The Latest

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Jazmine and Aundria

Sisters Jazmine and Aundria are two returning volunteers of the Glendale winter shelter. They first heard about the winter shelter efforts though their local church and came the next day to offer their help. Having gone through tough situations of their own, they both know what it feels like to need help. This connection with the guests gives the sisters a reason to keep coming back and doing as much as they can for the shelter.

“I like to help people and this is the perfect place to help people out a lot,” says Jazmine. In addition to preparing and serving dinner, they gathered unused clothes from home and donated them to the guests. The donated clothes, as they pointed out, can now be seen being worn by guests all around the room.

Over the past months they have connected with the guests and become close with many. “When they see us come in to serve, they all get really happy,” said Aundria.

Check back tomorrow to hear of another story from the Glendale winter shelter. If you are interested in being a volunteer, like Jazmine and Aundria, click here for more information.

Testimonies of Program Graduates

This upcoming Sunday we will be celebrating with the graduating men of our Life Transformation Program. Three times a year Union Rescue Mission hosts a graduation ceremony for those  who have completed the year-long program of transformation and recovery.

During chapel on Tuesday a few of our soon-to-be graduates stood before their fellow program members and gave their testimonies.

We are looking forward to standing alongside our graduates this weekend as they receive their program diplomas!

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Steven

Steven has been coming to the Glendale winter shelter for about a month. Originally from Oklahoma, he moved to Los Angeles in November to pursue his dream of acting.

Getting infected with staff infection while at downtown shelters, he moved to Glendale to try and find a new place to call home. Steven  has been dealing with drug addiction since he was only sixteen, when his parents got divorced.  He knows that his struggle with drug addiction has played a part in why he is now experiencing homelessness. Fortunately, Steven is soon to be enrolled in a program, and the shelter is providing him meals and a roof in the meantime.

“Acting is where my heart is, and if I need to be homeless to find it, I am going to push through my troubles.” Steven is grateful to be given the provision of the winter shelter, knowing he would have little alternative otherwise.

Many more people like Steven have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Paul

Paul, orginally from Liverpool, England, is well known at the shelter for his kind personality and noticeable British accent.

He first came to the Glendale winter shelter on a very rainy night about a month ago. Wanting to avoid spending the night outside in the rainy weather, Paul came across a woman who took him to the armory. Finding the people very kind, Paul continued to come nightly to the shelter, always eager for a bed.

Paul is working with staff members to try and find housing that will provide him a comfortable situation after the shelter closes on March 15th.

Many more people like Paul have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Karolyn

Karolyn and her husband come nightly to the Glendale winter shelter from Pasadena. This is her first year as a guest to the shelter, but she said this quickly became her home.

“To me the Glendale armory is a place I can truly say is a home away from home,” she speaks. She praises the supervisors and the overall feel of the shelter saying, “it is peaceful, quiet, and clean.”

She and her husband are praying to God, as they both know that after the shelter closes they have no other place to live. “I appreciate this place and I am so blessed to be here, I will really miss it when it closes.”

Many more people like Karolyn have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Al

This is Al’s first year as a guest to the Glendale winter shelter. “I spent a year sleeping on the ground before this place,” he says as he expresses the joys of having a bed to call his own.

Al speaks of his family, being one of many children to a once wealthy family in Pasadena. He tells of the misfortune that came upon his family and how it affected his own life. The downturn with his family caused him to lose all sense of self-worth. However, the shelter has caused him to start believing in himself again, wanting to improve himself and his life.

“I really appreciate this place,” he says, “Thank you for letting a person of my caliber come into such a wonderful place like this.”

Many more people like Al have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Winter Shelters: Glendale

Since December 1st, the LA county Winter Shelters have been providing assistance, meals, and housing for those experiencing homelessness all around the Los Angeles area.

Looking for a safe haven from the winter cold, the rainy weather, and hopelessness of living in a situation of homelessness, hundreds of people have found the EIMAGO shelters. EIMAGO is a Union Rescue Mission subsidiary, who has worked with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to provide four additional shelters for the winter months. These shelters will be closing March 15th, a recent worry on many guests’ minds.

The Glendale winter shelter has been a place called home by over a hundred people these past months. Over this past weekend, numbers were higher than usual due to the rainy nights. Having decided to never turn anyone away, the shelter provided beds to over 200 individuals Saturday night.

Dinner was also served to an over-capacity crowd with the help of volunteers, people who dedicate many nights each week to this particular shelter.

Return back tomorrow for some stories of those currently calling Glendale Winter Shelter their home.

URM Day of Prayer Held March 1st

Dear Friends,

We are declaring March 1st as a Day of Prayer for Union Rescue Mission. Every day in this work is a day of prayer, but we’d like to ask that as our Board of Directors meets together on a Prayer Teleconference tomorrow, that you please take some time during the day tomorrow to pray for Union Rescue Mission, our Board of Directors, our staff, donors, volunteers, and our guests.

We’d specifically like to you to spend some time praying for our Senior Leadership Team, as they take a couple of days away to strengthen our sustainability plans and retrofit Union Rescue Mission for the future. We are asking for wisdom from above to help us make the best decisions, and we desperately need your prayers.

Culver City Stories: Meet Kimberley

Tonight is Kimberley’s second night at the Culver City winter shelter. Kimberly is 43 and moved to Venice beach less than two weeks ago. She is looking for work, wanting to find a restaurant job. Having work experience in Vegas casinos for the past fifteen years, she is confident in her ability to find a job. In the mean time, she has no place to live.

Having heard about the winter shelter from a man she met on the beach, Kimberly came eager for a hot shower and bed. “This place is a blessing, I’m warm, I’m clean, what more could I ask for?”

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.

Culver City Stories: Meet Jamie

Jamie has been coming to the winter shelter for 2 months, ever since he last was released from prison. He explained his past as one full of drugs, crime, and having experienced homelessness. In and out of prison his entire life, he has spent over 20 years imprisoned for various crimes. But now,  he is ready to start over.

Since being released, Jamie spends his days on Venice beach playing his guitar and performing on the boardwalk. At 5:30 he catches the second bus to the Culver City winter shelter. “This place is my stepping stone. It is my transition, to get my life back on the line.” He is hoping the shelter will be staying open longer, long enough for him to save up his own money.

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.