As you know this week we have talked about the amazing history of Skid Row and the Union Rescue Mission, as well as the inspiring story of Reverend Andy Bales. As the CEO of the URM, he has made eradicating homelessness his life’s mission.

How do you take on a problem like ending homelessness? It seems enormous, especially since Los Angeles County is the homeless capital of America with 74,000 men, women and children living on the streets every night. Well, the URM has had tremendous success with their program of getting people off the streets and back on their feet.

They do so much more than provide 1.2 million meals each year. URM begins with reaching out offering food, clothing and emergency services like housing. Women and children are sent to a facility called Hope Gardens where they are safe and far from Skid Row. The next step is the transformation phase where the Mission offers medical, dental and legal support. There is a full-time program that provides counseling, job training, volunteering and recovery from addiction….all with a 66% success rate.

The final phase is the restoration, take a look.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO9tqyfZ55Q&feature=player_embedded]

My experience at the Union Rescue Mission was truly inspiring. I began this journey unsure, nervous and not clear what to expect. I left Union Rescue Mission with a renewed faith in compassion, dignity and the power of one.  The face of homelessness will never look the same again, there is hope on Skid Row.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

 As I mentioned the other day that spending any amount of time on Skid Row is a humbling experience and one that I will treasure as a reminder of gratitude and perspective.

There are so many emotions that occur when I see a homeless person. It runs the gamete from pity to sadness to frustration, fear and sometimes even anger but usually ends with confusion. Then I drive on and the emotions are forgotten, because its easier to forget than to try to figure out what to do.

Sadly, I don’t think I’m alone. So when I heard Reverend Andy Bales (CEO of Union Rescue Mission) personal story, I was truly inspired to know that my reactions are not unique. What is unique however, is not Andy’s reaction to homelessness but his action. Take a look.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0b4aW93-o8&feature=plcp]

We are all faced each day with choices but what moved me so deeply about Andy’s story was that when he realized he wasn’t practicing what he preached he went back and took action. Not only did he feed the man who he turned away but he made a commitment to take on homelessness with a passion. He has since fed hundreds of thousands, 735,909 meals last year alone.

Like Lyman Stewart, the first steward of the Union Rescue Mission, Andy Bales has given a face to all of those that we pass. He has made feeding the homeless and breaking the cycle of poverty his life’s work.

The work is paying off, see what happens when one man can inspire a community, create a template that is followed nationally and run an organization that served 1.2 million meals last year on donations.

Reverend Andy is an inspiration and on friday I will share some of the great successes of    this amazing organization. The face of homelessness will never look the same again.

Charity Matters.

Copyright © 2012 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.