Rufus shares his story.

Shania shares her story.

Karmen shares her story.

Kenny shares his story...

Matthew and Steph Leahy share their story.

Shalyah Fearing, of hit tv show "The Voice", shares her story.

Chaplain Christine Kuark shares her story.

Chaplain Christine Kuark shares her story.

Michael W shares his story.

Michael Z shares his story.

Chaplain Steve Baker shares his story.

Chaplain Steve Baker shares his story.

Chaplain Steve Baker shares his story.

Chaplain Steve Baker shares his story.

URM Chaplain Steve Baker shares his story...

Joseph shares his story...

Glen shares his story.

Dawn shares story. 

Dawn shares story.

Donald shares his story.

Michael shares his story.

Josh shares his story.

Rudi shares story...

Bryan shares his story...

Marilyn shares her story...

Shwonna shares her story...

Karmen shares her story...

Burlyn shares his story...

Steve shares his story...

Bryan shares his story...

Pauly shares his story...

Myra shares her story...

Rufus shares his story...

Gina shares her story...

Michael shares his story...

Fred shares his story...

Alex, Manager of Volunteer Services, talks about the annual Christmas Store at Union Rescue Mission. The Christmas Store offers the chance for folks to come choose gifts for their children for free. Hear more about this amazing program on this episode of Amazing Stories from Skid Row.

In celebration of Union Rescue Mission's 125th year, we'll be sharing a lot of old memories.

This episode celebrates our Victory Service Club, which served our servicemen from 1942 to the early 1970s. Over 1.9 million servicemen were ministered to through this program.

Dr. Ira Diamond is one of Union Rescue Mission's top shoe donors. He talks about how feet are profoundly affected by homelessness.

In the 80s, Michael was addicted to crack and wanted to reunite with his family. A friend brought him to Union Rescue Mission for something to eat and joined the program to get his life back. He stayed for two months, then ended up back on drugs. When he came back more than 10 years later, he embraced the program and graduated. He got a job at Universal Studios and driving limos. In 2007, he lost everything again. Hear how Michael got his life back again.

Union Rescue Mission's Chef Delilah talks about her whirlwind media tour and her fantastic story of how she learned to cook and how she ended up cooking for over 2,000 people a day on Skid Row.

Part 3 of 3 - Ryan's mom abandoned him with her boyfriend when he was 12. After being raised by his grandfather, Ryan started selling drugs. He had a wife and daughter and delighted in providing for them, but it all started to fall apart. Hear the conclusion of Ryan's incredible story. 

Part 2 of 3 - Ryan's mom abandoned him with her boyfriend when he was 12. After being raised by his grandfather, Ryan started selling drugs. He had a wife and daughter and delighted in providing for them, but it all started to fall apart. Hear how Ryan came to Union Rescue Mission to save his life and his family.

Part 1 of 3 - Ryan's mom abandoned him with her boyfriend when he was 12. After being raised by his grandfather, Ryan started selling drugs. He had a wife and daughter and delighted in providing for them, but it all started to fall apart. Hear how Ryan came to Union Rescue Mission to save his life and his family. 

When Lily was one of 160 people that was laid off from her theater job, she lost everything. She came out to Los Angeles to try to break into the entertainment business and ended up on Skid Row.  After coming to Union Rescue Mission, she went to Hope Gardens and is now Aunty to the 90 kids there. 

Darlene was living with her mom when she suddenly passed away. A week later she found out she was pregnant at 19. When Darlene was kicked out by her sister, she had nowhere to go. She got used to rejection and getting kicked out of friends' homes when she was accepted to Hope Gardens. Hear how she's been able to get her life back and provide a loving home for her daughter in this episode of Amazing Stories from Skid Row.

Bobbi entered foster care at 7 due to her mother's drug use. She became pregnant at 18. With no family, she became homeless and gave her son to his grandmother while she got herself back onto her feet. She turned to drugs to numb the pain, but went to Hope Gardens Family Center to get sober and live the life her son deserves.

Join us for the second part of Claudia's journey. In this segment, she shares about the joy of getting back custody of her son as well as growing closer to God.

Brother Brown's childhood instilled in him a passion to help others. In 1990, he was featured in Union Rescue Mission's newsletter for leading his parish and coworkers to donate clothing, food, Easter baskets, toys for the Christmas Store, and more to those in need. Listen to his amazing life journey.

Claudia experienced abuse at the hands of her mother before entering the foster system at 6. As an adult, she made poor choices that led to her losing custody of her kids. She turned to drugs to take away the pain and, eventually, she ended up on the streets. After coming to Hope Gardens Family Center, Claudia was able to overcome the pain and addiction to start her life anew.

Hope Gardens Family Center guest and recent graduate Margaret tells the story of how she came to Hope Gardens. In 2013 she lost her job and became homeless. After living in her car with her two children for a month, she went to a shelter.

Jada is one of our guests at Union Rescue Mission's Hope Gardens Family Center. She discusses her long journey with addiction stemming from abuse, her struggle to keep her family together, and her relationship with God.

Sharron came to Skid Row with her 3 year old son who has autism to find Union Rescue Mission. Hear how she found the strength to find her way home.

Christine had a job, was a mother, and was going to school when she was introduced to methamphetamine in the early 90s. After losing her children, Christine gave in to her addiction and became homeless. She decided she needed to change her life. Hear how her life transformed through the programs at Union Rescue Mission.

Mara recently graduated from our program at Hope Gardens Family Center. Mara walked with her kids from the train station to Union Rescue Mission to get help. A year later, she has overcome her addictions and her life is transformed.

Historian Liz Looks Back on her 24 years at URM

Jeremy is a former sailor who just completed Union Rescue Mission's year-long CLDP program. 

Tiffany is a guest of Union Rescue Mission's Hope Gardens Family Center and graduate of the program. Tiffani shares her perspective on the program and what this transformation means for her future.

Myra is a resident of Hope Gardens Family Center and is a recent program graduate. Myra and her son experienced homelessness periodically for many years before finding herself at Hope Gardens Family Center. Listen to her remarkable story.

Mark is a CLDP Graduate and is now attending school with a 4.0. He shares his story and hopes for the future. Part 2 of 2.

Mark is a CLDP Graduate and is now attending school with a 4.0. He shares his story and hopes for the future. Part 1 of 2.

Guest Holly Golob Stein from Lost Angels Children's Project

Enrique has been a vital part of the Mission since he graduated from our CLDP Program. Hear his story on what his past was like and what the future holds!

Kristy has been a vital part of what the Mission is doing at our Hope Gardens Family Center. Listen to hear her heart on what makes her want to get up and serve those who need it the most! 

Dalone, an apprentice at Union Rescue Mission, revisits his past with Reverend Andy Bales - and talks to us how he ended up spiraling into alcohol addiction. 

Glynn Coleman has been busy at the Mission to help our guests get out of a cycle of homelessness - by getting them job opportunities! 

Chaplain Jonathan Russell speaks with the Reverand Andy Bales about his experience at Union Rescue Mission!

Jenny Kerhsner, director of our brand new Maggie and Andre Ethier Learning Center shares with us how important this new addition to the Mission is to the men and women here at the Mission!

Hector grew up in East Los Angeles, surrounded by gangs, violence, and alcohol. His addiction to alcohol derailed his entire life, and eventually found his way to Union Rescue Mission...

Melinda hit rock bottom and had her children taken away due to her drug addiction. She decided to get clean and found her way to Hope Gardens, and that's where her journey to recovery began! 

On this week's podcast, Reverend Andy Bales chats with Frank Sontag, host of the Frank Sontag Show on KKLA!

A few years ago, Ruben lost his job and he fell deep into meth addiction. He ended up on the streets with his girlfriend, and their drug addiction got worse and worse. One day, they realized they needed to do something about their lives and they both entered rehab programs - and that's when Ruben came to Union Rescue Mission.

George was at the top of the world, he was a rising photographer in the LA area and strayed from the faith. Due to a series of events, he ended up at the Mission where he would find his true calling! 

Sista Mary, founder of "Worthy of Love", throws birthdays parties for the children at the Mission every month!

Ever since she was in high school she has been performing as a mascot - and now she does it for our kids!

Plainly speaking, without Scott Johnson the Mission would not operate at all. He oversees the kitchen, custodial, maintenance, gift-in-kind, and transportation services at Union Rescue Mission. Listen to his story on what its like to work at the Mission!

Marley has been serving people on Skid Row her entire life, and her passion to help people experiencing homelessness led her to work at URM full-time as our Volunteer Service Coordinator! 

Darren, chef extraordinaire at Union Rescue Mission, is a man of faith first and cook second! His heart for the folks who come through the Mission is readily apparent from the way he interacts with them - always with love and respect! 

Jessica Sutherland, one of the mentors from our Mondays at the Mission teen lifeskills program, gives her story of homelessness and why that pushed her to help those in similar situations! 

Norris was a professional Greyhound driver for 10 years - until his problem with drugs and alcohol derailed his marriage. Now one of the major drivers of the Mission, he recounts his story on how he got a second chance at URM! 

Drinking from an early age, Steve was sent on a destructive spiral after the death of his grandfather. After his passing, Steve lost a lot of who he was - but he was slowly able to rebuild his life here at the Mission!

Peter is one of the Youth Coordinators at the Mission! Not only is he a wonderful father of his two beautiful daughters, but he also fills that role for many of the children who come through the Mission. Listen to his story of redemption and transformation!

James Han entered the Mission needing and wanting hope. Hope for something different, and he found it in relationship - with God, with his Chaplain, and especially his family. Hear his triumphant story of reconciliation and restoration! 

Brandie has been a case manager for the past few years and prior to coming to Union Rescue Mission she felt like she wasn't growing - professionally and spiritually. She came to the Mission where she realized her goal to not just put people into housing as quickly as possible, but to set them up to succeed in the long run! 

Union Rescue Mission is able to do its life-saving work because of all of our faithful donors - and Christine is one of our point people who builds and maintains those relationships! In this episode, she shares her story on why she decided to work for the Mission! 

Next Step Ministries has been involved with the work here at Union Rescue Mission for the past few years - and they are passionate about creating long-term partnerships with every mission field they are involved in. Ashley has been their representative here at the Mission and she shares her testimony and her experiences on Skid Row!

A mainstay in the Mission's kitchen, Ruthie has been faithfully serving URM for the past few years. After losing her family - save her newborn - in a fire, she turned to a life of drugs and the streets. As she entered our doors, she saw our tagline "The Way Home", and she knew this was a place where she would rebuild her life.  

Chef Darren Evans is known to be a man of prayer. At every moment, he praises the Lord for the little things in life as well as the big things - and when he was offered the position at URM to be a cook he couldn't believe that he could minister and cook at the same time! 

After years of planning, the URM Thrift Store is finally open in Covina! Listen to Troy and Jeri, who among others have both worked tirelessly to get this store up and running. 

URM Thrift Store
280 E. Arrow Highway
Covina, CA 

Angel's first experience with Union Rescue Mission was when he dropped off some money for his father who had been in our program. He never came in, but would view the building from the outside.

While he was working as a Bail Bondsman, he was also living a double life selling drugs. In 2013 he would finally enter into the doors of the Mission, not knowing what God would have in store for him...

James Ward and his family struggled with homelessness for years before landing at Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles, where he met Jessica Sutherland in 2012, and asked her for mentorship.

Through this partnership, James kept his grades up and was admitted to Howard University, where he just completed his freshman year as a physics major!

Aaron Valencia, custom car builder, founded Lost Angels Children's Project in response to the rise of child poverty in Los Angles. No stranger to homelessness himself, he wanted to help in his own special way - by rebuilding a 1931 Ford Roadster and raffling it off on August 30th, 2014!  

All proceeds will be donated to support homeless children at Union Rescue Mission and Grace Resource Center!

Sherrell and her children came to the Mission after a series of unfortunate and stressful events. With her son James being 17 years old, URM was the only place in Los Angeles where they could've come without breaking up the family.

Christopher Kai started our teen lifeskills class "Mondays at the Mission" over 3 years ago! Every Monday he and a group of dedicated volunteers offer up their time to inspire our kids to dream big dreams!

Part 2 of URM CEO Andy Bales' interview with Jeff Lilley, the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. 

On this week's podcast URM CEO Andy Bales gets a chance to interview Jeff Lilley, the president of Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. Check out part 2 next week!

Here's Part 2 of Emmethia's story!

Emmethia grew up in foster care - abused, beaten, and broken hearted. She tried running away, sleeping on the streets, until they finally moved her into a family that truly loved her. She tells her story on how she came to LA to help her daughter reach her dreams of entering into the entertainment industry. 

Emmethia grew up in foster care - abused, beaten, and broken hearted. She tried running away, sleeping on the streets, until they finally moved her into a family that truly loved her. She tells her story on how she came to LA to help her daughter reach her dreams of entering into the entertainment industry.