FAQ | Central Union Mission | Washington DC | Serving Neighbors, Changing Lives since 1884

Responses to Neighborhood Questions
November 2007

Click links below - Read
the Grant Circular’s coverage of the Mission relocation:

“Central Union Mission Responds to GC Questions” and “Community Objections to Central Union Mission,” Page 1 -
July/August 2007

Letters to the Editor, Page 6 - September/October 2007

An Exploration of DC’s Response to Homelessness

What place is there for homeless people in Washington DC? That’s the subject of debates playing out in the city council, on the streets, at community meetings, and over neighborhood email lists.

more >>>

Regarding CENTRAL UNION MISSION'S Relocation


What is the purpose of Central Union Mission?
	From warm clothes and a safe place to sleep to nutritious meals, a friendly word of encouragement and a respite for needy children, Central Union Mission has been enriching lives and meeting the needs of our Washington area neighbors for 122 years. As stated in our mission statement, Central Union Mission is a social service agency that exists “to glorify God through proclaiming and teaching the gospel, leading people to Christ, developing disciples, and serving the needs of hurting people throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.”
What happens today at Central Union Mission?
	Central Union Mission is a faith-based multi-service provider that has been dedicated to serving individuals and families in DC since 1884 with food, safe lodging, warm clothing, hot meals, long-term rehabilitation, and many other services. The Mission has a long history of successfully helping men, women and children escape poverty and find true life change Central Union Mission currently provides the following services to the community, at no cost to taxpayers:
	Outreach to children through a free week-long summer camp and distribution of Christmas bags, back-to-school supplies, and backpacks Grocery support, outreach, and health education to senior citizens Support to families in need through food, clothing & household goods distribution Residential recovery services through the 18-month Spiritual Transformation Program for men overcoming addictions and other issues A safe place to sleep, food to eat, clothing to wear, and other supportive services for men through the Overnight Guest Ministry Case management services for individuals and families through our full-time social workers Free medical, dental and legal services, including health fairs, exams and consultations Supportive services for Spanish-speaking immigrants including English courses, literacy training, health education, food and clothing distribution, and vocational counseling through the Hispanic Ministry Special holiday events for the entire community Community development projects in partnership with other organizations such as World Vision DC, including food distribution at Macfarland Middle School and youth center refurbishment for First Baptist Church (New Hampshire Ave)
Mission Services at a Glance
	In 2006, Central Union Mission provided: 41, 895 safe residential services through our Spiritual Transformation Program, Overnight Guest Ministry, and Camp Bennett 108,066 meals including regular meal service, grocery support program, and other food distribution events 811 backpacks full of grade-appropriate school supplies 1,966 Christmas bags of toys and clothes to children in need 794 meals at holiday events such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and Veteran’s Day 5,225 people in need of clothing through our Distribution Center 2,768 counseling sessions 26 students with English-as-a-Second-Language classes 91 tutoring sessions 34 men in our Spiritual Transformation program with literacy training 318 medical visits for men through our weekly medical clinic 25 eye examinations 28 pairs of glasses 193 health consultations through our Hispanic Ministry 43 sessions in our Legal Aid program 29 jobs or internships at the Mission for graduates of our recovery program 80 men with case management services for men such as family counseling, group counseling, and mental health evaluations The Mission’s staff of 33 caring, well-trained professionals provides these services in an environment of safety and love. We strive to conduct ourselves with compassion, sensitivity, and professionalism.
Who comes to Central Union Mission?
	Every day Central Union Mission welcomes a diverse array of people from all walks of life. Although we are a faith-based organization, we do not discriminate in our services. On a daily basis, our facility hosts men, women, seniors and children of many ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and needs. People come to Central Union Mission because they know that it is a safe place where they can find caring people to help them address their needs.
Why is Central Union Mission moving to Georgia Avenue?
	Central Union Mission has thrived alongside our neighbors on 14th Street for over 20 years. However, our current facility is outdated and no longer permits us to meet all the needs of which we are otherwise capable to address. The current facility was designed to be a 1920s-era automobile dealership, not a 21st century faith-based multi-service facility. The relocation of Central Union Mission involves more than just a new building. Unlike any other moment in our history, we are thoughtfully re-evaluating our services that have touched so many lives over the years in light of our city’s needs and, and are moving forward with a new vision for carrying out this work. Guided by our strategic plan and compelled by constraints in our current facility, the Mission is preparing fresh plans for services to a wide variety of people in the District. In relocating to Georgia Avenue, we will have the opportunity to improve our services through state-of-the-art programs and facilities, increased service capacity, and a convenient, Metro-accessible location for our clients, including senior citizens, single parents and children. Because over 40% of our DC clients live in Ward 1, we look forward to locating in a neighborhood more accessible to them. We are seeking to build a state-of-the-art facility allowing us to fulfill our mission as wise stewards of the resources available to us for construction and operating costs, while minimizing any disruption in services. In doing so, we are looking at today’s city-wide needs, recent trends for providing quality services in specific neighborhoods and the best way to more strategically alleviate suffering for poor and hurting people in our nation’s capital.
What will the proposed facility on Georgia Avenue offer the community?
	While exact details of the new facility are still being developed, we hope to include the following:
	A large meeting space for Mission and community events, including distribution of food and other goods A multi-purpose dining facility, possibly incorporating a street-level cafe that could serve the community through social enterprise training opportunities Improved residential space for various programs including temporary, transitional, and permanent supportive housing Comprehensive social services for displaced persons Community medical, legal, and dental clinics Computer training center GED/Literacy classroom and library Headquarters for our area-wide ministries
Is Central Union Mission planning to build an emergency-bed homeless shelter on Georgia Avenue?
	Central Union Mission is currently exploring design options for a full-service, mixed-use social services facility on the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue. We truly wish that it would not be necessary for our new facility to include emergency shelter beds. For that to happen, however, the current needs of DC’s homeless population would need to be met in other humane and respectful ways. The stark reality is that homelessness in the District is increasing, not decreasing, while the number of emergency beds available to serve this fragile and vulnerable population is shrinking. We believe the best way to serve the District’s residents as a part of this already-overburdened system is to actively engage the area’s homeless population through well-managed services, not marginalize them even further by reducing their support options. The more socially responsible and effective way to deal with homelessness is to provide programs and services that allow such individuals to transition into fully functioning and permanently housed adults. This is the mission we strive to achieve every day. Mission staff and community members are currently working to determine options for residential space in our new facility. These difficult decisions take into account the crisis for emergency shelter beds in the District, as well as addressing homelessness on a community level. We are interested in improving wraparound services to more quickly transition people from homelessness to permanent and supportive housing. All of these plans are under study, but we anticipate a truly state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to implement new developments and best practices in services for those battling homelessness.
How is Central Union Mission addressing the concerns of its current and future neighbors?
	Central Union Mission cares deeply about building up the community. We are committed to being good neighbors by serving the community and addressing real social needs in an attractive, safe environment which will allow our services to evolve over time as needs change. We recognize that if we are to succeed in our goal to create sustainable, constructive services for our neighbors in need, community input and eventual support of the Mission’s presence in our future neighborhood is essential. We are aware that there is genuine sensitivity to the Mission’s plans for a facility on Georgia Avenue, and we understand and appreciate the concerns expressed by community members. We are working with local leaders to engage the community in an open and honest dialogue about the best manner in which we can serve our neighbors together. If you would like to make a comment, ask a question, or offer a suggestion to us as we work on this relocation, please write us at questions@missiondc.org
What is the current status of Central Union Mission’s relocation?
	Central Union Mission is legally obligated by contract to sell its current facility at 1350 R Street NW, so staying in our current facility is not an option. Also, the Mission has recently purchased property on the 3500 block of Georgia Ave, NW and is making plans for a new facility at this location that should open by summer 2009. We are conducting ongoing meetings with neighbors, elected officials, community leaders, and schools in the area to discuss the nature of the facility and services the Mission will deliver to its new neighborhood. The Mission is committed to designing and building a high-quality facility that will provide needed programs and services in the neighborhood. Currently, the building size and architectural character of the new facility are in development, but have not been finalized. After completing a thorough planning exercise in the fall of 2006 to determine programming, space requirements, and cost, Mission staff, partners, and community stakeholders are working together to translate these needs into an facility which is appropriate for all aspects of the community.
How can I stay updated on developments surrounding Central Union Mission’s relocation?
	Our web site is an up-to-date resource for information regarding our relocation, as well as for contacting us directly. We will update this site regularly with current information regarding our plans. If you have specific questions or concerns, please click on the link below to contact us via e-mail.


	Updated May 17, 2007
Questions & Concerns? Click here.