January 2010 Statistics
Here is our latest update for January 2010 Statistics including URM, Hope Gardens and Winter Shelter Program.
So far, 2010 has been a busy year for us here at URM, with most of our numbers increasing significantly from last year. Our meals served were up 11% from last year, with 85,749 meals served at URM alone. Adding in our four winter shelters in Downtown LA, Glendale, Culver City, and West LA, and our Hope Gardens Family Center, that number increased to 138,737 meals served in the month of January – that’s about 4,475 meals served each day!
We also showed increases in the number of guests staying at URM, Hope Gardens, and the Winter Shelters each night. Altogether, we were able to provide 49,451 nights of shelter this month!
But our ability to serve would not be possible without your support! We would like to say thanks to all our donors and supporters, as well as to the many volunteers that brighten the lives of our guests while helping out; we had a whopping 1,801 volunteer visits for a total of 5,572 volunteer hours!
We are also grateful for our USC Dental Clinic, UCLA Medical and Mental Health Clinics, and Pepperdine Legal Clinics. Often times, people experiencing homelessness do not have the resources to gain the help they may need to improve their life and their current situation. Our clinics are here to provide that kind of help free of charge! This month they provided the following:
Dental Clinic Visits = 511
Legal Clinic Visits = 38
Mental Health/Counseling Sessions = 152
Medical Visits = 634
With all the rain that we have been experiencing, it is good to know that our Winter Shelters are available for hundreds of people who might be sleeping in the cold otherwise. From December 1st through the end of March, Union Rescue Mission runs four extra shelters through the Winter Shelter Program. For some, the Winter Shelters provide the temporary assistance they need to get back on their feet and secure permanent housing of their own. For others, coming in out of the cold and interacting with one of the caring members of our staff is the first step in their journey towards life transformation.
WSP Nights of Shelter
Downtown Avg: 258 ppl per night (10% increase from last year)
Culver City Avg: 129 ppl per night
West LA Avg: 123 ppl per night
Glendale Avg: 159 ppl per night
Just to give you an idea of what donations, large or small, from caring people like you can do, here are some quick facts about the costs of services we provide:
- Having a great smile can make all the difference in a person’s self esteem and outlook on life – $142.72 can provide dental care for a family of four.
- By providing emergency and outreach services, we try to show God’s love to those that we serve. By caring for even basic needs, we hope that they will gain confidence from knowing someone cares and believes in them – that way they have the strength, hope and foundation to go through the process of life transformation. The cost of ‘emergency services’ (food and shelter) for a man for one week is about $152.81.
- Living on the streets or near poverty, most people can only dream of having proper health insurance and health care for themselves and their children. Thanks to our UCLA Medical Center, $93.99 can provide a medical visit for a mom and 2 kids.
To help provide these important services and care for our guests, click here to donate today.
Hi, U.R.M it’s been a few months since I’ve visited and join the community in Los Angeles county, but I want to comment with a suggestion, Homelessness, and Poverty are environmental issues, has the founders of the U.R.M ever considered seeking funding through government agents who provide grants, and loans for the underprivileged?
Has the State of California ever considered institutionalizing the clients of U.R.M. that have a history of being dysfunctional and displays no effort in improving their circumstances, like getting a job, leaving the state of California traveling back to their home state, seeking mental health services, and/or drug rehabilitation services to keep the streets clean and reduce the criminal activities in the area of skid row?
I know that there are agencies in that area who offer employment services free of charge, it should be mandatory that each client who’s abled bodied seek employment services, or that each client be monitored and income should be assessed to enforce savings, through a local financial institution who would willingly assist U.R.M. with successfully opening accounts for each client who should save a percentage of their monthly income to prepare for independent living.
It’s a shame that the skid row area can’t be managed in a orderly fashion without crime and free from vagrant wonders who don’t want to change and improve their conditions.
I’m suggesting that U.R.M. organize a committee to create policies and enforce these policies on the clients that use the services at U.R.M., stricter policies produce results.
In addition, the issue of the Los Angeles Police Department cutting back on Law Enforcement in the skid Row area, I know that the crime rate is really high in the skid row area and that the enforcement of law and order is very much needed to ensure safety of the residence and people who work in this underprivileged area of Los Angeles County perhaps the residence and businesses can organize a neighborhood watch for ordinary citizens that reside and work in that area watch for criminal acts being committed and contact a law enforcement agency that will act immediately.
I send condolences to the U.R.M. and am willing to assist your agency in any way that I can to improve services for American citizens, please feel free to contact me at any time if extra help is needed.
Find and apply for a grant (Grants.gov)
http://www.grants.gov
http://www.americorps.org
http://www.dhhs.gov
http://www.usda.gov