community care

New Beds and New Hope

A few months ago, when lucky families moved into the New Life Center at the City Union Mission, their old beds in the Mission were immediately taken and the waiting list filled up again.

Keeping up with shelter needs of the homeless is a never ending struggle but Mission personnel think the new Center will actually make a difference by providing a place where families can stay together as they learn coping skills for family and workplace. That is the rationale for the recently opened $2.9 million Life Center, a safe shelter for homeless families and women.

There, families remain together in two or three room units for anywhere from three to five months. They share a community kitchen on each floor and attend classes on "soft skills" (showing up for work every day, learning to be accountable, working with other employees and employers) and meetings with case workers where the focus is on their own particular issues. They confront old problems and learn new parenting skills, improving the whole family's quality of life.

"This is not just a band-aid to cover old problems or to provide temporary shelter," said Sandy Baldwin, Director of Community Relations for the Mission. "This is a whole program." Made possible by the first capital fund campaign in the Mission's 75-year history, it is one being closely watched by other organizations all over America. "For the first time, we had a feasibility study done," said Baldwin. "That told us we could raise $3.5 million. We didn't believe it, so we set our goal at $2.9 million for the New Life Center. When we actually raised $3.5 million, then we could go ahead with plans for expansion and renovation of Men's Shelter."

Contributors to the campaign included the Hall Family Foundation, Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation, William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee and the Sunderland Foundation. The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation issued a $350,000 challenge grant to the campaign. And, befitting its place as one of Kansas City's most valued and supported charities, donations from private individuals poured in. "God wanted it done," Baldwin said simply. Groundbreaking was in

June, 1999. Even since then, the need for shelter space continues to grow. In 1999, a total of 88,593 beds and 203,592 meals were provided by a paid staff of 125, including part-time and a volunteer staff that logged in some 44,363 hours.

The statistics are daunting. Today, the shelters serve over 550 meals a day. This summer, the electric bill for one month was over $3,000. Noting that 75% of the food is donated, Baldwin said regretfully, "You can't pay a heating bill with apples." The Mission expects to suffer high heating bills this winter along with everyone else.

It takes a lot in unexpected places to run a Mission. For example, each person gets a clean towel and washcloth every night and also when he leaves the Mission. "They're washed every night, so they wear out fast," Baldwin said. Transients get clean sheets every night from "gently used" donations and when the twin bed sheets get thin, they're made into nightshirts for men to put on after their mandatory showers before bedtime. Last year, clothing and shoes were distributed to 6,316 men Is there light in this thicket of endless needs? Baldwin and Mission officials find great joy in the support of the community and their volunteers, in the successful RESTORING HOPE capital funds campaign, in the increasing spiritual commitment of their clients. They will be thinking of all these things as they make preparations for serving 550 Thanksgiving dinners. There is much to be thankful for.