Union Rescue Mission — Local services in Los Angeles

May 24th to May 25th As a woman fleeing domestic violence and harassment while living outside, I sought refuge here in hopes of finding housing and safety. On the first night I stayed in the chapel with women, men and children, which made me uncomfortable with my mental condition. I slept away from everyone on the stage, by the pianos where the cross is. Upon waking up, my top lip was swollen and I had a small gash above my lip and there was extra loose skin inside my mouth like I was punched in the face. There is a cut on top of my head and it still hurts at this very moment. I have a strong threshold for pain as a mother and athlete, so it took a few days to really understand that I was attacked. I felt so much anxiety when I woke up I cried all day, not fully understanding why I felt so depressed. I reported this and was transferred to the dayroom with the other women. I chose that bed with an outlet for charging purposes. I didn't sleep till late because someone was smoking crack and methamphetamine and I could feel it affect my gums and mouth. All of this was being blown into my space through the naked outlet in bed 5, until I stuffed the sides with tissue. When I slept that night I felt someone, maybe two people, move my cot. I felt them lift it up and set it down. I also remember hearing screaming, like a constant AHHH! In my face, in my dream-like state, I couldn't tell if it were me or not. I could not move.. The second morning, when I came to, someone had their hand on my private area as I was laying on my back. It was the only Hispanic woman "working" there. I yelled, "don't touch me" and she walked away with no response. Later that afternoon, she returned with a pair of high heels and was giving me this face like I helped her pay for it. I left that night, because my life is in danger there. If you are a single woman from another place, fleeing violence, harassment. Find another shelter to go. They recorded me in the shower, held all of the nice clothing for the sex workers and treat honest, tax-paying women like "snitches". The energy on the women's side is gang like, to the point of it being a threatening environment. It was like I stayed with Ike Turner's family :\ I was literally harassed out of there and the headache I received after being struck on the first night still concerns me. I am strongly considering a hospital visit. I was violated here worse than I was outdoors. Unfortunately, this is why so many women choose the street, why I get pushed out. Why I would rather make a cardboard house on Venice Beach than sell myself to the homeless facilities.

To the nice women truly working to make a difference, thank you, but I cannot stay. Skid row is not for everyone.

Stay safe and...

Appropriately given five stars but not for the reasons you may think. It's not designed to be the Taj Mahal but to be a place for reflection, healing and quality decision making on the way to a better life. This place is an oasis just outside of hell and death's front doors. It’s a last chance filling station with many opportunities to make wise choices and give yourselves more new opportunities to do better and live better. It has everything that a person whose lost everything needs to rebuild. So you say you're ready for a new start in life? So you say you're not ready to lay down and die? Prove it! Join the right program for you inside the walls of URM and let GOD rebuild and renew the life you said was over. I did! I sat at the URM dining tables to eat, swept and mopped the dining room floors, and attended the chapel services. I sat in the tv room on the main floor until I could not sit anymore. That time alone to ponder, reflect, and self-assess led to greater understanding and a revelation that if this is how you earn your way to the bottom of life, there must also be a way to the “top”! Now GOD has lifted me up and given me a fresh start. I have a place to call home and I am a full-time college student preparing to advance to the Master’s program for Business. Thank you GOD for URM and the entire Skid Row area for the lessons learned, and the etched experiences that became part of the force that catapulted me farther forward than I ever believed I could go! I was able to decide right there that I still have LIFE to live. It was there where I learned the real meaning of “Get busy living or Get busy dying!” It was there where I understood the only person of importance that was mad at me was me! It was up to me to forgive me for my transgressions against myself. Once I realized I was the prison system all wrapped up in one person, I saw that I had the power and authority to commute my self-inflicted sentence, unlock my cell, and start running! Where will you be when you realize you too can run not walk out of your mental, emotional, and physical prisons? My greatest vision for your life is the freedom and willingness to fly when you see the gates have...

Rev. Andy Bales is "UNION RESCUE MISSION"!!!!!!! Within 4 to 6 years I have noticed that most people when it comes to ministering to the homeless they tend to get "LOST" along the way . Maybe it's because they don't think they're making a difference or maybe it's because they are frustrated with the different sides of indifference which they see often in people on a daily basis which eventually "HARDENS" them or causes them to turn into "CYNICAL or Calloused" individuals but not "REV. ANDY BALES"!!!!!!! NO SIREE!!!!!!!! This gentleman is as I said before is "UNION RESCUE MISSION" TO A DEGREE OF 1000%. Andy who is my friend in real life is a very devout believer in Christ Lord Jesus Almighty as he walks it and talks it 24 hours a day and 365 days a year as well!!!! Andy is without fail the most GENEROUS human being that I have ever had the honor of knowing and also calling a friend as well. Andy could have chosen a much more GLAMOROUS life but he didn't. Andy could have chosen to buy a much more expensive automobile but he didn't. There are a lot of things Andy could have done different that would have made him more comfortable but as I said before Andy doesn't think about his own earthly needs but instead he is all about what he can do to help other people's lives become just a little bit more tolerable. That's the Andy Bales that I know. Andy has chosen to continue carrying other people's problems and burdens on his own back and it's a miracle how he is even still alive to this very day but then again that's what makes my friend Andy Bales who he is and what he is and that is simply a GOD FEARING MAN WHO IS TRYING TO STOMP OUT HOMELESSNESS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE SAME TIME. We are very fortunate to have this wonderful and beautiful Man of God in our lives and besides who else do you know that goes out of his way to make sure that the down trodden and less fortunate stay hydrated? Andy Bales knows the way home and he will help you get there one step at a time. GOD BLESS URM & REV. ANDY BALES. I AM SO GLAD GOD CREATED YOU....