What Union Rescue Mission does

Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1891 in Los Angeles, California, delivering emergency shelter, meals, residential recovery programs, transitional housing, and a network of support services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County. The organization operates three primary service facilities: the Downtown Ministry on Skid Row at 545 S. San Pedro St. (main intake center with capacity for 800+ guests nightly and 1,300+ men, women, and children daily), the 77-acre Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar (long-term rehabilitation, transitional housing for single women and children, and permanent supportive housing for senior women at Sequoia Lodge), and the three-story, 75,000-square-foot Angeles House Family Center in South Los Angeles (serving up to 340 families including intact families with fathers and teenage sons). URM also operates three Thrift Stores in Covina, Torrance, and Whittier that sell donated and new merchandise as a revenue-generating social enterprise providing employment for program graduates.

The service portfolio comprises faith-based recovery programs (one-year Damascus Road to Recovery for women; the multi-phase Emmaus program for men), transitional programs (S.E.S. for single men and women, F.E.S. for families), and on-site support services co-delivered through institutional partnerships with UCLA Health (Homeless Healthcare Collaborative), USC School of Dentistry (pediatric dental care), and Pepperdine University (mental health and legal aid clinics). Learning Centers provide adult basic education, GED/HiSET preparation, ESL, computer literacy, and vocational training. Per the 2024-2025 Impact Report, URM served 6,000+ individuals, delivered 685,215 meals, provided 484,315 nights of safe shelter, served 1,893 children, and moved 400 families into permanent housing.

URM is funded entirely through private charitable contributions. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring via a Classy.org-powered portal accepting credit cards, PayPal, and Venmo), foundation and corporate grants (notably The Ahmanson Foundation and Minerd Foundation), corporate and celebrity partnerships (Chevron, Amazon, In-N-Out Burger, Los Angeles Lakers, UCLA Health, KTLA 5, Fairmont Century Plaza, Hilton LA/Universal City, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance), special fundraising events (5K/10K Run/Walk, Over the Edge rappelling, Anniversary Gala), three URM Thrift Stores, planned giving and estate gifts, and a Vehicle Donation Program. The organization holds Charity Navigator's 4-star rating with a perfect 100 accountability score, Candid Platinum Transparency 2024, and ECFA accreditation, and reports 87 cents of every donated dollar going directly to programs. Leadership is provided by CEO Mark Hood, President Richard Baker, and a Board chaired by former LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

Name

Union Rescue Mission

Legal name

Union Rescue Mission

Website

https://urm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Union Rescue Mission is a 135-year-old 501(c)(3) non-profit providing emergency shelter, recovery programs, and transitional housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness across three Los Angeles County facilities and three thrift stores.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services and Faith-Based Recovery Programs

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Faith-based recovery programs
• Transitional housing support
• Emergency food services
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: URM relies primarily on charitable contributions from individual donors who support through one-time and recurring donations via online portals, mail, and stock donations.
2. Thrift Store Operations: Three thrift stores in Covina, Torrance, and Whittier generate revenue to fund mission operations and create employment opportunities for program graduates.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: URM receives support from foundations and corporations including The Ahmanson Foundation, Minerd Foundation, and various corporate sponsors for events and programs.
4. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Donors can include URM in wills, trusts, and estate plans through the planned giving program.
5. Special Events: Annual events including 5K/10K Run/Walk, Over the Edge rappelling event, and 135th Anniversary Gala generate fundraising revenue and corporate sponsorships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Union Rescue Mission delivers free emergency shelter, meals, showers, and recovery services to men, women, children, and families experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Its core programs include the Damascus Road (women) and Emmaus (men) faith-based one-year residential recovery programs, transitional programs (S.E.S. for singles, F.E.S. for families), and dedicated family centers at Hope Gardens and Angeles House, complemented by on-site medical, dental, mental health, legal, and learning services delivered through institutional partnerships.

Product overview

Union Rescue Mission is a nonprofit homeless shelter and life-transformation organization operating since 1891. It is not a technology product company but rather a service organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include Emergency Services (shelter, meals, showers) at its Downtown Skid Row Ministry; faith-based recovery programs (Damascus Road for women, Emmaus for men); transitional housing programs (S.E.S. for singles, F.E.S. for families); and family centers (Hope Gardens in Sylmar and Angeles House in South LA). Support services include medical, dental, mental health, legal clinics, and Learning Centers — all delivered through institutional partnerships (UCLA Health, USC, Pepperdine). Revenue-generating activities include three Thrift Stores and a Vehicle Donation Program. Fundraising events include the annual 5K/10K Run/Walk, Over the Edge rappelling event, and Anniversary Gala. The organization operates a website donation platform integrated with Classy.org, PayPal, Venmo, and major credit cards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Emmaus Recovery Program: Faith-based one-year residential recovery program for men overcoming addictions and destructive behavioral issues
• Damascus Road to Recovery
• S.E.S. (Singles Emergency Services)
• F.E.S. (Family Emergency Services)

Products and services

• Emergency Services Referral-free emergency shelter, meals, showers, laundry, and personal care services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness at the Downtown Ministry on Skid Row (1,300+ guests daily with three meals per day).
• Damascus Road to Recovery One-year faith-based residential recovery program for single women at Hope Gardens Family Center in Sylmar, addressing addiction, trauma, domestic violence, parenting, and life skills through a four-phase trauma-informed approach.
• Emmaus Recovery Program Faith-based residential recovery program for men experiencing addiction and destructive behavioral issues, structured in three phases (Seeds of Hope detox, Emmaus transformation, Apprenticeship up to 18 months) with on-site Pepperdine mental health support.
• S.E.S. (Singles Emergency Services) Program One-year transitional program for single men and women who need more than emergency services but cannot commit to long-term recovery, including life-skills classes, job-readiness tutoring, case management, and permanent housing assistance.
• F.E.S. (Family Emergency Services) Program Transitional program providing refuge and support for families entering emergency shelter, with a minimum 6-month stay, comprehensive support services, case management, and resources to help parents and children transition to stable housing.
• Hope Gardens Family Center 77-acre sanctuary in Sylmar offering long-term rehabilitation, transitional housing, and support services for single women and children experiencing homelessness, including the Damascus Road recovery program, youth development, and Sequoia Lodge senior care.
• Angeles House Family Center 75,000 sq. ft., three-story facility in South Los Angeles providing safe housing and support services for up to 86-340 families including fathers, mothers, intact families, and children with teenage boys, with on-site medical, dental, mental health, daycare, and learning center services.
• URM Thrift Stores Three thrift store locations in Covina, Whittier, and Torrance selling donated clothing, accessories, furniture, and housewares (50% new merchandise sold below wholesale), generating revenue for mission operations and providing employment for program graduates.
• Vehicle Donation Program Program accepting vehicle donations (cars, RVs, motorcycles, boats) whether operational or not, with free pickup arranged within 24 hours and a tax-deductible receipt.
• Support Services (Medical, Dental, Mental Health, Legal, Learning Centers) On-site and partner-provided services including the UCLA Health homeless healthcare clinic, USC pediatric dental clinic, Pepperdine mental health and legal aid clinics, and URM Learning Centers offering adult basic education, GED/HiSET preparation, ESL, computer literacy, and vocational training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ people moved off mean streets into URM services annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• UCLA Health - Homeless Healthcare CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCLA's Homeless Healthcare Collaborative operates one of only a few full-time clinics in Los Angeles devoted to caring for primary medical needs of people experiencing homelessness. All services at the center are provided free of charge to URM guests.
• USC School of DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty, students, and interns from USC School of Dentistry provide free, comprehensive dental care to underrepresented people in downtown Los Angeles. This program is the only dental clinic on Skid Row to care for children.
• Pepperdine Mental Health CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jerry Butler/Pepperdine Mental Health Clinic provides psychological services for people striving to overcome trauma and substance use disorders, dramatically increasing chances for long-term recovery.
• Pepperdine Legal Aid CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaffed by an attorney and student law clerks, the clinic helps guests overcome legal issues including tickets, warrants, child support, custody, expungements, government benefits, and income tax controversies.
• Citygate NetworkminorOthersAffiliation with Citygate Network, an association of rescue missions and service organizations.
• ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)minorOthersURM maintains ECFA accreditation demonstrating financial accountability and ethical standards for evangelical organizations.
• Angela Bassett and Courtney B. VanceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassadors of Hope honorees at URM's 135th Anniversary Gala. High-profile celebrity supporters who bring visibility and credibility to the organization's mission.
• In-N-Out BurgercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChampions of Hope honoree at URM's 135th Anniversary Gala. Corporate partner supporting the mission.
• Los Angeles LakerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for URM events including Gala and 5K/10K Run/Walk, providing visibility and community support.
• UCLA HealthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for URM events including Gala, supporting fundraising efforts.
• Fairmont Century Plaza HotelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for URM's 135th Anniversary Gala, providing premium location for event.
• KTLA 5coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor for 135th Anniversary Gala with Chris Schauble as event host. Provides media visibility for the event and mission.
• Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City HotelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Over the Edge rappelling event, allowing participants to descend 25 stories at the Universal Hilton Hotel.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PATH (People Assisting The Homeless): Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and case management to people experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable to URM in target geography and population, with comparable scale and housing-focused programming.
• The Midnight Mission: Historic Skid Row rescue mission providing emergency shelter, meals, recovery, and workforce development in downtown Los Angeles. Closely comparable to URM in faith-based mission, target population, and integrated service model spanning emergency to recovery to reintegration.
• Los Angeles Mission: Faith-based homeless services organization operating in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. Provides emergency shelter, meals, recovery programs, and transitional housing to men, women, and children—directly overlapping URM's core service portfolio and target population in the same geography.
• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: Faith-affiliated social services organization providing housing, immigration, food, and family services across LA County. Comparable faith-based nonprofit with overlapping service lines (housing, food assistance, family support) and regional footprint.
• Union Station Homeless Services: Pasadena-based nonprofit serving homeless and low-income individuals across LA County with shelter, housing, and supportive services. Comparable service model and regional catchment, serving adjacent LA County submarkets to URM.
• Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission: San Fernando Valley and greater LA rescue mission operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and navigation centers. Competes for similar donor and government funding pools and serves overlapping homeless populations in the LA region.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Southern California: Nationally scaled faith-based organization operating shelter, recovery, and social services across Southern California. Comparable service offerings (emergency shelter, addiction recovery, family services) but with significantly broader geographic and programmatic footprint than URM.

Emerging players

• LAMP Community: Skid Row-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, case management, and mental health services to people experiencing homelessness. Overlaps with URM on Skid Row case management and supportive services, but operates at smaller scale.
• Skid Row Housing Trust: LA nonprofit developer and operator of permanent supportive housing on Skid Row. Operates in the same micro-geography as URM's Downtown Ministry but specializes in long-term housing rather than emergency shelter and recovery—partial overlap.

Others

• Citygate Network: National association of rescue missions and life-transformation service organizations of which URM is a member. Industry association that sets standards and convenes peer organizations—relevant as ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/URM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/unionrescuemission
• Facebookfacebook.com/unionrescuemissionla
• Instagraminstagram.com/unionrescuemission
• TikToktiktok.com/@unionrescuemission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Union Rescue Mission