Program areas at Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities
Men's programssee schedule o for program service accomplishmentsmen's programsfor men in crisis, the Mission provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and transformational programming, with services tailored to meet the needs of each individual. When they come to the Mission seeking help, all men receive food, safe shelter, clean clothing, access to showers, personal hygiene items, and secure phone charging. In fy2023, the emergency shelter provided beds for a total of 1,643 men an average of 151 men per day. Additionally, in partnership with ramsey county, the Mission provided an emergency overnight warming space during dangerously low temperatures in the winter which received 6,293 visits. A cooling center was available at the hottest part of the day during excessive heat warnings in the summer.facilities include a total of 342 beds for emergency shelter, transitional housing and residential programming for men. The emergency shelter has 182 beds available, while 160 beds are allocated to transitional housing and long-term, residential programs. Over the course of fy2023, 1,817 men were served in the men's facility. This amounted to 100,962 nights of safe shelter.residents of long-term programs are guided through a transformative process of addiction recovery, mental health therapy, spiritual growth, education, financial-skills training, and job preparedness. These programs support men as they make progress toward healing, self-sufficiency and stable housing. This holistic approach to programs and services provides the wraparound care a person needs to get back on their feet and lead a stable life. Beyond emergency shelter, 276 men were served through our transitional housing and residential programs in fy2023. This was an average of 106 men per day. These programs include the acts training program, christ recovery center, housing plus and veterans' housing program.in fy2023, 109 men in transitional housing attended the acts training program, which is designed to help men overcome trauma, recover from substance use, improve their academic abilities, obtain employment and move toward stable housing. Wraparound care includes mental health services, life-skills classes, faith formation, adult education, job-skills training and financial skills instruction. Individuals are given the skills that lead to stability and independent living.the christ recovery center is a residential recovery program designed to help men struggling with alcoholism and addiction. In fy2023, 116 men were offered the tools needed to break free from the grip of addiction by a multi-disciplinary care team, which includes professional mental health counselors, licensed drug and alcohol counselors, chaplains, and a faith-based program following the tenets of alcoholics anonymous (a.a.).in fy2023, 27 men participated in housing plus, a transitional housing program for men with a source of income that serves as a bridge to stable housing for those experiencing homelessness. Residents receive safe shelter while participating in flexible programming to allow for employment outside the Mission. Wraparound care available includes mental health services, life-skills classes, faith formation, and financial skills instruction. Individuals are given the skills that lead to stability and independent living.a successful pilot program led to the formal launch of the veterans' housing program in july of 2023 to serve u.s. veterans in need of a safe place to stay as a bridge to stable housing. This program served 24 veterans who were offered wraparound care including mental health services, life-skills classes, financial-skills instruction, community support and more.licensed social workers in support services come alongside guests and residents to help make the path toward a person's next goals in their lives as easy as possible. In fy2023, support services offered resource navigation, case management, and care coordination to 464 men (2,231 engagements).
Women and children's programssee schedule o for program service accomplishmentswomen and children's programsthe naomi family program provides transitional shelter and housing for single women and mothers with children (0-10 years) in crisis who are escaping abuse, the effects of addiction, poverty and/or homelessness. An integrated team of therapists, counselors, case managers, and chaplains help women and children progress in healing from trauma, address chemical dependency, grow in their faith, and gain the tools needed for self-sufficiency and stable housing. Wraparound support includes care that focuses on mental and emotional health, spiritual growth, chemical dependence recovery, education, life-skills training, financial-skills development and job readiness. In fy2023, 180 women and children found a safe place to rebuild their lives in the naomi family program. This amounted to 16,324 nights of safe shelter.the Mission's licensed and accredited child development center provides childcare and early childhood education to children ages six weeks to kindergarten. In fy2023, 31 children developed skills to be ready for kindergarten while learning about god's love through a caring and supportive environment. The child development center fosters curiosity, creativity, independence and self-esteem using a developmentally appropriate curriculum that enhances spiritual, social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth in young children. Originally developed to care for the children of mothers participating in the naomi family program, today the child development center also serves families from the greater saint Paul area, including children of the graduates of the naomi family program. The child development center continues to hold the nationally recognized naeyc accreditation and the highest possible 4-star parent aware rating.
Food servicessee schedule o for program service accomplishmentsfood servicesat Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, hope begins with a meal. For the many people who lack food each day, the Mission provides meals, no questions asked. In fy2023, 198,059 nutritious meals were provided to individuals facing hunger or homelessness. The kitchen at the Mission serves three meals a day, 365 days a year. The men's campus dining hall served approximately 15,157 on-site meals monthly. In addition, 1,374 meals were served monthly as part of the women's and children's program.during the week of thanksgiving, over 20,000 complete take-home meals were given to families in need, including a frozen turkey. Approximately 1,840 meals were delivered to local senior and low-income housing complexes for thanksgiving and christmas. Overall, more than 969 meals were served on-site during the thanksgiving, christmas and easter holidays, a tradition that began in 1958.
Adult education and training (lifenet and career services) adult education and training provides a personalized approach to education and job-skills training. To address gaps in education and equip individuals for the future, the approach includes life-skills training, financial literacy courses, support for obtaining a ged, help enrolling and attending post-secondary classes and/or certifications, and guidance for various career pathways. This opportunity takes men and women from where they are to where they want to go, building on their education and life experience to guide them into a self-sustaining future. The lifenet program offers a self-paced, computer-based curriculum. Program offerings include career skills and job-search strategies, a variety of workshops throughout the year to enhance personal and professional development, assistance with rsum building, and the opportunity to participate in mock interviews.in fy2023, 95 men and women participated in the lifenet adult education program. Fifty-five percent of students who exited the program completed lifenet successfully. An on-site employment resource center provided internet and computer access to equip men to find employment through 143 engagements with staff. Career services provided one-on-one coaching to 60 individuals in fy2023, assisting them in achieving their long-term educational and employment goals.mental health care the Mission's on-site mental health clinic provides free, comprehensive mental health care for men, women, and children staying at the Mission. Recognizing that people seeking emergency shelter are among those with the most acute need for these vital services, this clinic helps overcome barriers to mental health care by providing on-site professional therapists, free appointments, and shorter wait times than other options. This year, 327 guests and residents participated in individual and group therapy, totaling 5,686 clinic engagements. Additionally, therapists from the mental health clinic provide real-time support for guests and residents experiencing acute mental health episodes.community involvement Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities has a rich history of community involvement through the Mission's volunteer program, faithful donors, community partnerships and awareness campaigns. In fy2023, 3,376 volunteers contributed 17,127 hours of service through serving meals, mentorship, leading bible studies and chapel services, tutoring, facility enhancement projects, and more. Approximately 102,734 pounds of clothing and goods and 85,876 pounds of food were donated to the Mission in fy2023. Dozens of partnerships with churches, community organizations, schools, businesses, nonprofits, families and individuals contribute to the success of the programs and services at Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. As the Mission gains awareness through media outlets, public campaigns, social media, web presence, networking, outreach, fundraising initiatives and events, the community has become increasingly aware of the needs of men, women and children experiencing homelessness, hunger and addiction in the Twin Cities.