Vancouver, BC—On Tuesday, May 21, those struggling with homelessness and poverty will be offered the chance to do in one day, what can often take upwards of eight months. Union Gospel Mission is hosting the 2nd annual Summer Connect event, assembling 35 vital service providers under one roof, with the common goal of eliminating barriers that prevent vulnerable community members from moving forward in life. 

From 11:00am to 3:00pm those struggling with homelessness, poverty and addiction can come to UGM and get access to things like legal assistance and support for housing, employment, and income assistance. Services like free haircuts, bike and wheelchair repair, pet care and an all-day breakfast will be available as well. 

“Those who are under-housed are severely limited by mobility, literacy and communication issues,” explains Derek Weiss, Summer Connect developer. “Trying to navigate a host of social systems is time-consuming, exhausting, deflating—and for many it’s near impossible. Bringing all the services together in the same place at the same time changes everything.”

Matt Pregent of Wheelin’ Mobility is just one of the many service providers who came last year. In a wheelchair himself, Pregent knows just how important a working chair is. At Summer Connect 2012, Wheelin’ Mobility helped 24 people regain mobility by repairing their wheelchair. 

Not only was Pregent able to provide much-needed help through Summer Connect, but it sparked a chain of events allowing Pregent to provide on-going support to the disable of this community. 

“After last year’s Summer Connect I was responding to emergency repair calls at all hours of the day—and night—throughout the DTES, by people who couldn’t afford to pay.” With some innovation and hard work, Pregent secured funding from BC Rehab to provide this service, helping improve the quality of life for residents of the DTES community.  Those funds will allow Pregent to return to UGM, as well as to other locations to provide wheelchair repair throughout the year. 

Princess Street will be closed and tents set up to facilitate the breadth of Summer Connect. Music will accompany the services and breakfast.

Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Time: 11:00PM – 3:00PM  

Location: 601 East Hastings, Vancouver (@ Princess Avenue) – UGM’s main facility 

Thanks to Summer Connect sponsors for their incredible, tangible generosity. 

Union Gospel Mission has been feeding hope and changing the lives of men, women, and children for over 70 years. Through its 8 locations in Metro Vancouver and the city of Mission, UGM provides counseling, education, safe housing, and alcohol and drug recovery to those struggling with poverty, homelessness, and addiction. The heart of the mission is to demonstrate God’s transforming love, ease the burden of the most vulnerable, rebuild the lives of the broken, and offer dignity to those who feel cast aside. To find out more, visit www.ugm.ca.

21/05/2013