/culinary training; experience in volume cooking, institutional meal preparation; ability to convert recipes, basic kitchen/culinary instruction.
Skills/Abilities:
Excellent communication skills. Good customer service skills.
To apply for this position please e mail resumes to jobs@urm.com
• Location : Sylmar
• This is at a non-profit organization.
• Principals only. Recruiters please don’t contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about the job.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interest.
To apply for this position please e-mail resumes to jobs@urm.com or fax resumes to (213) 612-0264.
by monica on Friday, July 17th, 2009, Filed Under Rev Andy's Blog | Leave a Comment
After a joy-filled Christmas in July at Union Rescue Mission this Wednesday that found Santa and me being buried by smiling, shrieking 1st time snowball throwing children having the time of their lives, I found myself trying to rest my tired body as I worked through a pile of papers in my office on Thursday.
Late in the day the young widow of my colleague and friend stopped by to chat. She is wrestling with the question of “why.” She and I agreed that her husband and also my Dad are in a better place, healed and now whole, possibly walking the Streets of Gold together, and they are no longer suffering. However, when she prays in the future for people to be healed from their illness, she wants to be able to pray with a full belief that God will choose to heal them, and she does not want to pray doubting or half-heartedly. I shared what I know from the Bible and I shared from my own experiences, and my own waves of grief that have been flowing over me since the death of my Father and her husband, but mostly I just sat and shared tears with her.
After she left, I went to the URM cafeteria to greet our families and children and sit with my little praying buddies at dinner time. A mom, who had made the mistake of leaving our facility early, quite likely for the man in her life, had come back to us needing a place to stay. She had her precious big deep blue-eyed 1 year baby boy with her. I told her that she could stay; we would make room somewhere for her and her little guy, who was cracking a half smile at me while I tickled his feet. She began to weep, and everyone at the table began to sing to her softly, “Call on me Sister, when you need a hand…” and one of our lady staff came to console her. It was hard to hold back my tears.
On my home, I heard Rabbi Josephson on KNX 1070 AM radio, saying, when tragedy strikes, don’t waste time asking the “Why?” questions. “Why did God bring this tragedy into my life?” “Why didn’t God spare me this trouble or sickness?” He said instead know that God is with you through this tragedy, trouble, loss and time of grief. Instead of asking “why” ask “what are God and I going to do together with what is left of my life?” I appreciated hearing that at the end of this day. I am going to share this with the young widow and the abandoned mom at URM.
If you, like me, have suffered the loss of a loved one, the exit of a co-worker, or the lesser loss of the disappearance of your 401K and you are struggling, know that God is with you and ask Him, “what are you and I going to do to make the most of the rest of my life?”
Blessings, Andy B.
by robin on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009, Filed Under General, The Latest | Leave a Comment
Monterey Church of Christ brought 50 volunteers all the way from Lubbock, Texas to give the kids of URM a summer they’ll never forget…
The group put on a fun-filled Vacation Bible School including…
Fun games…
New friends…
And best of all…
Learning about Jesus!
Thank you, Monterey Church of Christ!
by robin on Monday, July 13th, 2009, Filed Under In The News, Press Releases | Leave a Comment
MEDIA ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 TONS OF SNOW WILL COVER DOWNTOWN LA JULY 15TH
SUBWAY RESTAURANTS & SANTA Join Forces with LA Sparks Mascot Sparky
To Create “Christmas In July”
AT THE UNION RESCUE MISSION
LOS ANGELES CALIF. (July 13, 2009) —– On Wednesday July 15, 2009, over 20 tons of snow will blanket the Downtown Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission. Santa will transform URM (545 South San Pedro Street) into a winter wonderland so that more than 200 homeless youngsters –who range in age from 3 to 17, can enjoy a special early Christmas celebration.
“Christmas In July” is sponsored by SUBWAY restaurants and will feature mountains of snow, colorful elves, Sparky and dozens of gaming booths along with treats like cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn and more. Each child will receive a toy from Santa Clause and will also be treated to a delicious lunch catered by SUBWAY.
Festivities will get underway at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 in the San Julian parking lot located just behind the Union Rescue Mission, 545 South San Pedro Street, in Los Angeles. (on San Julian Street between 5th & 6th Streets)
Union Rescue Mission’s CEO, Andy Bales said “I can’t think of a better way to lift the spirits of children who are homeless than giving them an extra Christmas. Santa, snow, toys and lots of snacks and food go a long way in helping children forget, even for a little while that they are living in a shelter and not their own home. Foreclosures have forced so many families into shelters, it just breaks my heart. I’m thankful to Subway for providing this happy time for our kids”
Schedule of Events:
• Children playing in the Snow…………………………………………….11:00 a.m.
• Santa Clause arrives at URM…………………………………………….11:15 a.m.
• SUBWAY Caters Lunch to the Children…………………………………12:noon
For more information contact: Kitty Davis-Walker @ (213) 673-4585 or (213) 507-5562.
About Union Rescue Mission
Union Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and homeless. Established in 1891, URM is one of the largest rescue missions of its kind in the United States and is the oldest in Los Angeles. It provides a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services, including food, shelter, clothing; medical and dental care; Christian recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling and job training to needy men, women, children and families. For more information, please visit our website www.urm.org
