Good News Tucson - A Family Values Publication

5 to 25

If you remember anything about this article, please remember the numbers 5 to 25. I’ll explain the significance of these numbers in this article.

When picturing a homeless person, many people envision a man in his late 50’s, white disheveled hair, a scraggly beard, tattered clothes, and weather beaten skin. Seldom do we picture a woman in her 30’s, a child clinging to each arm, emotionally and physically exhausted, frightened for her and her children’s safety.

However, in recent years, the fastest growing population among the homeless has become women and women with children. Escaping abusive relationships, financial problems, medical or mental health issues, substance use disorders, are some of the reasons that may cause a woman and her children to become homeless. The increasing incarceration rate for women also increases probation rates. Women are being discharged with no where to go.

Since 1991, Gospel Rescue Mission has operated a women and children’s homeless shelter and recovery program (formerly called Bethany House). Up until 2 years ago, we had a few beds available each night for new shelter guests. However, over the past several years, our available beds (48 beds) are totally used daily.

Unfortunately, we receive requests for shelter beds beyond what we have. We now turn away between 5-25 women (plus their children) every day. One particular day, we turned down 42 requests for a shelter bed! It is breaking our hearts to tell each woman, “There is no room in the inn.” The few other local shelters are also full. So, each woman and child that we turn away has to go back to live on the streets another night… day after day… until a bed opens up.

Since God has been bringing more women and children than we can handle each day for the past 2 years, we are clearly getting His message. There is a huge need and He wants to use us to do something about meeting that need.

In faith, we are moving forward… step by step… in pursuit of a larger facility to double the number of women and children we can assist. We haven’t developed a long range building plan or a strategic fundraising approach. Rather, we are praying and taking steps forward to see what doors God will open and close. We have looked at about 100 properties so far.

If we continue to walk in faith, He will guide us to the property of His choice and He will meet the financial need to cover it all. People may scoff at this approach of faith. But over and over again at the Mission we have seen God move in very miraculous ways to meet our needs and our clients’ needs, as we get down on our knees in prayer. He will do the same with this new building and the funding.

Please pray with us in this endeavor…that we listen to Him carefully for direction. We don’t want “our building” with His blessing. We want His building and it will be blessed. Although we do not yet know which building or where any of the money will come from… God does! We have total peace that this will come to pass… so that the 5-25 women turned away each day will soon become…. ZERO!

H.O.P.E Recovery, Inc., a non-profit faith based organization made up of family, friends and allies in recovery; striving to help shape public policy, reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and recovery, and actively remove the stigma and barriers to recovery.

Roy E. Tullgren III serves as Director for Gospel Rescue Mission.
Find out how you can get involved and make a difference by calling: (520) 740-1501.