Union Rescue Mission

Union Rescue Mission's (URM) main goal is life transformation - helping guests get healthy, find employment and housing.

This is achieved through provision of a comprehensive pipeline of services including: food and housing, case management, substance abuse prevention counseling, mental health and medical/dental care, education and learning assistance, job training and placement programs, life skills classes, children and youth programs, and assistance locating permanent housing. Working together, activities empower recovery and life transformation, impacting the lives of more than 5,000 individuals and families each year.

Union Rescue Mission's array of holistic services include:

Emergency Services for individuals and families: The downtown Skid Row shelter provides emergency food and shelter and a first step towards recovery, health, jobs and housing for all populations experiencing homelessness. It is also the only emergency service program for families on Skid Row. In addition to basic needs, guests can access onsite services that help fuel life transformation including medical/dental and legal clinics, and case management and supportive services.

Gateway: The Gateway program is the next step towards recovery, providing single adult men and women with up to 30 days of services (food, shelter and supportive services) at a nominal daily fee of $7. After that, guests can decide if they want to stay on and participate in long-term recovery programs at no cost.

Life Transformation programs: Men can choose to participate in an intensive, 40 hour per week, 12-month recovery program. Activities center on helping guests overcome barriers that focus on their emotional, physical, financial and spiritual development.

Transitional Housing for families: URM provides transitional housing for families through Hope Gardens Family Center (opened in 2007) and Angeles House (open in March 2022). Both meet a critical need for transitional/bridge housing for families in LA County. At both sites, families can participate in a program of recovery that helps end homelessness.

Health Clinics: Unique healthcare partnerships provide access to onsite health care. These include a medical clinic (with Los Angeles Christian Healthcare Centers), a dental clinic (with USC School of Dentistry), and a mental health clinic (with Pepperdine University).

Learning Center: This provides access to education through educational, computer, ESL, GED, tutoring programs, and post-secondary education/vocational opportunities to help guests get back into the work force.

Jobs Program: This program helps guest prepare for, secure and maintain a job. Activities include apprenticeships, resume writing/job preparation/placement activities.

Thrift Store/Boutique: URM operates Thrift Store Boutiques in Covina and Whittier. Plans are to open a third one near Hope Gardens - to help provide jobs and a new source of revenue for URM.

For the last 130 years, Union Rescue Mission has grown to become the largest and most comprehensive outreach to men, women, children and families experiencing homelessness in LA County. It has a rich history of maintaining and innovating programs and working collaboratively to expand services to help end homelessness for all populations, with a priority on serving women and families. Key examples include:

1) During the 1980s, URM was one of the first organizations to start serving women at its downtown emergency shelter
2) In 2007, URM opened Hope Gardens Family Center to provide transitional housing for families and permanent supportive housing for seniors, located in Sylmar. Since it opened, Hope Gardens has helped end homelessness for more than 1400 single moms and their children.
3) In March 2022, URM will open Angeles House to provide transitional housing for families. Located in South Los Angeles, it will impact an estimated 125 families each year.

• Union Rescue Mission is the only shelter on Skid Row serving families. Its emergency family program has become the primary place of referral from city-wide social service agencies and other non-profits for families experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.

• Union Rescue Mission's Hope Gardens Family Center has become a model for transitional housing for families. Hope Gardens has an 80% success rate for transitioning mothers with children who complete the program, into permanent housing. Modeled after Hope Gardens, Union Rescue Mission will open Angeles House, a second family housing program, in March 2022.

• Union Rescue Mission is the only organization on Skid Row that is committed to never turning away a woman or family. Currently, for the first time in its history, serving more women than men. It is the primary place from city-wide agencies for referral for families and is considered a leader in the fight to end homelessness for families in Los Angeles County.

• Union Rescue Mission is a member of key task forces and collaborations for ending homelessness in Los Angeles. Rev. Andy Bales, CEO, is a leading authority on the issues of homelessness in LA and is frequently turned to for advice and commentary from City officials, city agencies, and the media.