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What is Hope Gardens?

The internet has been buzzing and we’ve had a lot of requests asking what, exactly, is Hope Gardens? So we wanted to give you a little more insight into what Hope Gardens is, and what it means to many mothers, children, and senior ladies.

Hope Gardens opened in 2007 on 77 acres adjacent to the Angeles National Forest. Hope Gardens Family Center is a transitional living and permanent supportive housing facility where about 120 women and children find sanctuary from the dangerous streets of Skid Row. Through the Mission’s comprehensive program, families progress from homelessness to independent living.

Senior ladies enjoy the comforts of Hope Garden’s “Sequoia Lodge”. This beautiful and safe environment is a far cry from the dangers they encountered on the streets of Skid Row. Children are able to play in safety – riding their bikes, enjoying the playground, or playing a pick-up game of basketball. Mothers can rest assured that their children are in a safe and loving environment, worlds away from the drug dealers and criminals on the streets. Classes are also offered to help moms learn life skills, such as financial skills, coping skills, and parenting classes. Many women are able to take their GED’s, continue their education, and pursue dreams and careers they never thought possible!

All in all, Hope Gardens is a place of peace and safety, where women and children can find refuge to pick up the pieces of their lives and start over. We hope you will take the time to watch the videos below to meet some of the amazing women who were able to turn their lives around while staying at Hope Gardens Family Center.

 

Kasha was able to re-start her life at Hope Gardens and become the woman and mother she had always strived to be.

Shannon was able to find solace at Hope Gardens while her family was going through a difficult time.

 

Hope Gardens Update

As of June 24th, we have raised an astounding $2,661,412.51 towards our goal of $2.8 million to save Hope Gardens Family Center. We need just $138,587.49 by June 30th to reach the goal!

All gifts sent in by June 30th will be matched, up to $500,000, thanks to a very generous donor! Please consider doing one or all of the following to help us keep Hope Gardens open for the mothers, children, and senior ladies that call Hope Gardens home.

Here is how you can help:

1)   Donate. Every gift we receive by June 30th will be matched up to $500,000.

2)   Text “URM” at 85944 to donate $10. Please reply “yes” when prompted.

3)   Invite your friends to become our Facebook fan. We will receive $1 for every new fan up to $25,000.

4)   Spread the news. Share our story on your blog, re-post our blog, or re-tweet our Twitter messages.

If everyone does just one thing, it will make the difference.  Thank you for stepping up to meet the need.

Critical News: Hope Gardens Update

We want to keep you in the loop on the crisis regarding Hope Gardens, so here is a quick update.

First of all, we are so grateful for everyone’s support – you have been amazing. We certainly could not do this without you. In the past 5 days, we’ve already raised a miraculous $558,150, bringing our amount still needed down to $2.2million.

Keeping the doors open to Hope Gardens Family Center is only possible through the support of generous people like you. You can make a difference by:

1)       Donating at urm.org/keephopegardens

2)       Becoming our fan on Facebook – we will receive $1 for every new fan, up to $25,000!

3)       Share this message on Facebook, Twitter, and in blogs. Tell all your friends and have them do the same!

4)       Text URM to 85944 to donate $10.

Austin’s Story: “Why Not Give Back to the Community In Our Area”

 

One of the steps in our plan to end homelessness in Los Angeles is to “stop making excuses”.

Austin, one of our volunteers, is a prime example of doing just that.  As an Eagle Scout, he decided to use what he had to benefit Union Rescue Mission and give back to those in his community.  Please take a moment to watch this video of Austin, and see how one person really can make an impact.

Each of us has talents and resources that can be used to make a difference in the lives of other people.  We encourage you to join our movement to end homelessness as we know it in Los Angeles.

 

Project Restart Kicks Off With Open House

Union Rescue Mission and its affiliate Eimago, Inc. unite in a

historic partnership between the City and the County of Los Angeles

 

Through a new grant program administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Eimago has transformed a triplex and duplex generously donated by the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency.  The project is designed to provide emergency housing for nine families that are experiencing homelessness.  Operations are being funded by the County of Los Angeles for the sole purpose of getting vulnerable families off of the dangerous streets of Skid Row and into a safe family environment.

 

Come celebrate the launch of Project Restart with an Open House and tour. The Project Restart Emergency Housing Program provides an environment that promotes healing for families experiencing homelessness.

 

Project Restart Open House and Barbeque

Thursday, May 13th 2010

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

2528 Orange Drive, Los Angeles 90016

Families in this unique program are placed in safe housing away from the precarious streets of Skid Row where support staff will assist them in getting back on their feet. The mission is to provide a wide range of supportive case management, housing advocacy, employment assistance, children’s tutoring and after-school programs, along with other needed services, to remove the obstacles for these vulnerable families so they can rapidly return to permanent independent housing. Partnerships with a variety of other service providers both on-site and in the community make a way for educational support, financial management, medical, dental, legal, life skills training and mental health support.

 

From Andy Bales, CEO of Eimago and the Union Rescue Mission, “This program is a historic partnership between the City and the County.  We need more often to see these two bodies come together in one accord to tackle a problem like homelessness.  This is a complex issue and it takes a village.  We need more opportunities where community based organizations, faith-based organizations and all facets of local government come together with a common purpose to say ‘together we are stronger and we can solve homelessness, one family at a time’.”

 

Union Rescue Mission

Since 1891 The Union Rescue Mission (URM) has been providing a variety of services to those who find themselves homeless and impoverished in Los Angeles.  URM’s subsistence services are delivered free of charge to those in need and without any requirements – providing emergency programs that offer food, showers, hygiene items, mail services and shelter.  For those seeking a program of reintegration, URM provides recovery programs for men, women and children using education, job training, counseling, legal assistance, twelve-step programs, transitional housing, medical care, dental services, healthy meals, safe shelter and clean clothing. In June 2007, Hope Gardens Family Center opened in Sylmar – an innovative solution for families transitioning from homelessness. 

Eimago, Inc.

Eimago is a public benefit corporation and a strategic partner with the Union Rescue Mission building on its 118 years of service to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. Eimago works with public sector agencies and funding to extend the continuum of care for the clients at URM and similar agencies serving those who find themselves homeless.

 

Leveraging provides additional programs that offer sustainability and longer-term care beyond emergency shelter for targeted populations, such as those who find themselves homeless, the addicted, those released from incarceration, veterans, the elderly and low income families.

eNews Update April 2010

We are blessed with amazing, selfless volunteers all year round!  We thank God for each and every one of them.

In honor of National Volunteer Month, we are highlighting a few of the recent and upcoming activities that are only made possible by the generosity of our volunteers.

Beautifying Hope Gardens

On April 24th, a total of 150 volunteers from five different organizations came out to Hope Gardens for a Day of Service! Thanks to their hard work, we were able to complete projects ranging gardening to painting.  To see our photos and read more about the event, check out our blog here, check out our blog here.

 

A Special Treat for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and we are very excited for this year’s celebration!  Both Glamour Project and a very generous clothing company have done free makeovers for our moms at Hope Gardens.  And on Thursday, we will be hosting a luncheon for moms and senior ladies thanks to Daily Grill and our amazing volunteers!

 

Hunt.Feed.Fish.

We are looking forward to having volunteers from Hunt.Fish.Feed come serve a meal in a couple of weeks. The Sportsman Channel will be making a stop at URM during their 11-city “Hunt.Fish.Feed” tour to help provide food for people experiencing homelessness! Their initiative is unique–tapping into a new food source for those who are in need by providing meals “made possible by sportsmen to whom hunting is synonymous with harvesting”.

Again, we give praise for our volunteers who are making a life-changing difference in the lives of men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in LA.

 

Blessings,

Andy Bales, CEO

 

PS. Saturday, 9/11, is the National Day of Service and Remembrance and we will be having an all-out volunteer day!  Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information!

 

Daily Grill Honors Mothers with Luncheon

Yesterday, the mothers from Hope Gardens and URM came together to enjoy a beautiful luncheon courtesy of the Daily Grill! Nearly 80 moms were able to enjoy a delicious meal, relax kids-free, and listen to a special performance by renowned gospel singer Janie Jackson.

IMG_1060 

After the luncheon, all the women were treated to gift bags containing awesome bath and body products thanks to Maly’s Beauty Supply!

Mother's Day Luncheon 2 

Thanks to Daily Grill, Maly’s, and all of our volunteers for making this special event possible!

You can check out more pictures from event on our Flickr Slideshow: