Simonka Place RENEWAL Project
The story of Union Gospel Mission…
Union Gospel Mission has served the Keizer and Salem community for 73 years, reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, in need, and suffering from hunger, lack of shelter, and a sense of being lost.
The cornerstone of the UGM ministry is described in Matthew 11:28-30, where it says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” It is through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ that lives are being changed at Union Gospel Mission.
For 65 years, Union Gospel Mission has been sheltering women in our women’s facility, a place we call Simonka Place. At Union Gospel Mission’s Simonka Place, women and children are finding safety, peace, and healing through the programs, services, and care we offer.
The need at Simonka Place…
Recent homeless point-in-time counts throughout Marion and Polk counties have seen an increase in the number of women experiencing homelessness; an increase in domestic violence, sex trafficking, and drug addiction being at the root of homelessness for many of the women in our community, combined with the lack of options for shelter, recovery, or holistic, Christ-centered care. This defines the need to improve and provide more opportunities for women.
As we have seen this need to grow in our community, Union Gospel Mission is stepping up to meet it head-on by improving our facilities for women and children.
Remodel and Facility Improvement Project…
Union Gospel Mission has launched a fundraising campaign for a $3.5 million project at Simonka Place, designed to give a complete facelift to a tired facility, to increase its capacity for single women and mothers with children experiencing desperate times. This project will improve the infrastructure of the facility with new HVAC systems, siding, and windows. Additionally, it will expand staff offices to create a better work environment for those who serve our homeless sisters at Simonka Place day in and day out. Most importantly, the project will add a childcare center and create an uplifting place to live for our guests and clients to heal.
The Simonka Place RENEWAL Project will allow families to have their own space rather than shared family space, allowing mothers and children to become a family unit and thrive for the first time in a very long time.
How you can help…
Currently, thanks to our generous community, we have raised $2.3 million towards the Simonka Place RENEWAL Project. We are well on our way to completing our fundraising goal! The project was approved to start mid-July 2025, and we are excited to be on track to finish this project within 9 months.
With your consideration to meet this critical need for women and children in this God-honoring project, more lives will be impacted through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.