Union Gospel Mission

Union Gospel Mission Transforming communities by overcoming poverty, homelessness, and addiction -- one life at a time.
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09/25/2026

“People can come here and feel safe”

For Gordon, the holiday meals at Union Gospel Mission mean good food and great friends. They’re an opportunity to sit down with others, feel welcomed, and be part of a community.

Gordon offers that same kindness and connection to others. When he sees someone new at a meal, he introduces himself, helps them find where they need to go, or shares a fresh cup of coffee.

This Thanksgiving, your support can help create a place at the table for neighbours to share a warm meal and feel respected. Learn more about how you can help: https://bit.ly/3VegEkN

Summer at Union Gospel Mission looked a little different everywhere!️ Here’s a little recap and a few snapshots of what ...
09/24/2026

Summer at Union Gospel Mission looked a little different everywhere!️ Here’s a little recap and a few snapshots of what it looked like across our communities:

☀️ At Cedar Haven (Langley), women in recovery learned about pottery and horsemanship, tended the garden, and spent sunny days at the beach.

☀️ Four children at UGM’s Child Care Centre (Vancouver) graduated and have taken the exciting next steps toward kindergarten.

☀️ Moms and little ones at Arrow Home (Victoria) and The Sanctuary (Vancouver) enjoyed lake and beach days, while neighbours at UGM New Westminster Resource Centre came together for FIFA watch parties, community events, and plenty of good food.

☀️ In June, Summer Connect brought more than 30 community service providers together in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, helping neighbours connect with housing, employment, health, and other supports — alongside a hot meal, haircuts, music, and community.

☀️ And between the bigger events like our Summer BBQs, there were many everyday moments that matter just as much: sharing a meal, trying something new, getting outside, building relationships, or taking time to celebrate a milestone.

As fall begins, we’re looking back with gratitude on a summer filled with joy, growth, and connection across our communities. 💙🩵💚

09/21/2026

Come spend a day with us on UGM’s Fraser Valley Mobile Mission. 🚐

Throughout the week, our Fraser Valley Mobile Mission team travels to Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge, and Langley, meeting neighbours where they’re at. (We also have other Mobile Mission teams based out of New Westminster, Vancouver and Victoria!)

That can look like sharing food, clothing, and other essentials, helping someone with housing or ID, or simply making time to sit, listen, and catch up. And sometimes, we get to celebrate the good news too. 💙🩵💚

No two days look quite the same, but the heart of the work stays the same: building relationships and continuing to show up.

Thank you so much to everyone who supports UGM and helps make the work of our Mobile Mission team possible. Your generosity ensures we can keep showing up for neighbours across the Fraser Valley and beyond!

09/18/2026

When Stephanie first entered recovery at UGM, she was looking for every opportunity to leave. But each day, she kept taking a step forward, then another step.

Encouraged by the team at UGM’s Women’s Recovery program at Lydia Home, Steph began to think about going back to school. She registered for college and, as part of her degree, completed a summer practicum with UGM’s Fraser Valley Mobile Mission van.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with a Major in Counselling Foundations, and, in January of 2025, she accepted a full-time position as a Community Outreach Worker with the Mobile Mission team.

And as she helps people through her job, Steph is grateful to be a part of a community that has meant so much to her.

“When I first got to UGM, there was nothing left of me. And then I got to experience what it felt like to be seen and valued and loved. God gave me my life back there. My start with UGM was the start of my life.”

Read Stephanie’s Story: https://bit.ly/4cFRrWk

09/16/2026

Steph was caught in a cycle of recovery and relapse, and she felt herself giving up on the idea that she could ever find her way out.

After a particularly tough overdose, she was told by a doctor that she wasn’t likely to live to see her thirtieth birthday. It was during that hospital visit that Steph first heard of recovery at UGM and she decided to give recovery one more try.

“There were a few milestones that just broke me on this journey. When I hit my 30th birthday, I literally just wept. I told myself: “Look at what you would have missed out on if that doctor had been right about you.” It’s just so beautiful to be able to say to myself: “You made it. You’re on the other side.”

Now, she’s living in Mission and loving the opportunity to connect with people and pursue dreams that extend beyond tomorrow. Her recent accomplishments — including celebrating a milestone birthday in 2023 — have meant the world.

Read Stephanie’s story: https://bit.ly/4cFRrWk

“When I started to experiment with drugs and alcohol when I was 11, I remember thinking ‘Where have you been all my life...
09/15/2026

“When I started to experiment with drugs and alcohol when I was 11, I remember thinking ‘Where have you been all my life?’ I’d found something that made me feel safe and like I belonged for the first time.

Around the time I was 20, I got a job at a local pet store. My boss was a Christian lady, and she had heard God say to her that she needed to hire me and take me under her wing.

She didn’t know what that meant at the time, but she quickly found out: as you can imagine, I was an unreliable employee. But my boss was such a godsend to me, and she was the one who exposed me to the possibility of maybe getting help. It touched my heart deeply to have someone who still showed me grace, no matter how many walls I had up, even when I was failing day after day.

My life has come full circle. When I think back to entering recovery, there was nothing left of me — I wouldn’t even look people in the eye. And God gave me my life back there. He used so many people to give me second, third, and fourth chances at being able to be a part of something. My start with UGM was the start of my life, and I will be grateful for that forever.”

Read Stephanie’s story: https://bit.ly/4cFRrWk

09/02/2026

What does responding to an overdose look like?

For UGM Outreach Workers, responding to overdoses is a difficult daily reality of caring for our neighbours. Our frontline teams are trained in overdose response and regularly respond when someone is experiencing an overdose.

This video offers a glimpse into what one those responses can look like – including the urgency, focus, and care involved in supporting someone through a medical emergency.

This video is intended for awareness and education about the work of our frontline teams. It is not a step-by-step tutorial nor is it a substitute for formal overdose response training. Naloxone is available for free at pharmacies across B.C. If you carry a naloxone kit, make sure it is current and you know how to use it.

08/29/2026

“When you want to make a change, we’re here.”

The work of responding to the overdose crisis doesn’t begin only in moments of emergency.

Sometimes it starts with a cup of coffee. Learning someone’s name. Inviting them to UGM for a meal. Those small moments are part of building trust and letting neighbours know support is there when they are ready.

Everyday, at Union Gospel Mission, we witness the profound impact of overdose — a crisis that touches countless lives and leaves deep scars on families and communities. On August 31st, we honour those we’ve lost, support those still struggling, and commit to creating a world where overdose is no longer a devastating reality.

08/27/2026

“No one grows up wanting to be an addict.”

For UGM Outreach Workers, that means meeting neighbours where they are, building relationships, and reminding people that their circumstances do not erase their potential for a different future.

In recognition of international Overdose Awareness day on August 31, we’re taking time to recognize the lives and communities affected by overdose and the importance of compassionate, consistent care in the midst of an ongoing crisis.

08/26/2026

Behind every conversation about overdose is a person. A son. A sister. A brother. A family member. A neighbour.

As we approach International Overdose Awareness Day, we’re remembering the people behind the statistics, challenging the stigma surrounding addiction, and recognizing the grief carried by families and communities.

At UGM, building genuine relationships is an important part of how our team comes alongside neighbours. Trust can take time, which is why continuing to show up matters. Because there is always hope.

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601 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A1J7

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