The Impact of Union Gospel Mission
By Dr. Mark Denison - February 11th, 2019Union Gospel Mission opened in Dallas as a street ministry in 1949. Through the 1950s, the Mission operated out of two rented buildings on Ervay Street, south of downtown. They offered food and clothing to those in need, while operated by a volunteer staff.
In 1962, UGM opened its first homeless shelter on Park Avenue, housing up to 75 men and 30 women. A formalized four-phase rehab program was developed under the leadership of Director Bill Thompson in the 1980s, providing for counseling and job training.
By the 1990s, the shelter was overcrowded, with 150 men sleeping on the floor. In 1993, a $1 million donation allowed for the purchase of the current men's shelter and administrative offices on Irving Boulevard.
A 34-unit apartment building was purchased in 2010, which was transformed into a recovery program for single women, opening in 2011. By 2013, the men's shelter was expanded, adding 128 new beds. Vocational training was enlarged in 2015.
Today, UGM houses 146 men and women in long-term recovery programs. The veterans program serves 175 veterans annually, with 82 moving into their own housing.
Under the leadership of Director Bruce Butler, the ministry continues to operate on several tracks: shelter, education, childcare development, discipleship programs, transitional support, veterans programs, job skills training, and senior programs.
To learn more, to give financially, or to volunteer, go to the Union Gospel Mission website, at ugmdallas.org