Union Gospel Mission
5 min read
Gratitude in Recovery
One of UGM’s core values is Thankfulness, and this month we reflect on the pursuit of gratitude in our day-to-day lives and in the work of healing...
By David Nicosia, UGM Men's Recovery participant
When I became homeless, there were so many feelings that led up to it. How stupid was I to allow myself to give up, quit jobs, drink too much the night before work, cheat on women who really loved me! How stupid I was to procrastinate on my bills, and feed myself alcohol and drugs instead of a home cooked meal! How did I get to be so dumb?
Why can't I remember that I had it so much worse as a child and how I had fought so hard to stay alive after I had run away from home! If I could only see how much of a success I became after all my childhood wounds. I've been able to get myself into a home of my own, have a car to drive, and food in my belly.
How dumb I felt when I decided that when things got hard I had to turn to drugs and alcohol, over and over again! I would repeat the same routine, get up and fall down.
I believe now that all of us homeless have very similar backgrounds; we all come from broken homes, and then continue to break every home we ever have, and we just give up! We begin to accept that we could never change, we could never be loved, and no one wants us!
And before we know it, feeling stupid and dumb turns into hopelessness, then homelessness. Then we spiral into the depths of Hell on Earth and begin to only hear the screams of madness we create within our minds, bringing us into a trapped mental prison that some may never break free from.
Or God appears to us - at least those of us who haven't let the screams drown Him out! And then my friends, there's hope.
From love and relationship addict to finding love for myself through God.
Hope can start with a meal. Give hope by providing food for someone homeless.
3 min read
A Pathfinder Responding to the Call from God
by Daniel Dailey, UGM volunteer I used to think, “If I’m going to be involved with anything like UGM, it needs to be effective.” The Holy Spirit...
4 min read
World Homeless Day
Every year on October 10, people around the world take a day to acknowledge the needs of those in their communities facing homelessness, and we...
Homeless, Hopeless, and Alone
Merrily Roe, former staff writer : June 17, 2015
“I thought it was me, all by myself. I’ve got to do everything, period. No help. And then, I walked through the east door.” Before coming to UGM,...
“There is always a way out”: Words of hope from Debra, Bennie, and Sabra
Genevieve Gromlich, former Content and Communications Manager : September 6, 2023
For our neighbors caught in cycles of homelessness, abuse, and addiction, we want to share the message that there is a way out. There is hope for a...
Safe Shelter and Opportunity: Meet Tyler, UGM Lead Resident Assistant
Jessica Morgan, Director of Marketing and Communications : October 25, 2023
With the turn of the season, our attention shifts towards staying warm and preparing for the onset of frigid weather. Simmering soups in the kitchen,...