Member Spotlight: Seattle's Union Gospel Mission

In 1932, at the height of the Great Depression, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission  got their start as a soup kitchen, feeding and caring for those who were suffering. Their programs have evolved in the 91 years since they began, but their mission and vision are unchanged.
 
UGM’s mission is to bring the love of Jesus and hope for a new life to their homeless neighbors. Their vision is to see every homeless neighbor – beloved, redeemed and restored. They support the greater Seattle area – including South King County – in a variety of ways.
 
Survival
 
This is the most visible stage where we see people living on the streets, in the midst of addictions and barely surviving. The volunteer-driven Union Gospel Mission provides Survival Programs to proactively offer lifesaving assistance through:

• Search + rescue
• Shower trailer
• Mental health outreach

 
Stabilization
 
UGM meets basic needs as people work through detox and try to move forward with their lives. UGM does this through Stabilization Programs:

• Enhanced emergency shelters
• Post-hospital recovery
• Bridge programs
• Prison ministries
• Spanish ministries
• Dental services
• Legal services

 
Recovery
 
UGM offers long-term residential recovery programs to support their clients with counseling, relapse prevention and more. Their recovery programs include:

• Men’s recovery program at Riverton Place
• Men’s recovery program at Capitol Hill
• Women’s recovery program at Hope Place

 
Post-Graduation
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Once an individual has graduated from a recovery program, the mission helps with housing, job training, continuing education, connecting with a church community, and more. Post-graduation programs include:

• Post recovery support
• Continuing education
• Job placement
• Alumni aftercare

 
In 2022, UGM’s 90th year, the 501(c)3 nonprofit:

• Served 342,385 meals
• Distributed 28,757 blankets
• Provided 985 hot showers and 75,367 nights of safe shelter
• Provided 10,920 sessions of counseling/care management sessions
• Had 40,807 attendees at Bible studies and devotions
• Supported 756 people on their path to self-sufficiency
• They had a 63% graduation recovery success rate.

 
The majority of UGM’s funding – 64% – comes from individual contributions. In 2022, the organization received total contributions of $35,519,975, including $22,565,755 from individual contributors. UGM also received support from local churches, companies and organizations, foundations, estates, in-kind contributions and events.

Seattle's Union Gospel Mission tells their story this way:

"We search. We listen. We walk alongside. We offer hope. We work to break the cycle of homelessness and addiction. It all starts with dignity — in the form of a blanket, a hot shower, a home-cooked meal, a warm place to sleep, and friendship. It continues with addiction recovery, one-on-one counseling, and long term solutions."
 
Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission joined the Covington Chamber in August 2023.
 
To learn more about Seattle’s UGM, or to learn how you can help, visit UGM.org online.

(Photos courtesy of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission.)

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"Homelessness is not a resource issue. It is a relationship issue."