3 min read
Reach out. Connect. Engage. Reconcile.
“The enemy got his hooks into me early. I’d been using for roughly 40 years.”
Soldiers risk their lives to preserve our freedom. They witness tragedy. They leave their families for months at a time. They drive their bodies and minds to the brink. They learn to mask their emotions, to show no pain, to live with deprivation. And sometimes it’s all too much.
(Statistics from a joint study by the Dept. of Veteran Affairs and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development)
“The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, ‘veterans helping veterans’ groups. Programs that seem to work best feature transitional housing with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.
“Government money, while important, is currently limited, and available services are often at capacity. It is critical, therefore, that community groups reach out to help provide the support, resources and opportunities most Americans take for granted: housing, employment and health care. Veterans who participate in collaborative programs are afforded more services and have higher chances of becoming tax-paying, productive citizens again” (from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans).
UGM didn’t write the paragraphs above, but UGM does much of what is described as being the most effective way to help veterans: community-based, non-profit, camaraderie, living in structured, substance-free environments. . . The Union Gospel Mission is providing what homeless and at-risk veterans need. You can help. Three meals and a night’s lodging costs $12.94. Donate Here to Help
3 min read
“The enemy got his hooks into me early. I’d been using for roughly 40 years.”
4 min read
"For some people, they’ve never seen anything different, so UGM shows them something different." We interviewed Beth Guske about the issue of...
4 min read
A little over a year ago, Helen, 57, was living on the streets of Coeur d’Alene.