Wish List: Mission seeks financial donations, clothes, medication

Every night, dozens sleep on the floor.

The Tri-City Union Gospel Mission has 55 shelter beds for men. But, recently, it’s been drawing about 90 men a night.

And when it’s especially cold outside, the number swells even higher.

But the mission, which also operates a separate shelter next door for women and children, is in the midst of a building campaign to raise $8.12 million for a new men’s facility — easing the crowding and allowing for expansion of services.

Financial donations are on the nonprofit’s holiday wish list.

The mission “is definitely needed. There are a lot of people out there who come through our doors,” said Andrew Porter, the executive director. “Everybody who comes through our doors is somebody’s family. I think most people, even if they haven’t been homeless (themselves), know someone who’s been homeless — in their family or a friend or a friend’s family.”

The mission’s two shelters are on North Second Avenue in Pasco.

The nonprofit also provides hot meals daily to anyone in need in the community, and offers other aid, from clothing and hygiene items to addiction recovery help and transitional housing. “We address not only the immediate needs — three meals and warm bed, but also, ‘Why is this person in this position?’ ” said Mike Richardson, president of the mission’s board.

“I’ve seen lives changed there, transformed,” he said.

Along with financial donations for the building campaign and to help with other expenses, the nonprofit also could use items including men’s and women’s underwear, cold and flu medication for kids, thermometers and coats for men.

The mission dates to the 1950s. This year, it has provided about 78,000 meals and 40,000 nights of shelter to men, women and children.

While the women’s shelter stays busy, the men’s shelter sees the greatest demand and has outgrown its existing 9,000-square-foot space. “As it is now, we’re having to — in a lot of ways — modify the ministry to fit inside the building. It’s like putting a size 12 foot in a size 8 shoe,” Richardson said. “The new building is designed around the ministries we presently have and the ministries we foresee in the future.”

The new 36,000-square-foot men’s facility will have more than 150 beds, a chapel, classrooms, computer labs and more room for case management and counseling services. The dining room also will seat about 150 — five times the current capacity.

The men’s facility will go on seven acres the mission owns near the existing Pasco shelter. A maintenance shop and a community outreach center with warehouse space also are planned for the site.

Porter said about $900,000 is left to raise for the men’s facility. The hope is to start construction by the fall; it will take about a year.

When the new men’s facility opens, the women’s shelter will be able to spread out a bit, Porter said. But that’s only to be temporary — mission officials hope to find land for a new women’s facility in Kennewick.

For more information on the mission or to make a donation, call 509-547-2112 or go to www.tcugm.org.

This story was originally published December 29, 2014 at 10:34 PM with the headline "Wish List: Mission seeks financial donations, clothes, medication."