Tune into CNN to see a URM special featuring a remarkable young man staying on our 5th floor. Mr. Kenneth Chancey is 17 years old and just finishing his junior year in high school. Already ivy league colleges have their eye on him!

The story is scheduled to air at 3:00am on Wednesday, June 10th and could run all day. Updates will be posted if air-time scheduling changes occur.

“[Homelessness] may be slowing me down, but it’s not going to stop me!”
~Kenneth Chancey

Listen in to the Frank Pastore Show from 4-7pm today! Hear moving stories from Union Rescue Mission residents, and their journey through the trials of homelessness.

Click here to donate

On Sunday, I had the privilege of celebrating Easter at the Hollywood Bowl with men and women in the midst of transforming their lives through one of URM’s long-term residential programs. The Easter message is one of love, sacrifice, redemption, miracles and HOPE! As you might imagine, there was something very special about listening to that message and considering the impact of God’s love and sacrifice on my own life as I watched our men and women — people who had lost all hope before coming to Union Rescue Mission, respond to the same message.

Your generosity makes HOPE possible! Click here to see “Serwa – part 2” the latest video in the ongoing, ground breaking series – Stories from Skid Row. Serwa’s story is a great example of the transformation that can take place when someone who is homeless is given the tools and support they need to get their life back in order. And when you give, you share in the success of each of the men and women, like Serwa, that we are caring for.

Union Rescue Mission is facing incredibly difficult times right now as we make room for the men, women and children who are coming to us every day. Your continued support will make it possible to renovate 22 more units of housing at our Hope Gardens Family Center so we can move 22 more precious moms and their children out of Skid Row and to a life of Hope. Every gift, large or small makes a big difference.

Thank you and may God bless you.

Rev. Andy Bales

CEO, Union Rescue Mission

Union Rescue Mission was recognized as a 2009 top GiftLegacy/GiftLaw charity. With hundreds of thousands of donors getting their gift planning information online, Crescendo Interactive decided to award GiftLegacy sites with substantial numbers of eNewsletter and website contacts. URM was awarded as a bronze-level charity.

Awarded sites had great eContact or page-view rates for three reasons. First, they had a significant eNewsletter distribution that brought donors and advisors to their website to be educated and motivated in philanthropy. Second, they have an easy one or two-click access from their Hope Page to the Planned Giving Home Page. Finally, each charity has a short “easy to type” web address printed on all their royalty-free GiftLegacy eLiterature (print newsletters, brochures, ads and postcards).

See URM’s Planned Giving site at www.urmgift.org and sign up for GiftLegacy eNewsletters and/or GiftLaw eNewsletters for professionals (i.e. attorneys, CPA’s).

Skid Row: Union Rescue Mission
with CEO Andy Bales

On the rooftop of the Union Rescue Mission, Wednesday April 8th, 2009, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo announced that a settlement agreement has been secured with College Hospital for the dumping of as many as 150 psychiatric patients in and around skid row over a two-year period.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY ROCKARD J. DELGADILLO

L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo Secures Settlement with College Hospital Over Dumping of Psychiatric Patients on Skid Row

Groundbreaking Injunction Against Dumping of Psychiatric Patients

His office has secured a settlement agreement with the hospital that will establish a groundbreaking injunction prohibiting College Hospital’s Costa Mesa and Cerritos facilities from dumping psychiatric patients in and around skid row, new protocols for the discharge of homeless patients with mental disorders, and $1.6 million in civil penalties and charitable contributions.

College Hospital has agreed to pay $1,200,000 in charitable contributions to a number of organizations that care for the mentally ill and the homeless, including Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, Men Chabad Residential Treatment Center, Lamp Community, the Midnight Mission, New Image Emergency Shelter, and the Union Rescue Mission.

“To think that medical institutions that are charged with caring for this extremely vulnerable population would then turn around and dump them in the streets is despicable. Today the City is saying think twice before you do it again.” ~Councilman Jose Huizar

See entire press release

L.A. Times article

O.C. Register article

Foreclosure Home Articles referenced Union Rescue Mission, stating that the flood of foreclosed homes is primarily leading families to seek emergency shelter.

The flood of homes to foreclosure has left hundreds of families in California homeless and in despair. Most of these homeless families were forced to seek emergency refuge over the winter. In fact, the number of families of foreclosed homes who were seeking emergency refuge in Los Angeles County has increased twice as much as last year.

Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority executive director Rebecca Isaacs pointed out that families bore the brunt of the economic crisis. She cited several factors that trigger homelessness, including increase in rent, eviction, unemployment, domestic violence, foreclosures and health tragedy.

On the other hand, Los Angeles County reported a 4 percent increase in the total number of individuals who sought shelter this winter. The Union Rescue Mission reported a 14 percent rise in individuals and 631 percent increase in families at its four affiliated winter shelters.

Reverend Andy Bales, chief executive officer of the mission, noted that foreclosures are affecting more families than individuals. He added that individuals who recently lost their jobs were more likely to stay with a family member or friend.

Click here to read entire article

LA Times writer Steve Lopez To Be Honored Soul Studios Opens Its Doors for Auction

LOS ANGELES CALIF. —– On Saturday, April 4, 2009, Soul Studios and the Union Rescue Mission will have its first ever fundraiser at Soul Studios featuring a silent auction of photographs by some of the top celebrity and fashion photographers in the industry. Iconic works by Jack Guy, Bill Curry, Sheryl Nields, Jason Willheim, Alfredo Favo, Gregg Segal, Jordan Nuttall, Scott Miller, Eric Raptosh and Lee Jeffries. The 30+ images, some of them stark and disturbing, some of hope and some of tragedy, are all part of the new Great Recession happening right in our own backyard.

Skid Row in Los Angeles is what many people call the epicenter of homelessness in our Nation. Los Angeles is now experiencing a “tsunami” of families, single dads with children, single women with children and two-parent families coming for shelter at the Union Rescue Mission. Many have never experienced homelessness before. The numbers are incredible – 47% more individuals and over 400% more families than Union Rescue Mission saw last year. 32% more meals served everyday and the number of food boxes given out to local residents is up 7 times.

Union Rescue Mission CEO, Andy Bales said “As I walk down the streets of Skid Row, it looks like a sea of broken hearts. Families priced out of housing, victims of foreclosure, breadwinners downsized out of jobs, women battered out of relationships. But, I think the most heartbreaking people I meet are parents agonizing for their children who bear a terrible burden of fear, illness and insecurity from homelessness. ” He continues “Skid Row is especially difficult and dangerous for women and children, and it breaks my heart to know that as I write this, the numbers of homeless families are growing.”

With the plight of the national economy resulting in decreased donations, Soul Studios owners Sandy and Chuck McKnight are determined to do something to help raise much needed funds. Along with their studio manager Shell Bilyew, the McKnight’s have pledged to make this an annual event.

During the course of the evening, LA Times columnist Steve Lopez will receive the first Hero for Hope award for his support to the Mission. Mr. Lopez was instrumental in helping the Mission secure Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar. A bronze bench with Mr. Lopez’s full-size likeness will be placed in the gardens at the Sylmar facility.

Other sponsors for the evening include executive chef Claud Beltran, Digital Fusion, Samy’s Camera, Variety, L.A. Confidential, Surfas, designer Cristina Hasbun, Miller Sherwood Printing, Museum Mounts and My Garden.

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.unionrescuemission.org

Todd Leitz, of KNX 1070 reports on how the global recession has precipitated a new wave of homeless in Los Angeles. Union Rescue Mission’s families were a part of the story. Click the icons below to listen to the report.

Christopher Cadelago of Burbank Leader writes that the National Guard Armory in Burbank, which has served as a Winter Shelter site for the homeless, will not not be available next winter season.  Burbank neighbors express enthusiasm that the shelter will not be returning.

March 30, 2009