Cold, tired and discouraged, Jon walked into the Union Gospel Mission on 3rd and Burnside in Old Town Portland. Newly homeless, Jon was traveling from Spokane, Washington heading to Bakersfield, California. Portland was just supposed to be a rest stop.

Homeless, in a wheel chair and blind…can it get any worse? Once a leading defensive tackle in college and semi-pro football, Bubba (as he likes to be called) sits in his new apartment in SE Portland.

Several months ago Bubba could be seen in his wheel chair sleeping in front of the Union Gospel Mission on 3rd and Burnside in Old Town Portland. “God told me to stay in front of the mission,” Bubba exclaims. Being blind, in a wheel chair and homeless is dangerous and frightening. “People on the streets would rob me blind,” Bubba laughs. He can laugh about it now thanks to the UGM Homeless Services team. After building a relationship and trust with Bubba, our Homeless Services team helped Bubba fill out the appropriate paperwork and make the appointments to get him off the streets and into his own apartment. This is a prime example of UGM’s CARE – CONNECT – COACH success.

Bubba occasionally still comes down to the Mission for a hot meal and fellowship, but now he has a home of his own to go back to.

As the lead singer in an up and coming rock band, Noah was living the Rock ’n Roll dream. “I was having fun, I wasn’t thinking of addiction. Every night was a party for us.”

Dear Union Gospel Mission Family,

I wanted to update you on Jennifer’s story, and tell you about the greatest endorsement of UGM that I’ve ever heard in my 29 year career at the mission.