Month: May 2012

Keep Hope Alive

Dear Friends,

It’s been two years since we alerted you and our many contributors that Hope Gardens Family Center was in jeopardy of closing. In response to our plea, more than 5000 friends responded with financial gifts to keep it open and thriving. It didn’t matter what size the gift was, what made the difference was the number of caring people who responded generously. We raised $3.8 Million in 37 days and kept Hope alive. Thank you!

We are in a similar position today.  We need to receive an outpouring of generous gifts from as many of our faithful friends as possible.  Here’s why:

  • We plan on moving 12 more moms and their children to the safety of Hope Gardens, bringing Hope Gardens to capacity.
  • We plan on strengthening our downtown recovery program for women, making it on par with our excellent men’s recovery program.
  • We plan on strengthening our job readiness program to the point where we can place our program graduates into careers that will absolutely end their homelessness.
  • We plan on bringing some much needed relief and encouragement to our hard working staff.

The first step towards accomplishing all this and much more, is to finish this fiscal year strong by hitting our budgeted income goal.  To ensure our success, we need to raise $4.8 Million between now and June 30th.  If we do not, our plans for the coming year will be put on hold. I can’t begin to express how devastating it would be to our team and to me personally if we do not raise these funds by June 30th.

For the last 3 years our dedicated staff has worked hard, sacrificed, and welcomed our guests with love.  They’ve taken two 5% pay cuts, accepted increased work loads and had their wages frozen.  And as disappointing as it would be to postpone the plans we have to improve our programs, what’s even more troubling to me, actually, heart-wrenching, is the thought that we will not be able to carryout our plans to restore a small portion of the benefits our dedicated team has given up for the sake of those we serve.

We simply must hit our budget goal for FY2012 by June 30th!

There are some who’d like to see Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens fade into the sunset and disappear. They don’t believe in recovery or life transformation.  However, the 2700 guests who count on us each day for a good meal, and our 700 resident guests who are diligently involved in recovering their lives in our transformation programs believe strongly in the life saving work of Union Rescue Mission.  I know that you do as well.  Thank you!

I too believe strongly in the work of Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens.  I’ve poured my life into it! As you know, I’ve stayed on, battling kidney failure, in hopes of helping URM & Hope Gardens move into the future in a strong position. It would be tough on me to not see us succeed.

As you consider giving an extra gift at this time,  please consider the powerful life-transforming work of Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens, remember our miracle from 2 years ago that kept Hope Gardens going strong in the midst of the Great Recession, and give what you can to help URM and Hope Gardens move into 2012-2013 with great strength.

The size of the gift you send is not as important as simply responding.  Your generous gift, joined with others will Keep Hope Alive in the hearts of our dedicated staff and make a huge impact in the lives of our precious guests.

Your co-worker in Christ,

Andy Bales

Ps. Your generous giving makes life transformation possible for the men, women and precious children living at Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center.  Thank you!

To make your gift on-line go to urm.org/KeepHopeAlive

The Mission Newsletter – June 2012

On The Street – Anything Goes

It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be 56 years old and have nothing to show for it. I’m ashamed, depressed, and mad at myself. But I don’t have anyone else to blame but me.

I was raised by churchgoing parents, who taught me about the value of school and hard work, about right from wrong, and respecting others. But when I was 13, I started hanging around the wrong kids. One day, we started drinking on a street corner, and before long we’d graduated to marijuana, PCP, and finally crack cocaine — and everything my parents taught me went out the window.

By 1994, drugs stole everything I owned, so I rode a bus to Skid Row, where I ended up living in a cardboard box on the sidewalk.

I can tell you, sleeping on these streets is dangerous. There are some sick people out there.

Once they find out you’re weak, they’ll jump you first chance they get. I’ve seen women beat and raped. I’ve seen people get killed. Anything goes. That’s just the way it is when you’re an addict on these streets.

But the thing is, once you’re out there, you don’t care about anything anymore — not even your own life. All that matters is the drugs. You’ll do anything for drugs. I’ve seen women, and even men, selling their bodies for $2, $3, $4. I never did that, but I can’t say I never would. That’s where the drugs take you.

For 17 years, I lived on Skid Row. There was a time I thought it was all cool. But I can admit it now, I was a fool. Over the years, I saw God save a lot of guys like me at Union Rescue Mission. Finally, in December 2010, I heard God tell me to come here, too.

I’ve stayed away from drugs ever since. Now I’m learning the tools I need to stay clean and sober when I leave. I’m learning that I have to choose my friends carefully, to hang with positive people. It’s the only way I’m going to make it.

I’m 56, and it’s time to live life and be responsible, to step up to the plate and be the man God made me to be. To do that, I know I’ll need a job. Some people say, because I’m older, no one is going to hire me. But I’m not going to use that as an excuse. I’m going to do my best. I am not going to give up on life. After all, God saved me and I know He’ll help me get it right this time.

Make a Difference Today – Help Someone on Skid Row.

For the past 120 years, thanks to thousands of caring people just like you, Union Rescue Mission has transformed the lives of countless hurting souls on these streets, leading them back to health and wholeness — and home.

Often it doesn’t take a lot to help a hurting man or woman escape Skid Row and get back on their feet. But today, thanks to an extraordinary matching grant, your generous gift of $25, $35, or more will help provide TWICE the food and shelter and a fresh start at life for people experiencing homelessness.

So please send the most generous gift you can today. Thank you!

I recently hosted a Los Angeles Times reporter on a walk through Skid Row. It was a cold, damp day, and we met a woman living on top of a pile of garbage on the sidewalk. She had no shoes or socks, struggled with mental illness, and she shivered from cold and terror.

She’s not alone here. The number of people “living” on these streets has grown to nearly 2,000. Some are victims of the economy. Former prison inmates are dumped here. Many folks have landed here due to a lifetime of bad choices. But one thing is for sure — all of them are struggling to survive in a living hell you wouldn’t want your own dog living in.

Trash heaps are piling up, giant rats are running rampant, crime is up, violence is increasing, and we find more dead bodies every week. These are precious human beings made in the image of God. I am more determined than ever to transform lives here on Skid Row through Union Rescue Mission. It’s what God has called us to do — and it’s what we do best.

Thank you for caring with us

Rev. Andy Bales, CEO.

URM Receives Mental Health Grant From Cedars-Sinai

Union Rescue Mission is among 24 organizations recently awarded grants from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to support programs providing direct, community-based mental health services.

The $75,000 grant from Cedars-Sinai, part of a new $1.6 million contribution from the medical center to help existing community organizations expand the number of people they serve in their mental-health programs, will pay for direct mental health counseling for single moms and children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County.

CEO, Rev. Andy Bales said “Many precious people experiencing homelessness also experience mental health issues. We’re very thankful for this support from Cedars-Sinai”.

The $1.6 million Community Mental Health Grant Program is part of Cedars-Sinai’s overall community benefit contribution, which last year provided more than $600 million toward free and part-pay hospital care to the uninsured and those with limited means; the unpaid costs of caring for Medi-Cal and Medicare patients; research and education; and hundreds of community programs in local schools, homeless shelters and community centers.

Faithful partnership and support like this changes lives.  A big thanks to Cedars-Sinai for giving so generously!

Integrated Marketing Manager

This position reports to the Chief Development Officer and is responsible for planning, implementing, and integrating the organization’s mass fundraising plan across various media channels. This position is also responsible for ensuring the organization is consistent in messaging, tone, visuals, and voice throughout all communication with prospective and current donors. This position demands a strong understanding of all aspects of direct response marketing and testing, across all key channels (email, web, direct mail, telemarketing, etc,).
To apply click here!!!

Intake Assistant Women’s Guest Services

The shift for this position is Saturday, Sunday & Monday from 2:30pm to 11:00pm. 

This position reports to the Hospitality Guest Services Supervisor. To provide a secure, comfortable atmosphere for women in need of emergency services and/or assistance in the downtown Los Angeles area and neighboring communities. Offer encouragement and available resources both in-house and in the community for clients ready to progress toward self-reliance.
To apply Click Here!!

Dorm Assistant Men’s Guest Services

The person in this position will report to Men’s Guest Services Supervisor  in the Men’s Dorms of the Hospitality and Guest Services Department. The purpose of this position is to manage and monitor the evening activities of male residents, to promote a safe and secure environment in the guest dormitory areas.  Provide oversight of the residential volunteers.

To apply please click here!

The Mission Newsletter – May 2012

Two years ago, Will Nicklas and John Kennelly were living the American Dream. As executives at Toyota Motor Sales, USA, they earned substantial incomes that afforded their families the protection of upper-middle-class lifestyles and affluent neighborhoods far from the grit and hopeless despair of Skid Row.

“People on Skid Row weren’t even an afterthought to me. I was too busy working on getting my own slice of the pie,” John admits. “I never cared until Will and I went down there one afternoon.”

Will, who wanted to “do something meaningful in the community,” had already secured a cargo van for Union Rescue Mission, and was also involved with securing special shirts for an upcoming fundraiser for the Mission. When it came time to deliver the shirts, he invited his boss, John, to accompany him.

“Honestly, I only went because I wanted to play hooky from the office for an afternoon,” John says.

“But when I took a tour of the Mission, met some of the guys in the program, heard their stories — well, I was moved. Unless your heart is made of stone, you want to help those guys.”

Before long, Will and John were brainstorming ways they could make a bigger difference.

“Ultimately, the way home is a job. Without a job, the cycle of homelessness will never end for these guys,” Will says.

So Will and John agreed to spend time mentoring URM’s men, coaching them as they developed resumes and teaching them how to interview. More important, they persuaded UGL Services, Toyota’s facility-maintenance vendor, to come down and interview several of the men — with no obligation to hire anyone. “The problem is, most guys at the Mission believe no one cares about people like them,” Will says. But the day UGL came to interview the guys at URM, hope filled the hallways. The men who interviewed for jobs were articulate, energetic, poised, and prepared.

In the end, four men were hired that day — men who are truly grateful for the second chance they’ve been given. And UGL has four new valuable employees. Today, John and Will are already inviting more Toyota vendors to join them at URM.

“The Bible calls us to bear one another’s burdens,” Will says. “I think it’s time for us to live that out. Skid Row is the epicenter of homelessness. It’s dark and depressing. But you know what? I keep coming back because of the hope I experience there. If you want to tap into a sense of purpose and meaning, reach out to these people. Be involved in this situation. You’ll be forever surprised at what happens.”

A growing number of people on Skid Row desperately need hope and a helping hand — they need YOU. Right now, generous friends of Union Rescue Mission have offered to match every gift we receive — up to $150,000!

That means any gift you send will be doubled to provide twice as much help for hurting men and women — and remind them that someone really does care.

This extraordinary opportunity is only available until June 30. So please make a generous gift today to provide twice as much help — and receive twice the blessing!

Over the years, I’ve heard many excuses for not helping people experiencing homelessness. Some people insist Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, so why try?” Still others think we’re only enabling addicts and alcoholics if we offer them food and shelter.

But I think it’s time to stop making excuses and truly help our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness.

Probably the most significant — and most difficult — way to help is to offer real friendship to struggling men and women, just like Will and John have done (see our cover story in this newsletter). They’ve eaten with them, mentored them, shared skills with them, and encouraged them. That’s what people really need.

But there are other ways to get involved. Help someone read in our learning center. Play with our kids in the gym. Serve a meal. Help raise money for Union Rescue Mission — and, of course, write a check of your own! Everyone can do something!

I know it isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s even heartbreaking and a little risky. But Jesus took a lot of risk and experienced much heartbreak to rescue humanity. I believe it’s time to follow in His footsteps.

Blessings,

Rev. Andy Bales, CEO

Over the years, I’ve heard many excuses for not helping people experiencing homelessness. Some people insist Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, so why try?” Still others think we’re only enabling addicts and alcoholics if we offer them food and shelter.

But I think it’s time to stop making excuses and truly help our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness.

Probably the most significant — and most difficult — way to help is to offer real friendship to struggling men and women, just like Will and John have done (see our cover story in this newsletter). They’ve eaten with them, mentored them, shared skills with them, and encouraged them. That’s what people really need.

But there are other ways to get involved. Help someone read in our learning center. Play with our kids in the gym. Serve a meal. Help raise money for Union Rescue Mission — and, of course, write a check of your own! Everyone can do something!

I know it isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s even heartbreaking and a little risky. But Jesus took a lot of risk and experienced much heartbreak to rescue humanity. I believe it’s time to follow in His footsteps.

Blessings,