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Mission Possible: UCAN Hopes To Re-Open Homeless Shelter

The Jamestown Union Gospel Mission may soon re-open. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

The phrase “Knock, and the door will be opened to you,” may soon be the case for many in need of shelter at the Jamestown Union Gospel Mission.

The Union Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter that closed in October 2015, may soon reopen thanks to efforts of the United Christian Advocacy Network. Jim Quattrone, UCAN board of directors member, said the network received the keys recently and hope to open as an emergency shelter soon.

The Union Gospel Mission, located at 7 W. First St., has been closed since the retirement of the Rev. John Steinhauser.  Rev. Steinhauser announced his retirement after 43 years of service as director of the Union Gospel Mission. Steinhauser’s health and wanting to spend more time with his family led him to relocate to Ohio to live with his youngest daughter.

The previous Union Gospel Mission dissolved, and dispersed the assets after a lengthy process after Steinhauser’s retirement, which is how UCAN came to possess the building. However, none of the cash assets came with the building, but were instead disbursed to other charities, Quattrone said.

“The hard thing for us was taking on a building this size, and keeping the lights on,” he said. “So, for the past year-and-a-half, we’ve been saving our money just so we have some start-up funds.”

Quattrone said there is some work that needs to be done at the facility, such as cleaning and other activities. Also, items such as toiletries, mattresses, bedding, larger cooking utencils, pots and pans and other necessities will have to be acquired as well.

“We’re not sure when we’re going to open,” he said. “We have to get cleaned.”

Quattrone said the hope is to open the facility as an emergency shelter some time in February. Afterward, the goal is to have longer-term transitional housing, anywhere between nine and 18 months, he said. The facility was previously used to hold about eight occupants at a time, however, Quattrone said there is ample space in the building.

In the late 1800s, the building was originally The Hotel Everett with four floors, but the fourth floor has since been removed due to structural issues, he said. The idea is to use more of the space for a more permanent living situation to help those in need get back on their feet.

Quattrone said in the future, UCAN hopes to offer support to individuals to search for jobs, learn soft skills and offer small group sessions for program participants at the mission.

At the moment, the facility is set up for men only, but he said it is understood that women are in need of shelter as well.

Overall, Quattrone said the community and other local organizations and entities have shown great support for the re-opening of the mission, including individuals and churches.

“The mayor’s office has been super to work with,” he said. “Vince Dejoy probably gets sick of me emailing him. Our attorney, (Dale Robbins), has been a tremendous asset to us. Vince hears from me occasionally, I think a lot, but Dale hears from me a couple times a week.”

Quattrone said he wanted to thank everyone for their support of the re-opening of the mission in the future.

As the mission gets up and running, he said the network is still working on staffing, such as a director and a volunteer coordinator. Eventually, Quattrone said he would like to have someone at the mission at all times to make sure everyone can get checked in.

“Right now, we do have some people in mind to come in once we are prepared to offer employment,” he said. “We do have a couple guys lined up that I think would do a fabulous job.”

While UCAN has big dreams for the mission, Quattrone said the group is essentially starting from scratch.

“We have the building, and some really dedicated board members,” he said.

To donate funds to benefit the mission, Quattrone said to send a check made out to UCAN to United Christian Advocacy Network, P.O. Box 202, Lakewood, NY. To donate items or volunteer, he invites individuals and groups to call him at 490-3300 or email him at quattronej@gmail.com.

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