For more than 30 years, Union Mission ministries has called downtown Norfolk home. There they run a homeless shelter aimed to get their clients back on their feet. But Union Mission Spokesperson Linda Jones says they've outgrown this facility and the City has asked them to find a new home.
Jones adds, "Each time we've moved - and we've moved four times - it's been at the request of the City. And wanting to be a good neighbor to them we willingly did so."
After years of searching they've moved into the old Virginia Natural Gas building near Virginia Beach Boulevard in Norfolk. There the mission will have enough room to build two separate shelters for men and women. And they'll have space in the future to build a daycare, a thrift store, and a community center.
Union Mission Officials tell NewsChannel 3 their plans to expand their new site will only happen once they sell their old building.
For now just the women will be living at the new shelter. The men won't move into their new home until the downtown building is sold.
The new location also raises questions about how their clients will get to the new site. Jones says they are converting an old firehouse on Monticello Avenue into a temporary pickup center. From there shuttles will bring them to the new location.
How much will all of this cost? Jones says the Union Mission will need to sell the downtown building and raise an additional $16 million in order to pay for the changes. But Jones says they have faith that everything will work out.
Jones adds, "Yes we need the money to do this. Yes it will be a burden for a while. And we know God's in control and we'll be able to do it."
Jones adds, "Each time we've moved - and we've moved four times - it's been at the request of the City. And wanting to be a good neighbor to them we willingly did so."
After years of searching they've moved into the old Virginia Natural Gas building near Virginia Beach Boulevard in Norfolk. There the mission will have enough room to build two separate shelters for men and women. And they'll have space in the future to build a daycare, a thrift store, and a community center.
Union Mission Officials tell NewsChannel 3 their plans to expand their new site will only happen once they sell their old building.
For now just the women will be living at the new shelter. The men won't move into their new home until the downtown building is sold.
The new location also raises questions about how their clients will get to the new site. Jones says they are converting an old firehouse on Monticello Avenue into a temporary pickup center. From there shuttles will bring them to the new location.
How much will all of this cost? Jones says the Union Mission will need to sell the downtown building and raise an additional $16 million in order to pay for the changes. But Jones says they have faith that everything will work out.
Jones adds, "Yes we need the money to do this. Yes it will be a burden for a while. And we know God's in control and we'll be able to do it."
