About Us
Central Union Mission is the oldest social service agency in the District of Columbia. It was founded in 1884 by the Reverend Latham Douglass, a young man filled with compassion for the thousands of homeless, neglected men who wandered Pennsylvania Avenue, many of whom were Civil War veterans.
Since 1884, the Mission has continuously operated an emergency shelter for homeless men and been a place for spiritual uplift and recovery. It has survived the Great Depression, two world wars, 24 presidential administrations, neighborhood transitions, and numerous relocations.
The Mission Today
Today, Central Union Mission is a faith-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with four locations throughout the Washington area. It operates an 18-month rehabilitation program for men with life-controlling issues, a free meals program, a clothing and furniture distribution center, and a 220-acre retreat center with a camp for underprivileged children and recreation facilities for the community.
The Mission is continually developing its programs to meet the changing needs of the community. Its current programs serve homeless men, underprivileged women, children, seniors, veterans and the growing Hispanic community.
One life at a time, the Mission works to help transform the area's toughest rehabilitation cases, including drug addicts, gang members, criminal offenders, and the chronically homeless into productive members of society. The Mission's programs have an extremely high success rate at helping individuals overcome addiction and
homelessness, and achieve independent living. Learn more about us on an eight-minute video, click here.
A Successful Track Record
In FY2010-2011 Central Union Mission was able to provide a wide range of comprehensive, life-changing services and goods to poor, homeless and hurting people in the Nation's Capital. With the support of faithful individuals, volunteers, churches, businesses, community partners and organizations, Central Union Mission was able to provide the following goods and services free of charge to some of the areas neediest individuals and families.
Nutritious Meals
168,002 hot meals for men, women, families and children
Residential Services
49,252 beds and bedding were provided for those utilizing our emergency shelter and camp through the Overnight Guest Program, Spiritual Transformation Program and Children's Program
Supplemental Food Services
402,000 bags of nutritious groceries were distributed to individuals and families through the Mission's Distribution Center
Household Support
14,248 individuals and families received clothing, furniture & household goods
Outreach to Children
- 2,000 children received Christmas bags filled with books, toys, shoes and clothing
- 1,400 children received backpacks filled with books and school supplies
- 419 children experienced a week-long summer retreat at Camp Bennett
Counseling Services
6,227 counseling services and home and hospital visits were provided for individuals, groups and families throughout our entire client base
Medical and Legal Services
806 individuals received professional services through health fairs, physical exams, eye exams and private medical and legal consultations
Educational Services
860 adults received instruction in literacy competency, English as a Second Language and preparation for the GED (General Educational Development) test
Follow Us
Photographs of Mission events can be viewed at our Picasa webpage.
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Serving Neighbors, Changing Lives - 8 Minute Version from Central Union Mission on Vimeo.
To view the full-length 28-minute video, click here.