CENTRAL UNION MISSION TO SERVE FROM GALES SCHOOL

Capitol Hill location aligns best-practice programs and City initiatives to better serve the hurting.

Washington, DC---April 3, 2008--- Central Union Mission, a Christian nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to serving D.C.’s hurting and homeless population for 124 years, today announced plans to move operations to Gales School at 65 Massachusetts, Avenue, NW Washington, DC. The Gales School location will offer the District’s hurting and homeless population critical access to emergency food, lodging, clothes, counseling services, rehabilitation programs, spiritual development and more.

“The Gales School initiative is an excellent example of what government and the faith-based community can accomplish when they work together,” said David O. Treadwell, Executive Director of Central Union Mission. “Together, the Mission and the City have formed an alliance that will integrate the Mission’s best-practice programs with the District’s ongoing Homeless No More initiatives, and do so in such a way that the interests of the Washington, D.C. community are well served.”

The Gales School initiative is an innovative step that involved the Mayor’s office, Councilmember Jim Graham, community groups and the leadership of Central Union Mission. The months of collaboration among these individuals and groups has resulted in an inventive, but pragmatic way to bring public and private sectors together for the effectual use of public assets and the implementation of programs that enhance service to the community and to those who are hurting.

“For nearly nine years we have looked for a suitable location to minister to the homeless and hurting from the heart of the city,” said Treadwell. “With the opening of the Gales School location we will be in a position to do that very effectively. It’s a win for the City, a win for the Mission and most importantly a win for those who are hurting.”

The Gales School location will house at least 125 beds to provide emergency shelter and rehabilitation services for men. This facility will be owned and operated by Central Union Mission and operate without a District subsidy. Bringing the Gales School property online and operational will require substantial restoration work, the details of which are still being evaluated. An anticipated move in date has been tentatively scheduled for 2009 and will provide an uninterrupted flow of existing Mission services that will coincide with the onset of the cold weather season.

Regular updates regarding the move to Gales School will be provided online at www.missiondc.org.

For more information contact: David Fouse at fouse@pinkstongroup.com or 703.994.4902.

About: Central Union Mission is a Christian nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to serving D.C.’s hurting and homeless for 124 years with emergency food, lodging, warm clothing, hot meals, and long-term spiritual rehabilitation. The Mission is located at 1350 R St, NW in Washington, DC. For more information about Central Union Mission, please call 202-MISSION or visit the website at www.missiondc.org.

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