Teria Kelley is Resident Services Coordinator at the UGM Center for Women and Children in Coeur d'Alene. But in her own words, her job title is, "House Mom with 70 Kids." We asked her some questions about her life and her job, and her voice exudes tenderness as she talks about working with women and children dealing with homelessness, addiction and abuse. 

Caleb Unruh is not your typical used car salesman, for several reasons.

His background, for one: When it became clear that his initial dream of being a missionary pilot wasn’t the right path for him, he looked around for a job that would support his family: his wife, Nicole, son, Asher, and daughter, Aspen (plus their dog, Archer).

Caleb, who grew up in a strong Christian family and counts his early decision to follow Jesus as “the best decision I ever made,” still wanted his work to be meaningful. “Isaiah 40:8 says, ‘The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.’ I love how this verse puts the journey we are all on in perspective. It allows me to refocus on what really matters, which is God’s eternal kingdom.”

Generally, I think of myself as a grateful person. If you asked me, are you grateful? I would most likely respond, “How could I not be? I have a devoted, attentive husband of 35 years and four adult children who live close by and still seem to enjoy spending time with us. I live in a comfortable house surrounded by books and more books. Out my door is the beautiful Inland Northwest. I can walk to the river or hike through Ponderosa pines. I have good friends, a meaningful job. Who wouldn’t be grateful?”

Kimmi (Halbrook) Lane arrived at the UGM Crisis Shelter nine and a half years ago as a guest. Little did she know it was the beginning of a journey that would lead her to work with women in crisis right here at UGM. Kimmi is the administrative assistant at the Crisis Shelter, but she wears too many hats there to put them all in her job title.

You can read the first part of Kimmi’s story here. This time around, we asked her a few questions about working at the Crisis Shelter from her unique perspective.

Editor's note: For World Homeless Day, 10.10.18, we’re turning the keyboard over to a few of our current and former residents. Who better to explain what homeless people really need?

Phillip: Face to face, one at a time

I have lived at the Union Gospel Mission in Spokane for the past 14 months. My homelessness was caused by alcohol and drug dependency. Keeping a job and a place of my own has been impossible for me.

I have felt alone, afraid and unlovable for all of my 41 years. My confusion has lead me down the dark path of isolation, addiction, depression, and attempts of suicide.

Through the LIFE Recovery Program offered here, I have begun to understand the causes of my addictive behavior, my struggle with relationship and thus my inability to function normally in society. I have learned that adverse childhood experiences such as abuse and neglect are very common in the men whom I’ve talked to who have called this mission home (myself included).

Food service partners provide the bulk of the ingredients for the meals served at the Union Gospel Mission, which added up to more than 310,000 in 2017. But those meals are still only a part of how UGM helps feed the hungry thanks to those partnerships.

UGM’s refrigerated truck driver goes out five days a week to pick up food donations from grocery stores, restaurants and distributors. Those foods end up in UGM’s six kitchens (four shelters, Student Impact Center and UGM Camp) as well as in partnering churches, food pantries and other organizations that work to feed the hungry in our region.

Matt Lewis has worked with the guests at the Men’s Shelter a little more than a year – first as a resident advisor and now as day desk supervisor. His passion to share God’s love with people who are broken and hopeless is evident in every way, including his answers to our questions about his area of UGM's ministry.

Editor’s note: We decided to switch up our usual Q+A format by putting Matt’s last answer first. We believe his heart shines brightest there and helps explain his passion both for his ministry at UGM and in the whole of his life.

On the surface, Mike, Debra, Justin and Samantha have seemingly nothing in common.

Justin was born in Chicago with alcohol and meth in his system. His parents were addicts.

Mike was born in rural Idaho. His father was a logger whom Mike adored.

Samantha barely knew her dad. He wasn't a nice guy and had very limited involvement in her life.

Debra's family life was so dysfunctional she never really learned how to relate to other people.

Being homeless can make you physically dirty. Its harsh realities can dull your senses and thicken your skin. It can drive you to do things you swore you would never do.

But homelessness can’t turn off your humanity. It can’t make you NOT want love and acceptance. It can’t make you NOT want security and a place to belong. It can’t make you NOT want to be with your children.

And it can’t hold back the love and power of the gospel, which God shows through his people every day at the Union Gospel Mission.

I came to Anna Ogden Hall in May 2017, just so broken. I didn’t think I could get more broken. I was like no smile at all. I would cry all the time and triggers every five minutes. It was getting pretty ridiculous. I didn’t think this program was right for me at first. I would tell staff, “I don’t know. I think you got the wrong girl. I don’t have a substance addiction.”

My addiction was people pleasing. I became the queen of people pleasing, but even as I was pleasing and pleasing, it never felt good enough, and I was on this constant mission of trying to fix my family.