Career Advancement Program (CAP) was created to help LifeChange graduates find a career path and job opportunities that they normally wouldn’t have access to.

In early January of 2019 Vanessa was released from jail. Only a few days after her release she read in the Hermiston newspaper that she was the target of a local drug sting by the Blue Mountain Enforcement Narcotics Team. Panic set in, “I don’t want to go to jail again!” thought Vanessa.

The Union Gospel Mission partners with Transition Projects, who runs the navigation center, to provide 200 hot meals a day, six days a week to guests at the shelter. “I love delivering the food here,” smiles Terry a UGM graduate, “knowing that we’re helping people get off the streets, I can’t think of a better job.”

Trying to find some answers, Robin left everything he knew in west Texas and took a Greyhound bus to Portland to trace his roots. After a short time living in hotel rooms, he found himself broke and out of options. Desperate, he called 211 and soon found himself at the Union Gospel Mission in Portland.

Sandra, 76 years old, bright, funny and warm…a joy to be around. Sandra has been living in her car for over a year.

We consider the “fun” of Operation Overcoat as essential as the food and clothing we distribute. Life on the street can be cold, lonely and isolating. The daily stress to meet basic needs and to stay safe can be intolerable. At Operation Overcoat, we want to provide our neighbors in need a respite from the grind.