Union Gospel Mission’s sobriety requirement for homeless fits philosophy of solving poverty

Following controversy over new requirements that men spend the night at Union Gospel Mission’s shelter to receive some services, the group told Spokane’s Homeless Coalition the policies are in line with their philosophy about ending homelessness.

The organization in Decemeber began requiring men to stay overnight in order to receive clothes, breakfast and showers. The move followed concerns that some men were camping on the riverbanks near the shelter on East Trent Avenue and leaving trash behind.

“We make exceptions all the time for emergencies,” said Gabe Shippam, the director of men’s rescue.

At a coalition meeting Thursday, UGM executive director Phil Altmeyer said the organization wants to focus on men who want to make a change in their lives. The root causes of poverty, he said, are often a lack of meaningful relationships and having no sense of purpose and worth.

“When the soul is in poverty, it often leads to poverty in other areas of a person’s life,” Altmeyer said. “It’s the gospel that transforms the soul, restores the soul.”

UGM focuses on people who are ready to get sober and requires sobriety at their shelters.

“There are going to be people that choose to stay stuck in their addiction, and I can’t change them,” Altmeyer said.

Homeless Coalition chair Ryan Oelrich said he disagreed with some of UGM’s approach, but appreciated their willingness to talk to other coalition members.

“I still like the belief that we should meet people where they’re at,” he said, adding that it’s easier to get somebody into mental health services and support sobriety when they have a safe place to stay.

Shippam went over shelter policies, which include asking men to attend a chapel service for every three dinners they eat at UGM, unless they have children. They’re also asked to help with a chore after eating five lunches, often something simple like cleaning tables or washing dishes.

In December, the shelter also began using IDs to check men in so they could track who was using services, and would issue men a UGM card if they didn’t have another form of identification.

“We’re not going to turn anyone away for not having an ID,” Shippam said.

Some coalition members challenged UGM leaders after the presentation, asking whether Muslim men who don’t want to attend Christian services and gay men would be welcomed at the shelter.

Altmeyer said not every homeless person wants to stay at a mission with Christian services. He said gay men are welcomed at the shelter, adding, “if a gay man makes other men uncomfortable” or unsafe, he’d be asked to leave.

Shippam and Altmeyer both said their approach to homelessness is different than many service providers in the region, and that those differences don’t mean anyone’s approach is incorrect.

“This is how we do things. This is our specific niche,” Shippam said. But he works regularly with other shelters like the House of Charity to share supplies, he said.

“Part of being a community, part of being American is accepting different approaches,” he said.