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The Union Gospel Mission is extending its services to the poor and homeless into Kootenai County, Idaho. Here you will find updates, recent news articles, how to get involved and more!

 

Phil Altmeyer gives a short Thank You and progress report regarding the new Coeur d'Alene Center for Women & Children and One Day's Pay offering. December 2, 2011

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Click this button to donate toward the Don't Look Away - One Day's Pay love offering. Then select Kootenai County Project from the drop down menu at the top of the page.

Together Kootenai County churches can help provide the first year's operating expenses ($560,000) for the new Center for Women & Children by giving a love offering.

Download the church bulletin insert here.>


The project is in progress!

Kootenai Progress5 - Recovery center,...

Photo taken November 29, 2011. Click here to view our groundbreaking video.>

You're invited to an open house at the construction site of the new Center for Women & Children. Click here for information on the two upcoming open houses!

 

 

 

 

Watch the video callout

Executive Director Phil Altmeyer on the site of the Union Gospel Mission’s new Center for Women and Children at 196 W. Haycraft Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho


You can use the following information to join with us in this effort:

Updates

  1. July 5, 2011: Construction has begun on the new Center for Women and Children! See a video of the groundbreaking event.
  2. June 17, 2011: The groundbreaking date has been set!
  3. May 31, 2011: The Bidding Process Begins, spreading the word, and volunteer informational coffees.
  4. March 2, 2011: Annual Banquet invitation, report on Pastor's Breakfast, and update on building plans.
  5. January 18, 2011: Engineering consultants have been chosen, we are searching for a general contractor, and focus groups have discussed building requirements. We're also hosting a Pastor's Breakfast in Kootenai County to bring church leaders in the loop.
  6. December 16, 2010: Building Committee and Project Manager in Place (and more!)
  7. November 19, 2010: A Show of Support for Homeless Women and Children in Kootenai County, ID (with photos from the November 4 dinner in Coeur d'Alene)

funding

To find out how you can fund and name a room in the new Center, download the current Naming Opportunities sheet.

Kootenai_FundingMeter

The Need: Statistics on Homelessness in Kootenai County

Kootenai County does not currently have a long-term residential recovery center for women and children. The need for such a center is clear from the statistics below, and as Phil states in the video above: “We’re excited to bring a spiritual dimension where God can transform lives.”

  • The number of homeless individuals living in northern Idaho has increased by 54% from 2009 to 2010.
  • 644 homeless individuals were counted on a single night in January 2010.
  • 27% of these individuals were living in shelters; 73% were without shelter.
  • 43% were female.
  • 21% were under 18.
  • From 2007 to 2010, statistics showed an 89% increase in the total number of homeless individuals and a 173% increase in the number of those individuals who were unsheltered.

(Statistics from the 2010 Point-in-Time Count Report for Region One, Idaho’s five northern counties.)

A Place for the Union Gospel Mission

Since the 1950’s, individuals and churches from North Idaho have financially partnered with the Union Gospel Mission Spokane in its outreach to the poor and homeless. The Mission’s Christian-based ministry has helped thousands of hurting men and women in crisis situations, not only from Spokane, but from Northern Idaho as well. Food, clothing and shelter have always been provided without charge to anyone in need thanks to God’s faithfulness and the caring people who support this ministry.  More recently the Mission has offered recovery programs, medical clinics, learning centers, and legal assistance to meet the widening needs of men, women and children in crisis.

It has become increasingly apparent that, without a facility in the North Idaho area, our impact is limited.

  • Often times men and women coming out of the prison system are prohibited from crossing state lines to get help from the Union Gospel Mission in Spokane.
  • Others simply do not have the ability to easily relocate to Spokane for help.
  • And others prefer to find assistance in their own community.

For these reasons, the Union Gospel Mission, along with a handful of leaders from North Idaho (see below), have been exploring the possibility of expanding into Kootenai County, Idaho.

How We Got Here

In the spring of 2009, a group of 12 Christian businessmen from North Idaho read the book, The Hole in Our Gospel, by World Vision President, Richard Stearns.  His words challenged this group to seek out ways in which God was calling them to reach the hurting and homeless men, women, and children of Kootenai County. Together with their wives, they invited Phil Altmeyer, executive director of Spokane's Union Gospel Mission, to speak to them about the Mission’s programs, philosophy, and impact. That evening, God strongly impressed on each of them that a similar ministry was vital in their own community. This was the beginning of a new ministry partnership.

Since then, the group has grown to include others who share the same passion and conviction. Today, momentum is gaining as the plans unfold for a new women’s and children’s rescue and recover center in Coeur d'Alene. With the experience and backing of the Union Gospel Mission, leaders in Kootenai County are joining arms and moving ahead on a vision to build a ~26,500 square foot facility. We're too early in the process to set a completion date at this time.

Timeline (Approximate milestones)

  • Property located – Spring 2010
  • Planning & Zoning approval – Summer 2010
  • Property closed – Fall 2010
  • Preliminary architectural designs – Fall 2010
  • Ground breaking – Spring/Summer 2011

Building Plans

Click on the image below to view a larger PDF of our plans. Please note: The facility is designed with future expansion in mind (potentially as a place to serve families and/or men).

Proposed Floor Plan

Updated floor plan for the Kootenai County shelter - January 2011 

How to get Involved

Contact Us

For more information on our Kootenai County Expansion Project, contact: Debi Pauletto, Director of Advancement >

    In the News

    Recent articles about homelessness in Coeur d'Alene and the larger Kootenai County area, and the Union Gospel Mission's development of a women's and children's shelter:

      Planning Committee

      • Brad Baldwin
      • Chris Cheeley
      • Brent Christian
      • Luann Ganz
      • Kevin Jester
      • Kevin Kok
      • Maggie Lyons
      • Richard Penn
      • Jodi Penn
      • Scott Poorman
      • Luke Russell
      • Deb Russell
      • Keke Stoeser