Union Gospel Mission Association of Spokane

The Union Gospel Mission is part of the Continuum of Care, providing food, shelter, clothing, showers and medical care in a clean-and-sober environment. Through case management, the hurdles facing each individual are recorded and addressed, goals are set, and together the participant and the case manager create an action plan. That action plan may include connecting with other agencies - Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Frontier Behavioral Health (for mental illnesses), Fulcrum Institute (for those with felony records), Career Path Services, Goodwill and the Veterans Administration (for homeless veterans), and more. An individual may be directed toward one of UGM's long-term recovery programs to address addiction or toward the Employment Ready Program for the tools necessary to overcome barriers to finding and keeping a job. The end goal is for each individual who comes through our doors to return to society as a God-dependent, contributing member.

1) Clean-and-sober facilities.
2) Case management. Each guest is assigned a case manager within two weeks of arrival. Their current situation is assessed and an action plan is created.
3) Holistic recovery. Many of the people coming through our doors have experienced numerous Adverse Childhood Experiences, trauma that cannot be addressed in 30, 60 or 90 days. UGM's program averages 18 months and includes counseling, group therapy, life skills classes, Bible study, job training and an educational component.
4) Ongoing recovery assistance. We seek to walk alongside our residents even after they leave our shelters, connecting them to mentors, support groups and churches who will support their ongoing recovery.
5) Job training and experience. UGM provides work experience within the ministry at our automotive enterprise, thrift stores, food services and maintenance departments.

Founded in 1951, UGM has been meeting the needs of the poor and homeless in the Inland Northwest for more than 70 years. What began as a soup kitchen has grown into four shelters, three long-term recovery programs, a camp for underprivileged youth, two thrift stores and an automotive enterprise. UGM has a staff of 160 employees and more than 500 volunteers who serve on a regular basis. Trained chemical dependency counselors work in each recovery program to address the issues surrounding substance abuse. Each shelter has a free medical clinic where volunteer medical professionals work to address physical health issues. A learning center at each shelter helps residents to address educational deficiencies and improve their computer skills. An Employment Ready program provides job training, and job coaches help residents to prepare resumes and do job searches. Additional job experience is provided through short-term employment at UGM Thrift Stores, UGM Motors, food services and maintenance.

The following statistics are based on an evaluation of residents from the past four years.
UGM long-term recovery programs have a 32% completion rate.
Of the people who finished our LIFE Recovery program in the past four years (93 total), UGM has been able to maintain contact with 75% of them.
Of the 75% with whom we have maintained contact, 70% have maintained their sobriety.
The next step is an additional emphasis on providing ongoing recovery for individuals after they leave our shelters. Statistics show that individuals who maintain their recovery for five years have an 85% chance of continuing in recovery for the rest of their lives. Our next goal is to help as many of our residents as possible reach the 5-year mark. The plan is to help them establish a strong support network outside of UGM shelters: job, mentor, church, 12-step meetings, etc. We have established an Aftercare program with transition teams, and our goal going forward is to bolster that support.