Union Gospel Mission

Union Gospel Mission has been combating homelessness in our community since 1949. That year a group of concerned downtown Dallas businessmen formed the first Mission in the city for those without a home. For the first thirteen years, the mission consisted of providing three meals a day and a church service. In 1962, overnight shelter became available with the opening of a 105-bed facility.

Over the past five decades, UGM has grown into a comprehensive human service agency providing housing, food, clothing, rehabilitation/recovery, educational/vocational training, medical services and childcare for the homeless. These services are available to all men, women and children who come to our doors. Our services are free and people can remain as our clients for extended periods of time. In 2010, UGM provided emergency services to 63% of those classified as homeless by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance in their annual count.

UGM Services and Programs
As of 2014, Union Gospel Mission operates three emergency shelters and four transitional living sites:
* Calvert Place Men’s Shelter is located on Irving Blvd and currently has a capacity of 483.
* Center of Hope, a women and children’s shelter, is located in the Parkland Hospital district and has a capacity of 235.
* River Pointe Apartments, a single women’s shelter, is located in far Northeast Dallas and has a capacity of 50.
* UGM owns and manages four Transitional Living Sites. Two are located in Northeast Dallas, one in Carrollton and one in South Dallas.

In addition to offering full emergency shelter services, including on-site medical clinics at Calvert Place and Center of Hope, all three shelters offer long-term rehabilitation programs that include, spiritual counseling, job skills assessment and training, computer skills assessment and training, assistance in finding a job and placement in transitional living apartments for up to two years. Any overnight guest (shelter resident) or disciple (rehab program participant) who has deep-seated mental or substance abuse problems receives professional help. Via a partnership between the Veterans Administration and UGM, Calvert Place also serves as a transitional living site for up to 40 veterans who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. A state-licensed day care – The Crystal Child Development Center – at Center of Hope allows single mothers to participate in UGM programs secure in the knowledge that their small children are receiving excellent care.