UGM's Church of Nazarene Winter Shelter
A small group of homeless individuals gather quietly on the covered steps of the Church of Nazarene Winter Shelter in southeast Portland. Visibly exhausted, they wait in the cold, rainy night for church doors to open. One woman is coatless. Another wears sandals tied with a plastic bag. At 9 pm, Union Gospel Mission Outreach Coordinator Sarah Chapman and other UGM volunteers greet them warmly, ushering them in one at a time to the reception table, where temperatures are taken, masks and hand sanitizer are distributed, and a warm, socially distanced spot to sleep is secured.
Victor and Sarah ready to greet the shelter guests
UGM’s new winter night shelter, which houses up to 38 people per night, is a much-needed solution to one of the biggest challenges missions have faced during this deadly global pandemic—how to continue offering life-saving shelter to our nation’s homeless while working to minimize COVID-19’s spread.
“UGM had partnered with Central Nazarene before with community events and outreach in SE Portland,” says Sarah. “When the mission downtown had to limit its shelter capacity in response to COVID-19, they approached the church to be an alternative location. Everyone was immediately on board with letting UGM use the space as it allows us to positively impact the well-being of our neighbors. To us, this is the kind of thing Jesus means when he instructs us to 'love thy neighbor as thyself.'” (Mark 12:31)
“This new shelter is clean and very well-maintained,” says Arthur, a guest in his 70s. “We have plenty of space between the mats, which are over 10 feet apart. They take our temperature upon arriving to see if we have COVID-19. At night, they give you a blanket, a cup of hot noodles, and a bottled water. In the morning, you leave with a breakfast sandwich and hot coffee. They’re making great use of a building that is otherwise closed. Jesus was a Nazarene, wasn’t he? Maybe that’s why the people here are so good to us.”
In addition to providing safe, cold-weather shelter seven nights per week throughout the winter (November 1 – March 31), a mobile shower unit rolls onto the premises every Saturday from 9 am – 3 pm, offering guests who sign up 15-minute showers, fresh towels, and a pair of clean socks.
“It’s a privilege to help, pray with, and do life with these people every day,” adds Sarah, who, in addition to her work with UGM, also helps operate Agape Village Houseless Community. “They are precious children of God, and they deserve to know it.”
For more information about how to help support UGM’s Church of Nazarene Winter Shelter, please go to www.ugmportland.org/services. Church of Nazarene Winter Shelter is located at 9715 SE Powell Blvd Portland, OR 97266. Open nightly from 9 pm - 6 am.