Recession’s Impact on URM (some positive)

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.

LA patient dumping settlement misses Skid Row

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

2009 Fiscal Year End Totals

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

LA Dodgers’ Andre Ethier Volunteers at URM!

On Friday, July 24th, Andre Ethier joined CEO Andy Bales in cooking hot dogs for the men, women and children of URM.

Andre-Andy BBQ

He barbequed hot dogs on the sidewalk in front of the Mission on San Pedro St.

Andre & Family

Dodgers’ sponsor, Farmer John, donated hot dogs that Ethier helped cooked and serve.

Andre-Food Serving (1)

After grilling, he helped served lunch in the dining room to over 400 men, women and children.

Andre-Food Serving (2)

He gave out Dodgers hats and often stopped to sign autographs and take pictures with the guests.

Andre-autograph(1)

What a fun Friday lunch for the community at URM!

Andre-autograph (2)

Thank you, Andre and Farmer John for your time, generosity, and support.

Ice Cream Social and Concert on the Roof!

Ice cream on a hot day and an evening concert on the roof!  That’s the life!

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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…

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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!

Teenage boy doing homework to the peace of worship music.

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.

A Wonderful Summer for URM Kids!

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…

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The group put on a fun-filled Vacation Bible School including…

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Fun games…

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New friends…

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And best of all…

DSC00160 (Sayyid-Skyline 2) Resize

Learning about Jesus!

Thank you, Monterey Church of Christ!

Christmas in July – Media Alert

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 urm.org

Often Under Siege

Serving at one of the largest rescue missions, if not the largest, in the United States has its challenges—especially when it’s in the heart of Los Angeles’ Skid Row, one of the most difficult places on the face of the earth.  For those not familiar with Skid Row in LA, it is roughly a 50 square block area that has been devastated over the years by a practice and policy of containment and corralling of people who are homeless, addicted, or mentally troubled by the powers that be in all of LA County.

For years area agencies, hospitals, police departments, and others from outside communities have dropped off, even bussed in people who are unwanted in their communities.  This created what I call one of the greatest human tragedies/disasters in the United States.

At one time there were thousands of desperate people on Skid Row, just outside of the walls of Union Rescue Mission.  Crime and violence, murder and overdose deaths were rampant.  Large rats were, and still are, a part of the scenery.  Drug deals and drug use could be found at every step.

I’m happy to report that there has been improvement as the thousands have turned into hundreds due to hard work by area agencies and the Safer Cities Initiative by the LAPD.  Crime has been reduced.  Violence, murder and overdose deaths are down.  But drug use, drug sales and violence—especially against women—are still intolerably high.

At Union Rescue Mission, we work hard to make sure that a walk inside our doors is a pleasant experience and a transformational step away from the struggles that wait right outside. That is why I left with great concern last Friday when I learned that someone had run into our parking lot gate—breaking it.  The gate would have to be left open, putting our guests at risk over the weekend.

It is not just the gates and secure doors that keep trouble out and bring peace inside.  It is a combination of vigilant staff and loving volunteers who truly make the difference.  However, locked gates and doors sure help!

A staff person inquired of me regarding the broken gate stating “The battle never ends.”  I then shared that this was just one of a number of battles that I had waged on this day before the Holiday weekend.  My text back read “Battled economy, housing 1st push, drug dealing, bed bugs and hospital drop off so far today – now the parking gate”.

That day I had already poured over the budget making adjustments to keep the folks under our watch employed, while also trying to keep enough reserves to weather the summer doldrums of giving—not to mention the continued budget battle in the Great Recession of 2007, 2008, 2009, …   I was on the phone and writing letters trying to raise the necessary funds to keep Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center strong in spite of the overwhelming needs coming our way.  I ordered 20 more EDAR units so that we could continue accepting families, all while watching our Chapel become a tent city.  I had also taken the time to write to area newspapers and community leaders, sharing my blog from June 4th regarding the Push for Housing First.  I am concerned that while URM is stepping up to meet the needs of so many families in crisis, community leaders and politicians want to move funding away from missions, shelter and other “archaic models”, as they termed it, toward Housing First. Please take time to read my blog on the Housing First Push from June 4th under http://revandysblog.com

I had also been alerted/become suspicious of two possible sources of drugs being brought into our building from the outside.  So I took steps to address this with enhanced security, drug testing, and an alert to the LAPD undercover unit.  Then I became aware that a medical marijuana dispensary may be placed two short blocks away from URM. So you can believe this caused alarm as well.

Next, I declared all out war on a vicious group of bed bugs that we had heard was coming from other agencies in the area.  One of the fellows that has had his life transformed here at URM showed me an infected elbow.  So I sent our team to check out his room and mattress.  When our Environmental Services leader put his finger up to a hole in the mattress, he pulled it away and it was bleeding. “Yes, that is bed bugs”, he declared.  We treated the area and the bed bugs like terrorists, throwing out 26 mattresses, ordering new, and spraying the area thoroughly.  Can you believe that these little terrors will cost us $10,000!?

Finally, I received a call on my way home that yet again an area hospital had dropped off a person with mental health issues at our door without any advance notice or proper referral.  So I asked our team to investigate.  See http://revandysblog.com from April 15th, 2009 to learn more about this.

Recently a fine, wonderful gentleman asked me why Union Rescue Mission is faith-based, dependent on Christ, and why we require employees to sign a statement of faith.  The honest answer is that we would not even want to begin to take these challenges on without the power of Jesus Christ.  I know that I would not and could not even begin such a task on my own.

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  2 Corinthians 4:11-12

Thanks for your prayers!  We treasure them.  Andy B.

Vacation Bible School at URM!!

For 5 straight days Crossroads Community Church of Santa Clarita blessed Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens kids with a Vacation Bible School.  Each day 15 volunteers led the children in all kinds of activities to learn about God, including worship songs, crafts, story time, and games.

Praise and worship in the Chapel.

With so much summertime fun the kids were sad to see our Crossroads partners leave…and so were their parents!

Group

Thank you, Crossroads, for blessing our children and bringing light to their lives!