Pasco, Wash. – An anonymous donor has pledged to match up to $250k in donations towards a new Tri-City Union Gospel Mission Emergency Women’s and Children’s shelter in Kennewick.
The anonymous donor will match donations until the end of this year. UGM has raised $2 million for the project which is estimated to cost about $9.5 million.
“None of this is government money. It’s a community effort, and I know the community will get behind it,” Tri-City Union Mission Gospel Executive Director Andrew Porter said. “The sooner the better, because there are women right now that are in need that aren’t getting the help that they need, and that’s because they have no place to go. So we can change that.”
The current Women’s and Children’s shelter is limited to 30 beds, and doesn’t have any classrooms, or places for kids to play. There is one office with eight staff members. Porter said the shelter is full every night.
“If they can’t stay with us, who knows where they’re going to have to stay,” Porter said. “So it’s very heartbreaking to have to turn away women and children. And we just want to get to a place where that doesn’t happen anymore.”
The building was built in 1914 and originally used by the Twin Cities phone company.
The UGM purchased almost 3.5 acres of land in Kennewick to build the new facility. The building is projected to be about 23,000 square feet with apartment-style living. The new shelter is expected to accommodate about 75 people with community areas and places for kids to play.
Information about donating to the new Women’s and Children’s Shelter can be found on the UGM website.