Homelessness

What really happens at Olympia Union Gospel Mission?

Volunteers there serve “the least of these”

Posted

Loren “Skip” Steffen and Mindy Roberts have the courage to live their Christian faith with and in the hope of helping the homeless.

“God has richly blessed me and my wife in our lives,” said Steffen, the executive director of the Olympia Union Gospel Mission,  “and, for me, serving here has been a chance to walk out my faith and help people in the process.”

He served on the OUGM’s board for several years before being named executive director in 2005.

“After I failed retirement, I became the executive director,” he quipped.

He leads an organization that began its work with the homeless through a street ministry that served sandwiches and hot drinks in a spirit of love and acceptance. 

Since its inception in 1995, the mission has grown.  Numerous programs, such as addiction recovery, dental and vision services,  have been added. Thousands of men and women have been helped in their attempts to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty, according to Steffen.

Part of this growth is due to the efforts of Roberts, a mother, an Army veteran and a former corporate executive who joined the OUGM in 2014 and now serves as the resource development director.

“I loved the company I worked for, but I did not feel I was doing anything important … and I have always been drawn to what we biblically call the ‘least of these,’” she explained.

“For me it was a leap of faith for sure, but I have not regretted being here at the mission.”

The OUGM provides the homeless with a refuge as it addresses their basic needs, shows them how to make a change in their lives, and encourages the unhoused to begin anew.

Individuals using the shelter are expected to abide by rules against stealing,  drug distribution and /or use, violence, harassment of others, and disrespect of staff or property.

“We ask people to behave respectfully toward others,” explained Steffen, “and other than that we’re easy to get along with.”

The basic needs ministry for the low-income and street-dependent individuals is a herculean task.  A monthly breakdown of the work accomplished is as follows:  7,100 meals served; 450 individuals showered; 575 loads of laundry; 2,960 clothing items distributed from clothing bank; 15 to 25 worshippers per church service; 4 to 10 individuals attend Bible studies four times a week; 1,500 bed nights; and a monthly fund that totals approximately $2,200  to help low-income individuals with utilities, medication, gas and rent.

“We always struggle for resources, be they financial or human resources,” explained Steffen.  “But as a Christian organization, we cannot accept government money to cover our operating costs and most of our capital expenditures -- because we do not want to NOT proclaim the gospel of Jesus.”

In providing sanctuary for the homeless,  the OUGM also provides dinner service to its Tiny House Villages in Olympia and Tacoma,  provides a Health Ministry comprised of dental and vision services, offers an Addiction Recovery called the Life Transformation Ministry for women, children and single men to want to break their addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.

“There are guidelines imposed on religious organizations that preclude us from receiving funding from the city, county or state.  All of our funding is through donations,” added Roberts.  “Eighty-five percent of our income comes from individuals who decide to support this organization.”

Roberts also believes that there may be ways in which the city and state could support some of the programs OUGM offers, even though it is a religious organization.

“I wish there could be a conversation about this,” she continued, “and I think that while we have some church support, more help would be deeply appreciated.”

Both Steffen and Roberts acknowledged a rising number of homeless using the mission, and that there are approximately 60 sheltering on any given night and 80 to 130 individuals fed daily. 

This comes as no surprise. On April 18, 2023, the Olympia City Council declared a continuing public health emergency and extended an ordinance (initially adopted in 2018) for another six months.

In asking for the extension, assistant city manager Rich Hoey said that the number of homeless persons and tents within city limits had significantly increased since August 2018.

“Speaking as a local downtown organization, I think that changing some of the zoning and enforcing some of the laws as they currently exist would be helpful,” Steffen pointed out.

He also pointed out that people are camping out around the OUGM and that they leave a lot of garbage behind when they depart.  

Despite all of the problems confronting the OUGM, Roberts remains hopeful.

“I think it is important to remember that the homeless we help are human beings that have come from something or somewhere really traumatic and who need our help,” she concluded.

Click here to learn more about Union Gospel Mission.

JM Simpson is a veteran photojournalist who lives in Lacey.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here