Union Gospel Mission

Father's Day can be a celebration.

It can also be a reminder of years lost to addiction, broken relationships, and missed moments.

At UGM, we meet men who are working every day to rebuild what addiction has taken from them. Men who are reconnecting with their children. Men becoming grandfathers. Men stepping up to care for family. Men learning that recovery can change generations.

Steve spent years separated from his son before finding recovery. Today, he's nearly 15 years sober and raising a young son while rebuilding the relationships he once thought were lost.

Scott never imagined he'd get a second chance at being present with his family. Now, becoming a grandfather is one of his greatest joys.

Terry reconnected with his family while in recovery and later stepped forward to care for two little girls so they could remain connected to their family.

It’s never too late for restoration.

This Father's Day, we're celebrating the strong dads, granddads, and father figures who keep showing up, one day at a time. 💙

If you know a father who has overcome incredible challenges for the people he loves, tag him below.

There are many paths that can lead to homelessness, including poverty and addiction. For many in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, experiences of being marginalized, as well as rejection, stigma, trauma, and even violence can increase that risk.⁠
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At UGM, we are committed to serving without discrimination. Our primary goal is to transform communities by overcoming homelessness, addiction, and poverty – one life at a time. This requires recognizing that each person we encounter has a unique story and set of circumstances that make them who they are and has impacted the struggles they have.⁠
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Gender-diverse people are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness as cisgender people. It has also been estimated that approximately 25% of homeless youth identify as 2SLGBTQI+.⁠
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These numbers likely underestimate the true scale of the issue, as many 2SLGBTQI+ individuals experience hidden homelessness, staying temporarily with friends or family, or in unsafe living situations. ⁠
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Experiences of homelessness are also shaped by intersectionality. Factors such as race, ethnicity, income, disability, and life experiences intersect with sexual orientation and gender identity, creating additional and often compounding barriers to safe and stable housing.⁠
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Find more information and recent statistics at: https://homelesshub.ca/collection/population-groups/2slgbtq/

“Karaoke Night is a non‑judgmental space where people feel free to show up as they are.”

Every Sunday, Union Gospel Mission’s karaoke night fills the room with music, confidence, and connection – creating a sober space where people are seen and celebrated.

👉 Read more about how karaoke night is bringing people together: https://bit.ly/4e76GHJ

For much of his life, Scott built something good.

He was a business owner, a husband, and a father of three. His years of marriage and parenting were meaningful and fulfilling, and his professional life was successful. But over time, something shifted.
“I started chasing the dream of business,” Scott says. “I let that become my identity. God took a backseat in my life.”

What began as social drinking gradually took more space than he realized. By the time Scott recognized alcohol as a problem, it had already begun to unravel the good things he cared about most – his marriage, his work, and his sense of purpose.

Eventually, Scott reached a breaking point.

“I woke up and realized I’d had enough,” he says. “I needed to get sober and I needed to get right with God.”

After leaving everything familiar behind and trying recovery elsewhere, Scott arrived at Union Gospel Mission – a place where he found the time, structure, and support he needed to truly heal. Through recovery programming, coaches, and counsellors, Scott began to understand his story in a new way.

“I’ve grown more spiritually in the last two years than I had my entire life,” he says.

Today, Scott’s life looks very different. He lives near English Bay, spends his mornings speaking at The Cornerstone, and shares openly about what God has done – and continues to do – in his life. He gives his time back to UGM, not because his story is finished, but because he knows how powerful hope can be when it’s shared.

“If God could take a guy like me,” Scott says, “He can do this for anyone.”

Read Scott’s story: https://bit.ly/3PTiANd

Thank you for celebrating women and mothers with us last week! 💐 Here’s a look at some meaningful moments we shared together:

🌷Springtime at Arrow Home🌷
Last Thursday, our team and generous donors gathered for an evening of community and connection at Lambrick Park Church! At the event, folks were able to put together gardening baskets and write encouraging cards for women and mothers currently on their recovery journeys.

The baskets and cards were shared directly with women and mothers at Arrow Home – UGM’s Women’s Recovery Home in Greater Victoria – and shared to partner organizations we work alongside across Southern Vancouver Island.
📸 Check out the photos from the event! (Slide 1-5)

🌷Mother’s Day at The Sanctuary in Vancouver 🌷
Over the weekend, our Women & Families team in Vancouver hosted a photoshoot for women and families living in UGM’s Sanctuary Transitional Housing!
📸 Check out some of the photos from the event! (Slide 6-12)

A heartfelt thank you to Kevin, Tricia (Kevin Clark Studios), and James (James Alfred Photography) for giving your time and talent to bless the mothers and families at UGM with photos for Mother's Day. Your generosity is such a gift and will capture heartfelt memories for the years to come!

🌷Letters of Encouragement for Mothers 🌷
Last week, we had the privilege of sharing your handwritten cards and messages of encouragement with mothers in our community. We were deeply moved by the care and through poured into every note.
💌 Swipe to read a few messages. (Slide 13-15)

Thank you so much for helping make women and their families feel seen and celebrated this past week. We truly couldn’t do this work without you. 💙🩵💚

Wow! Our teams have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support for the women and moms in our recovery programs. 💌⁠
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Leading up to Mother’s Day, we invited our community to include a message of encouragement with every gift — and received over 200 handwritten cards, along with many more digital messages.⁠
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This weekend, we’ll be sharing these notes with the women in our programs, reminding them they are not alone and deeply valued by a community that sees and supports them. 🌸⁠
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Because of caring people like you, we’re able to walk alongside women and their children as they work toward healing and stability together. 🫂⁠
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And as we celebrate moms and mother-figures, we’d love your help filling this space with kindness! Will you share a word of encouragement in the comments below? 🤍 ⬇️⁠
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We also know that for many in our community, Mother’s Day carries grief. We pray these messages remind you that you too are loved by a community that cares. ⁠
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If you’d still like to give in honour of a mom or mother-figure in your life, you can do so today at https://bit.ly/4cPOeEb