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Jim and Ken

5 min read

What Causes Homelessness? (It Isn't Always Addiction)

We talk a lot about the cycle of homelessness and addiction here at UGM. We know that substance abuse is a contributing factor for a large percentage of individuals experiencing homelessness. However, it’s also important to recognize that every day...

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2 min read

Sharing the [Food] Love

While the COVID crisis has presented UGM with numerous challenges – masks, social distancing, reduced capacity, cancellation of events – it has also...

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6 min read

Working For Eternal Rewards

Feeding the hungry, sheltering the vulnerable and restoring people into the community through the gospel sounds like very admirable, spiritual work....

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5 min read

In Their Words: Two Men Share Their Stories of Recovery

Tyler and Mike recently spoke at UGM's phase promotion event, where they were honored for completing phase 4. "Just a few years ago I was lost and...

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4 min read

God-Dependent Ministry: One Woman's Example

As much as we might like to have a sense of control, Union Gospel Mission is not in the business of gathering broken people, fixing them up, and...

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5 min read

From Crisis to Creativity: How the Pandemic Has Impacted the Future of UGM Youth Outreach

In many ways, understanding the present, let alone planning for the future, has felt impossible this year. If we’re honest, 2020 has presented us all...

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3 min read

A Lot of Love: How a Used Car Dealership Provides Homeless Services

Car shopping along E Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley can feel like running a gauntlet of clambering salespeople, flashy marketing ploys, and banners...

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5 min read

Women's Recovery: Reflecting the God Who Sees

As UGM's Women's Lead LIFE Recovery Counselor, Jana Ross helps dozens of women and children every week who are suffering from the effects of trauma,...

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4 min read

Addiction Recovery: A Healing of the Heart

Mike is moving into the role of Director of Men’s Recovery as Jerry Reese retires.

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4 min read

From Victim to Victor: a Story of LIFE Recovery

“In a weird way, I felt protected on the streets. I was outside of time.” Amber Fries spent much of her life as a young adult running from the sense...

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4 min read

Loved into New Life: Two Stories of Recovery

Zach, 21, says he grew up at UGM. When he entered the Men’s Recovery program, he had dropped out of high school and never had a job. What he did have...

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3 min read

Total Surrender: A Requisite for Recovery

Spoken by Sarah Johnson at a 2020 phase promotion for UGM Women’s Recovery at Anna Ogden Hall. Good evening and thank you for coming tonight. I got a...

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4 min read

UGM Core Value: Stewardship

By Dean Bitz, UGM Director of Finance and Operations Stewardship is more than how we handle our money. We steward God’s Word, we steward his people,...

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4 min read

Listen to Understand

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. –...

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4 min read

7 Reasons to Donate Your Vehicle to UGM Motors

1) You invest in renewed lives. When you donate a vehicle to UGM, all proceeds from the sale go directly toward improving lives in your community....

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3 min read

Safety is the First Step to Recovery

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 Under God’s Roof Joey Reyes defies homeless...

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4 min read

Checking in With Youth Outreach

In a perfect world, children and teens would grow up with the knowledge that they are valuable and loved. They wouldn’t have to ask for it, they...

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5 min read

Honoring Jerry Reese: An Authentic Man

Jerry Reese, Men’s Recovery Director at UGM, has a large stick mounted on his office wall. Underneath, there’s a plaque in Latin: “Lignum unum deum”...

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4 min read

Kellie: helping kids win at life

Kellie Ingram is the UGM Youth Outreach Program Coordinator. In this blog post, we asked her to explain a bit about what she does and why she does...

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4 min read

Come to the Rock: God's Promise in Crisis

Does the earth beneath your feet feel a bit like it’s constantly shifting? You are essential. You are not essential. Support local business! Why are...

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3 min read

Bread and Water: a diet for the desperate

COVID-19 created some strange shortages – toilet paper being the first and most memorable. But bread was another, quickly followed by flour as people...

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4 min read

2020 Vision: Walk Humbly

Note: We hope you'll join us as we meditate on Micah 6:8 throughout 2020. This is the second post in a series of reflections. (Read the introduction...

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1 min read

Easter 2020

Ever since my husband and I started a family more than 30 years ago, Easter has been a big deal at our house: New dresses for the little girls,...

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5 min read

Jessie: Hatred Fueled by Trauma & Neglect

Jessie hated homeless people. “I despised anyone who was living off the system. I blamed them for my life being hard. In a drunken rage, I threw beer...

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5 min read

Emily: Living Life Loved

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5 Emily was in a dark, dark place. Her addiction ended her 14-year...

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