6 min read
UGM Gathering 2025
At this year’s Gathering, we heard real stories from real people about how they—empowered by the tools, resources, and support UGM offers—have...
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homeless
3 min read
2022: A Year of Love and Good Deeds
Genevieve Gromlich, former Content and Communications Manager: January 18, 2023
At UGM, we are rich in partnership. Year after year, the Inland Northwest community partners with the Mission to create life-changing opportunities...
2 min read
Homelessness Today: Why Housing First Isn't Working
Genevieve Gromlich, former Content and Communications Manager: October 12, 2022
Each year, as the November elections approach, our staff members and volunteers are often asked about the homeless crisis in Spokane. Why is the...
3 min read
A Lot of Love: How a Used Car Dealership Provides Homeless Services
Genevieve Gromlich, former Content and Communications Manager: August 6, 2020
Car shopping along E Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley can feel like running a gauntlet of clambering salespeople, flashy marketing ploys, and banners...
4 min read
Toward Better Relief and Development
Union Gospel Mission: October 22, 2019
Last week, we posted Pastor John Repsold’s explanation of the differences between relief and development when it comes to addressing homelessness....
4 min read
Love Your Homeless Neighbor
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: September 19, 2019
“If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes, that is to say like...
8 min read
Pursued and Loved by a Good God
Union Gospel Mission: September 27, 2018
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....
4 min read
Homeless, Hopeless, Loved
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: September 19, 2018
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...
5 min read
Why World Homeless Day?
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: October 4, 2017
You might be asking: Why is UGM making such a big deal of World Homeless Day? How does a day devoted to homelessness really help anything? Actually,...
6 min read
World Homeless Day 2016
Union Gospel Mission: October 10, 2016
Each year, UGM tries to do something to mark this day – 10/10 – something to say, We see you. We’re paying attention. For the last two years, we’ve...
3 min read
How do you define "home?"
Union Gospel Mission: February 24, 2016
By Cherise Stutzman, UGM Volunteer Two weeks ago, a friend of mine moved from Idaho to Europe. Today, I asked her to define the word “home.”
1 min read
Lose the Label: Damaged Goods
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: December 8, 2015
“When you know that you’re bad, you always feel like you’re doing something wrong.” After meeting her biological parents and realizing her mother and...
2 min read
Honoring Those Who Have Fought for Freedom
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: November 10, 2015
While 2015 Point-in-Time Count numbers for the nation showed an overall decrease in veteran homelessness, the statistic for homeless veterans in...
3 min read
Homelessness: It's About People
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: November 5, 2015
Editor's Note: This blog post is part of a series on homelessness. Part 1 explained the magnitude and complexity of the problem. Part 2 was a story...
1 min read
We are Thankful - To Those Seeking Help
James Bishop: November 1, 2015
David, 31, spent half his life homeless. At the age of 14, he was taken from his family home due to a domestic violence incident. After that, he...
1 min read
Hopelessness to Homelessness
Union Gospel Mission: October 30, 2015
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...
2 min read
Trace - Homeless
Union Gospel Mission: October 5, 2015
Trace spent 15 years intermittently homeless, fluctuating from employed to unemployed, living on the streets or in an RV without heat, running water...
Take Action: Give a Hand Up
James Bishop: October 5, 2015
How many times have you pulled up to a stop light and seen a man or woman holding a cardboard sign, asking for help? No one likes to see people...
2 min read
Beyond Labels
James Bishop: September 1, 2015
Prisoner. Addict. Homeless. Drunk. When we use labels, we miss out on seeing people for who they really are. We confuse peoples’ actions with their...
2 min read
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,...
3 min read
I Didn't Have a Job
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: April 1, 2015
Poor work history. Felony record. Long periods of unemployment. Addiction issues. Lack of education. No transportation. No appropriate work attire....
2 min read
The Struggle for True Identity
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: March 17, 2015
In "The Reason Why," the author gave a description, through her story, of why she believes many women get involved in unhealthy relationships or turn...
2 min read
A Cook in the Kitchen: Joe Wilson Lands a Job
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: November 26, 2014
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer “I felt like a ghost for a minute.” Without a birth certificate, a license, or a social security card, Joe Robert...
1 min read
Tod and Derek
James Bishop: November 1, 2014
Tod Randall, UGM Warehouse Supervisor, oversees the receipt and dispersal of food donations (an almost $2 million annual value). He sees the...