There was a time I worked for one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country. Fancy suits, expense accounts, travel, influence. I had all that and more—and I lost it all. By my early 50s, I was living out of my car on a sideroad in back of a warehouse for almost two years, totally alone, suicidal, and drinking nonstop. Alcohol and homelessness were destroying me, and I was just counting the days to the end. When a child experiences horrible abuse, there are so many ways his life can go wrong. You can break a child to a point where he’ll never be normal, whatever normal is. That’s what happened to me.
GREG'S CHANGED LIFE STORY
A new path full of promise.
INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER
“God used you to set me on this new path and gave me my life back. I am so grateful for you and cannot thank you enough.” —Greg
I spent my entire childhood in foster care and an adoptive home. There was absolutely no love or care. I was beaten, starved, locked in a backyard all night, or locked in a bathroom for weeks at a time. At school, I was subject to racial epithets and more beatings. My childhood was so traumatic, I could not look at myself in a mirror for years. I hated myself that much. When you’ve never experienced anything but hate and beatings, it affects everything you do. You’ll do anything to escape yourself. I started drinking in 5th grade and never looked back. I was probably an alcoholic by high school. Don’t get me wrong, I made something of my life. Despite my drinking, I earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in finance and accounting, and I had a great career for a while. But my drinking got worse and worse, and eventually it destroyed my career and my life. In 2019, however, God got me out of my car and set me out on a new path. He led me straight to Union Rescue Mission—not to stop drinking, but to heal the wounds that led me here. It wasn’t easy. I had to face all the demons of my past, all the self-destructive feelings, all the brutal memories, and I had to do it sober. Yet I didn’t have to do it alone. The chaplains here showed me unconditional love, forgiveness, care, and acceptance, which I had NEVER experienced in my life. I also got into therapy to deal with my past. The chaplains and my therapist were the face of God tome. They helped me see that I’m not Greg the abused child; I’m Greg, child of God. I also had the support of someone else, someone I’ll probably never meet: you. Today, I’ve been sober for more than two years. Thank you for giving me this chance. God used you to set me on this new path and gave me my life back. I am so grateful for you and cannot thank you enough
HOMELESSNESS ON THE RISE
Death on the Streets
Offering true hope and healing to all the families we serve at Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens, THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT!
Last year more of our homeless neighbors in Los Angeles died in their tents, vehicles, or on the streets than ever before. At least 1,383 unsheltered men, women, and children died—32% more than the year before. Tragically, we expect that number to rise even more in 2021.Unfortunately, the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness is predicted to grow by 86%. Here are a few indicators of just how life-threatening homelessness really is in Los Angeles. Please know that these aren’t just stats. They are people. Men, women, children, mothers, fathers, sons, grandparents, grandchildren, friends …
OVER THE EDGE 2x MATCH!
Thanks to a generous donor every dollar given to Union Rescue Mission for
Over the Edge will be matched 100% — up to $500,000
YOUR gifts are bringing families home!
Help Save a Life This Summer
Los Angeles is experiencing a painful rise in the number of families falling into homelessness, especially mothers and young children. Many of these mothers and children are trying to survive in cars, garages, tents, abandoned buildings, or worse.
Union Rescue Mission has always promised that we will never turn away a single mother with children, a single father with kids, or intact families. We are the ONLY shelter on Skid Row that does this.
Over the past 18 months, as the number of families seeking our help grows, we’ve been challenged to keep that promise. YOU can help them. Together, we can help them rebuild their lives.
Thanks to compassionate friends like you, we’re meeting that challenge. And with our new Angeles House for mothers and children set to open soon, your gifts will help even more.
Every $58.88 you give provides a day of care for one mother and child. Please give today to help save more families from the streets. Thank you for all you do to help men, women, children, and families devastated by homelessness in Los Angeles. Let’s bring them home!
UPCOMING EVENT:
URM Over the Edge
Friday, October 1 | Saturday, October 2
9 AM
Hilton Universal City: 555 Universal Hollywood Dr. Universal City, CA 91608
Save the Date! Take the leap to fight homelessness in Los Angeles! Interested in a thrilling new way to help fight homelessness in Los Angeles? Union Rescue Mission, in partnership with Over the Edge, is hosting a unique fundraising event, offering participants a once-in-a-lifetime chance to rappel down the 24-story Hilton Universal City building. Individuals participating in the 2-day event are required to raise a minimum of $1,000. Proceeds will help those being served by Union Rescue Mission.
STORIES FROM SKID ROW
To learn more about Gerald’s story and how your gifts have helped her find her way home, visit urm.org/stories.
NOTES FROM ANDY
Speaking the Unspeakable
Every day this year, five more precious women, children and men will die on the streets of Los Angeles County, due to complications related to homelessness. Over the past 4.5 years, nearly 6,000 people have died. But it’s not just that people die—they die brutally and alone, many are victims of robbery and rape. Most deaths are from overdose, especially from fentanyl mixed with meth, heart disease, hit-and-run accidents, violence, COVID-19, and extreme heat or cold. In fact, on Labor Day weekend last year, nearly 17 people died in the110-degree heat we experienced. Why are the streets of Los Angeles so deadly? It’s simple. No city in the United States leaves more people on the streets than Los Angeles. Almost 75% of our neighbors experiencing homelessness have absolutely no access to any kind of shelter. They have absolutely no means of escaping the cold, heat, violence, fear, deprivation, and life-threatening consequences of the streets. We simply must do more, not only here at Union Rescue Mission, but also in our entire city. Thanks to the extraordinary support of friends like you, we’ll continue to do everything we can.
You give me hope, and I thank God for you.
Blessings,
Rev. Andy Bales
President & CEO
To read Andy’s blog, please visit revandysblog.com