UGM-TC
An over 135-year-old Christian organization dedicated to providing new beginnings for homeless men, women and families in Tarrant County has just announced the opening of its new Community Outreach Center (COC).
The Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County (UGM-TC) will celebrate the grand opening of its new 27,260 square foot $13 million COC on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. at 2400 N Kentucky Avenue, just west of UGM-TC’s main campus on East Lancaster Ave with a dedication. Mayor Mattie Parker will be in attendance as the keynote speaker.
This new facility was created to help elevate the unemployed and underemployed residents in and around the greater Tarrant County area, according to a release. Individuals that fit these criteria will be provided with job training and life skills necessary to attain employment that provides a wage to maintain a normal standard of living through community partnerships.
“The idea for the COC was born during the early days of the pandemic when we began asking ourselves what more we could do to help individuals and families transition out of poverty and create a pathway to long-term economic security,” said Don Shisler, president and CEO of UGM-TC. “We found that many individuals were working multiple jobs simply to make ends meet. Our goal is to address the gaps in vocational training and other important skills, so these individuals can qualify for better paying jobs that will sustain themselves and their families.”
This new state-of-the-art training facility includes a fulfillment center warehouse, a donation center, which will provide household items and clothing to those in need, and the Carl R. Brumley Community Room. The latter will serve as both a classroom for students in the job training programs and also act as a venue which will be available to the community to rent for corporate or special events.
UGM-TC also plans to introduce its L.A.U.N.C.H. (Leading Advancement Uniting Neighborhoods & Communities Through Hope) program this winter at the COC. This new initiative will be available to UGM-TC residents first, followed by clients of community partners then residents in the broader Fort Worth area. Initially, the L.A.U.N.C.H. program will provide vocational training for certifications in apartment complex maintenance and fulfillment center logistics.
These specific jobs were chosen due to their high demand in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex and a starting compensation that is greater than the minimum threshold for fair wage employment in North Texas, which is $17.78 per hour, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In the past 10 years, the DFW market has added more apartments than any other region in the United States and ranks second in the nation (behind Phoenix) for the amount of industrial storage/warehouse fulfillment space available. In addition to job training, L.A.U.N.C.H. participants will also receive trauma-informed case management to address any barriers to success as they navigate the learning experience with challenges that may occur outside the classroom.
“This new facility is a community-wide effort, and our hope is that the COC will play a key role in creating a vibrant, thriving community by helping residents in need transition permanently out of poverty,” Shisler said.
