Union Gospel Mission

Union Gospel Mission Transforming communities by overcoming poverty, homelessness, and addiction -- one life at a time.
(210)

There are many paths that can lead to homelessness, including poverty and addiction. For many in the 2SLGBTQI+ community...
06/11/2026

There are many paths that can lead to homelessness, including poverty and addiction. For many in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, experiences of being marginalized, as well as rejection, stigma, trauma, and even violence can increase that risk.⁠
⁠
At UGM, we are committed to serving without discrimination. Our primary goal is to transform communities by overcoming homelessness, addiction, and poverty – one life at a time. This requires recognizing that each person we encounter has a unique story and set of circumstances that make them who they are and has impacted the struggles they have.⁠
⁠
Gender-diverse people are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness as cisgender people. It has also been estimated that approximately 25% of homeless youth identify as 2SLGBTQI+.⁠
⁠
These numbers likely underestimate the true scale of the issue, as many 2SLGBTQI+ individuals experience hidden homelessness, staying temporarily with friends or family, or in unsafe living situations. ⁠
⁠
Experiences of homelessness are also shaped by intersectionality. Factors such as race, ethnicity, income, disability, and life experiences intersect with sexual orientation and gender identity, creating additional and often compounding barriers to safe and stable housing.⁠
⁠
Find more information and recent statistics at: https://homelesshub.ca/collection/population-groups/2slgbtq/

“Karaoke Night is a non‑judgmental space where people feel free to show up as they are.”Every Sunday, Union Gospel Missi...
06/05/2026

“Karaoke Night is a non‑judgmental space where people feel free to show up as they are.”

Every Sunday, Union Gospel Mission’s karaoke night fills the room with music, confidence, and connection – creating a sober space where people are seen and celebrated.

👉 Read more about how karaoke night is bringing people together: https://bit.ly/4e76GHJ

05/28/2026

Every kid deserves this kind of summer. ☀️⁠
⁠
Experiences like these shape how young people see themselves and the world around them. With community support, we can give children the opportunity to experience summer camp, something that is often out of reach for many families. ✨⁠
⁠
Right now, every gift is matched – helping share the joy of camp with twice as many kids.⁠
⁠
Learn more about how you can help: https://bit.ly/42TZzNJ
⁠
💬 What’s your favourite summer camp memory? Share it with us below.

05/26/2026

Summer camp lets kids be kids. 🏕️

For many kids in our community, the responsibilities of caring for younger siblings, keeping up with schoolwork, and navigating the stress of growing up can be overwhelming. A week away from those everyday pressures gives them space to rest, reset, and simply be kids. 🌲🌳

Every child deserves the chance to experience the growth that comes from time in nature. For many families, though, the $600 cost of a week at camp puts that experience out of reach.

With your support, more children can spend time outdoors, build meaningful connections, and discover new strengths in a safe environment.

Right now, your generosity goes even further. ✨

Thanks to a group of committed donors, every gift will be matched — helping twice as many kids experience summer camp. ☀️

Every dollar opens a door for a child this summer. You can have your gift matched here: https://bit.ly/42TZzNJ

For much of his life, Scott built something good. He was a business owner, a husband, and a father of three. His years o...
05/23/2026

For much of his life, Scott built something good.

He was a business owner, a husband, and a father of three. His years of marriage and parenting were meaningful and fulfilling, and his professional life was successful. But over time, something shifted.
“I started chasing the dream of business,” Scott says. “I let that become my identity. God took a backseat in my life.”

What began as social drinking gradually took more space than he realized. By the time Scott recognized alcohol as a problem, it had already begun to unravel the good things he cared about most – his marriage, his work, and his sense of purpose.

Eventually, Scott reached a breaking point.

“I woke up and realized I’d had enough,” he says. “I needed to get sober and I needed to get right with God.”

After leaving everything familiar behind and trying recovery elsewhere, Scott arrived at Union Gospel Mission – a place where he found the time, structure, and support he needed to truly heal. Through recovery programming, coaches, and counsellors, Scott began to understand his story in a new way.

“I’ve grown more spiritually in the last two years than I had my entire life,” he says.

Today, Scott’s life looks very different. He lives near English Bay, spends his mornings speaking at The Cornerstone, and shares openly about what God has done – and continues to do – in his life. He gives his time back to UGM, not because his story is finished, but because he knows how powerful hope can be when it’s shared.

“If God could take a guy like me,” Scott says, “He can do this for anyone.”

Read Scott’s story: https://bit.ly/3PTiANd

05/21/2026

Scott experienced God’s transforming love firsthand and now he’s sharing it with everyone he meets.

Under the influence of alcohol, the good things in Scott’s life began to unravel: his marriage broke down and his approach to work became toxic.

He left his life behind, first seeking detox in Winnipeg before being referred to a recovery house in Chilliwack. After several months, he felt ready to work again, but after struggling to find employment, he returned to drinking. It was a friend at UGM that encouraged him to seek recovery once more.

Years into his recovery, Scott speaks weekly at The Cornerstone, UGM’s Downtown Eastside community space, where people can access resources and hear devotionals each morning.

“I’ve grown more spiritually in the last two years than I had my entire life. If God could take a guy like me, who woke up every day drinking alcohol, and change me to where I don’t even think about it anymore, He can do this for anyone. That’s the powerful testimony God has given me.”

“Each message I put together has three things in mind: what God’s done for me in the past, what He’s doing for me now, and what He’s teaching me.”

Read Scott’s story in his own words: https://bit.ly/3PTiANd

Thank you for celebrating women and mothers with us last week! 💐 Here’s a look at some meaningful moments we shared toge...
05/15/2026

Thank you for celebrating women and mothers with us last week! 💐 Here’s a look at some meaningful moments we shared together:

🌷Springtime at Arrow Home🌷
Last Thursday, our team and generous donors gathered for an evening of community and connection at Lambrick Park Church! At the event, folks were able to put together gardening baskets and write encouraging cards for women and mothers currently on their recovery journeys.

The baskets and cards were shared directly with women and mothers at Arrow Home – UGM’s Women’s Recovery Home in Greater Victoria – and shared to partner organizations we work alongside across Southern Vancouver Island.
📸 Check out the photos from the event! (Slide 1-5)

🌷Mother’s Day at The Sanctuary in Vancouver 🌷
Over the weekend, our Women & Families team in Vancouver hosted a photoshoot for women and families living in UGM’s Sanctuary Transitional Housing!
📸 Check out some of the photos from the event! (Slide 6-12)

A heartfelt thank you to Kevin, Tricia (Kevin Clark Studios), and James (James Alfred Photography) for giving your time and talent to bless the mothers and families at UGM with photos for Mother's Day. Your generosity is such a gift and will capture heartfelt memories for the years to come!

🌷Letters of Encouragement for Mothers 🌷
Last week, we had the privilege of sharing your handwritten cards and messages of encouragement with mothers in our community. We were deeply moved by the care and through poured into every note.
💌 Swipe to read a few messages. (Slide 13-15)

Thank you so much for helping make women and their families feel seen and celebrated this past week. We truly couldn’t do this work without you. 💙🩵💚

Wow! Our teams have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support for the women and moms in our recovery progra...
05/09/2026

Wow! Our teams have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support for the women and moms in our recovery programs. 💌⁠
⁠
Leading up to Mother’s Day, we invited our community to include a message of encouragement with every gift — and received over 200 handwritten cards, along with many more digital messages.⁠
⁠
This weekend, we’ll be sharing these notes with the women in our programs, reminding them they are not alone and deeply valued by a community that sees and supports them. 🌸⁠
⁠
Because of caring people like you, we’re able to walk alongside women and their children as they work toward healing and stability together. 🫂⁠
⁠
And as we celebrate moms and mother-figures, we’d love your help filling this space with kindness! Will you share a word of encouragement in the comments below? 🤍 ⬇️⁠
⁠
We also know that for many in our community, Mother’s Day carries grief. We pray these messages remind you that you too are loved by a community that cares. ⁠
⁠
If you’d still like to give in honour of a mom or mother-figure in your life, you can do so today at https://bit.ly/4cPOeEb

05/06/2026

Six years ago, Katrina walked through our doors as a new mom and began a recovery journey that opened up a world of new possibilities. 🌷

At The Sanctuary, she was able to pursue recovery while staying with her baby, and now works on our Aftercare team, using her story to encourage others on a similar path.

This spring, Katrina and her son are in a season of discovery. 🎉

“We’re constantly trying new things, now that he’s figuring out more of what his interests are,” she says. “He really enjoys photography: the gallery on my phone is full all the time… 50,000 pictures of the same thing.”

If you’d like, leave a Mother’s Day message for Katrina in the comments and we’ll pass it along. 💌

We reconnected with Katrina to share an update on her story. Read more on our blog: https://bit.ly/48D0XaQ 💙🩵💚

05/05/2026

Overdose deaths among women and girls in BC are rising at an alarming rate. A recent report by Vancouver Coastal Health found that drug-related overdose is now the leading cause of maternal death.

For many women using substances and experiencing addiction, the biggest barriers to recovery are fear of being separated from their children and feeling trapped by their circumstances.

That’s why our programs are built around restoring choice.

Our Wraparound approach encourages women to continue exercising their agency as they make choices for themselves and their children, shaping new stories and futures full of hope.

Recovery doesn’t happen all at once – but it can happen all in one place. 💙🩵💚

Learn more about UGM Women’s Recovery Program: https://bit.ly/4cPOeEb

Address

601 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A1J7

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Union Gospel Mission posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category