The Union Mission Ministries – Linda C. Jones

A Home for Hope

For 125 years The Union Mission Ministries has compassionately served the least, the last, and the lost in our community including men, women, and children without a home and with nowhere else to turn.

Mission Statement

To aid the poor and needy; to reform the erring; to help those that are out of the way; to feed the hungry; to shelter the homeless; to preach the gospel; and to rescue the perishing.

History

The Union Mission was founded in 1892 by a group of Methodist businessmen who had a vision to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the poor and homeless. From that vision, the original Union Mission opened its doors, and to this day continues to provide for the homeless and poor throughout the Hampton Roads community.

In 1956, Rev. Theodore A. Bashford, became the Executive Director and guided the ministry until his passing in October 2008. His daughter, Linda Bashford Vaughan, succeeded him as Executive Director and ran the day-to-day operations until February 2016, when Rev. John W. Gray, Jr., was appointed Executive Director. Mrs. Vaughan remains on the staff as Executive Director Emeritus. Over the years, the Men’s and Women’s Shelters moved five times until 2009 when a permanent campus was established. The ministry grew to include multiple ministries in the Hampton Roads, Virginia community.

Reasons people are homeless. Many of the people who come to us have a variety of these issues and don’t know how to overcome their burdens or even where to start. Many of these issues prevent people finding jobs and housing. It

Unemployment/ Underemployment
Legal Issues
Medical Issues
Transition from Incarceration
Relocation and can’t find job or housing
Mental Health Issues
Financial Issues
Roommate Issues
Death in Family
Loss of Benefits
Domestic Problems (Domestic violence, trauma in the home, inability to resolve conflict, etc.)
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Aged Out of Foster Care
House Burns Down
Lost job due to company down-sizing
Chronically Homeless

Each year the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions does a survey of member Missions across the country. I am attaching the results from 2016. The Southeastern Virginia Coalition on Homelessness also does a bi-annual Point in Time Count in Hampton Roads. This includes Norfolk, Chesapeake and western Tidewater. Portsmouth and Virginia Beach do their own counts. Portsmouth reported 50 homeless, Virginia Beach reported 389. Totaling all cities the one day statistics indicate there are 1,174 people homeless in Hampton Roads. Of course this survey is traditionally done in January when a lot of homeless people may be staying with friends, etc. so as accurate as possible.

The Union Mission Ministries

Restoring the lives of men, women, and children in need by providing nourishing meals, safe shelter, and Christ-centered care.

Linda C. Jones