Opportunity Center Opens to Serve the Homeless
Memphis Union Mission Increases Ministry Through New Facility

Memphis Union Mission is pleased to announce the opening of its new Opportunity Center.

The 12,000-square-foot facility is located at 600 Poplar Ave., and will allow the Mission to expand its services to the homeless community.

Increased Capacity

The facility will have 50 permanent beds. During emergency situations such as when the winter temperatures plummet, the facility will be able to provide temporary shelter to an additional 100 men who will sleep on mats.

This, combined with the same emergency capacity at 383 Poplar Ave., will allow the Mission to serve 370 individuals at these two locations during times of need.

Jericho Project

Of the facility’s 50 beds, eight will serve clients who are enrolled in the Jericho Project, Shelby County’s program that places previously incarcerated homeless men and women who have been diagnosed with a mental illness into a supportive environment.

The Jericho Project’s purpose is to reduce the likelihood that clients will reenter the Department of Corrections. Clients residing at the Opportunity Center will receive basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, and hygiene, as well as supportive services like counseling and case management.

The Mission will not receive any public funding for providing this dormitory, but we consider it a privilege to partner with the Jericho Project to assist these individuals in their transition back to society.

Other New Services, Including New Aftercare Program and Drop-In Center

Other clients staying at the Opportunity Center will include homeless clients who have previously resided at the Mission’s Men’s Emergency Shelter at 383 Poplar Ave., but who have demonstrated a greater level of responsibility and maturity.

Most of these men will be employed, while a few may be disabled and drawing Social Security. They will have more accountability in the form of random drug tests, and will be expected to help with the upkeep of the facility.

During the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, the Opportunity Center’s lobby will serve as a drop-in center for the homeless. The lobby will be open to homeless individuals to get out off the streets during the day and have access to restrooms, supportive services, and recreation activities.

The Mission plans to provide some of the supportive services through third parties. For example, the Mission will provide the office space and administrative support for third-party case management professionals, who will provide counseling and case management to homeless mentally ill guests.

And finally, having the extra space gave Memphis Union Mission the increased capacity to add another pastoral position to its staff. The pastor at this new facility will be responsible for creating a new aftercare program for men who have graduated from the Iron-On-Iron program.

For more information, please contact Steve Carpenter at (901) 526-8403, ext. 2009.

Memphis Union Mission Heritage Classic
Fifth Annual Golf Tournament Raises Money for New Opportunity Center

At first, it looked like it wasn't going to happen, but the weather cleared, and the fifth annual Memphis Union Mission Heritage Classic on May 10 was a great success.

The morning of the tournament, the rain fell in buckets, but as tee time approached, the rain began to slow. And by the time 1 p.m. arrived, the rain stopped, and tournament participants enjoyed a great afternoon at Windyke.

All proceeds from the tournament benefit Memphis Union Mission, and this year's proceeds will go toward constructing an outdoor patio at the Mission's new Opportunity Center.

We would like to thank Windyke Country Club for doing such a wonderful job again of hosting the tournament.

Moreover, we want to thank our corporate sponsors for making this event a success through their generosity:

For more information, please contact Steve Carpenter at (901) 526-8403, ext. 2009.

Ambassador of Caring Award Goes to Mission
Equitable Life & Casualty Program Highlights Memphis Union Mission

Memphis Union Mission is honored to receive Equitable Life & Casualty's Ambassador of Caring Award.

The award is a program in which Equitable employees nominate charities that they believe are doing good work in their communities. Local representative Steve Nix was gracious to recommend Memphis Union Mission as a charity that is doing meaningful work in the Memphis community.

The Mission received a nice plaque from Equitable and a $2,000 award. Moreover, the Mission was profiled on the nationally syndicated show, Profiles in Caring.

Click here to view Memphis Union Mission's segment.

We are so honored to receive this award and wish to thank Steve Nix and our friends at Equitable Life & Casualty for honoring the Mission in this way.

For more information, please contact Steve Carpenter at (901) 526-8403, ext. 2009.