Today we’d like to introduce you to Andy Bales.
About 30 years ago Andy was teaching at a Christian School in DesMoines. He decided to teach his students about the lesson in Matthew 25: 31-46 where it says “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Andy strongly believed this lesson was timely being that some of the students had been picking on their fellow students. He told them that the scripture was telling them that if you feed a hungry person it is like feeding Jesus himself.
Andy went to work in Downtown DesMoines at his other job and a man experiencing homelessness walked up to him and asked him for his sandwich. Andy told him no, that he needed his sandwich and he could not give it to him. The man walked away into the darkness filled with disappointment. Andy realized that after preaching the lesson to his six classes, six different times he had actually failed to practice what he preached. He had not fed the man in need. A few weeks after that night he was asked to work at the Door of Faith mission where he was able to practice what he preached daily.
Andy left DesMoines to assist a church in Pasadena with that was struggling on the best method to help the growing needs of neighbors experiencing homelessness. Although he had some success after 5 years he got into hot water with city councilmen, city planners, and Pasadena residents who threatened the church because they did not agree with the passion in which Andy helped people experiencing homelessness. He decided to run for city council as the church buckled under the pressure and put Andy on a leave of absence.
Andy worried about how he would be able to provide for his family but still continue to do the work he was so passionate about. At that moment he got a visit from Chairman of the Board David Dow of Union Rescue Mission and was offered the position of President to CEO. Andy jokes that he worked all of his life to end up on Skidrow. When he came on board at Union Rescue Mission he came just in time to once again take up a battle against another city that did not want to open a facility in their city to help families experiencing homelessness.
Has it been a smooth road?
The challenge to open a satellite in Sylmar was a 21 month, 1.9 million, 34 neighborhood meetings(beatings), and a 6-hour long zoning meeting. The battle received lots of support from Steve Lopez of Los Angeles Times who became an ally. The “Not in my neighborhood” or “Nimby” way of thinking was the first challenge that Andy faced as CEO of Union Rescue Mission. Hope Gardens was able to open its doors in 2006.
Andy has faced as CEO financial struggles, the great recession, wildfires and mudslides threatening Hope Gardens, criticism from activist, quadruple bypass, kidney transplant, 3 flesh-eating diseases, loss of a leg, and most recently a renewed “NIMBY” battle to open another satellite for families experiencing homelessness.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Union Rescue Mission (Downtown & Hope Gardens Family Center -Sylmar – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
URM is the largest missions of its kind in America — bringing help and hope to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. URM provides comprehensive emergency and long-term recovery services to our guests to help them escape the dangerous streets of Skid Row and transition from homelessness to independent living.
Nestled in the foothills of the Angeles national forest, HGFC offers a peaceful setting and transitional living to moms, children, a number of single women and permanent supportive housing to senior women. In addition to food and shelter, HGFC offers the real help women need to escape homelessness forever, long-term rehabilitation programs, job training, counseling, training and encouragement.
We are most proud that URM is one of the only organizations in Los Angeles that offers help for single men, single women, single mothers with children, single fathers with children, two-parent families, and even families with teenaged children experiencing homelessness.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Andy likes best the diversity of people in the City of Los Angeles.
Andy dislikes the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Address: 545 S San Pedro
- Website: www.urm.org
- Phone: 2132001758
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @UnionRescueMission
- Facebook: www.fb.com/UnionRescueMissionLA
- Twitter: @URM
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