UGM LC Valley

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the new Union Gospel Mission LC Valley Shelter. It was a joy to welcome our community into this space and celebrate what it will mean for those seeking stability, safety, and hope in the LC Valley.

Throughout the day, hundreds of community members toured the building, met staff and volunteers, and learned about the services that will soon support individuals on their journey toward renewed life.

That afternoon, as we held our Dedication Ceremony in our new chapel, the tone shifted into something tender and celebratory. We shared a time of worship, acknowledged partners who have walked alongside us, honored the donors who helped make this possible, and listened to former UGM residents speak, reminding us why we are doing what we are doing.

As we look ahead, we are excited to see how this new shelter will serve our neighbors and strengthen our community. Thank you for standing with us, supporting this work, and helping create a place for people to pave pathways out of homelessness and addiction.

Exciting progress is happening at the LC Valley Shelter! What began as a vision is quickly becoming a reality.

Inside the main housing building, finishing work is moving along. Cabinetry, tile, and flooring are being installed, and laundry equipment is in place. The elevator is nearly complete, and bunk beds are scheduled to arrive in mid-November, bringing us closer to opening our doors.

In the cafeteria, drywall is finished, and priming begins next week. Kitchen and refrigeration equipment will follow soon, preparing the space for its first shared meal. The chapel has been freshly painted, and electrical teams are installing lighting and controls to bring warmth and light to the space.

Outside, crews are shaping the campus with curbing, sidewalks, and paving. A decorative fence and landscaping will be added in the coming weeks to make the facility welcoming to all.

Beyond construction, we’ve started hiring staff and building a team committed to serving the LC Valley with excellence and compassion. Volunteer opportunities are also available, and we invite you to attend a one-hour Volunteer Overview to learn more.

Thank you for your continued prayers, generosity, and support. Together, we’re building more than a shelter. We are creating a safe, sober, Christ-centered place where lives will be transformed.

Construction continues to move forward, with the Cafeteria, Chapel, and 96-bed Housing structure all progressing steadily.

Cafeteria: The footings are in place, and the foundation pour is scheduled next. This space will one day serve as a hub for nourishment and connection.

Chapel: The structural framing is rising. This future place of worship will provide space for spiritual growth, reflection, and community gatherings.

Housing: Metal and lap siding are being installed on the residential structure, along with continued mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work inside. With exterior work nearing completion, we anticipate interior work like sheetrock beginning soon.

Each of these developments is more than construction—it’s a step closer to opening the doors to a space where men and women experiencing homelessness and hardship can find stability, healing, and hope.

We remain on track for a Fall 2025 opening and are grateful for the continued prayers and support from the LC Valley community. Together, we are building a place of transformation.

The foundation work for our chapel and cafeteria has begun, marking a significant step forward in creating spaces that will provide spiritual nourishment and community connection for those we serve.

Inside our housing structure, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work is underway, ensuring that the building will be fully equipped to provide a safe and comfortable environment for individuals seeking rescue, recovery, and restoration. Over the next several weeks, siding will begin to be installed on the housing building, further bringing our vision to life. Additionally, more site work will take place, and you may even see walls starting to go up for both the chapel and cafeteria buildings!

Looking ahead, we are excited to share that staffing and volunteer opportunities will be opening up in the coming months as we prepare for a possible September finish date. 

The framing for our two-story, 96-bed housing shelter is nearing completion, marking another major step forward in providing a safe and stable space for individuals seeking refuge, recovery, and restoration.

As we prepare to finish the framing of the housing structure, we’re thrilled to announce that work on the foundation for our chapel and cafeteria is set to begin next month. These spaces will serve as the heart of our mission, offering a place for connection, spiritual growth, and nourishment for those we serve.

We are hopeful and prayerful that by this time next year, the LC Valley Shelter will be ready to serve as a much-needed resource for our community. 

We've broken ground! On February 23, the LC Valley community gathered to break ground where the future UGM shelter will stand in Lewiston, Idaho. Shelter construction on the 92-bed shelter is beginning soon. With a little over one million dollars left to raise, we continue pressing on knowing that God is moving through every part of this project. Read more about it here. Also available are the recorded livestream and special highlight video!

You’re invited to the groundbreaking ceremony of the UGM LC Valley Shelter!

Date: Friday, February 23
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 501 Snake River Ave, Lewiston, ID 83501

We are eager to build the region’s first high-barrier shelter to address homelessness in the LC Valley. 

Join us to hear from Executive Director Phil Altmeyer, local leaders, and a former UGM resident from the LC Valley. We will also pray over the property and all who will walk through its doors.

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It’s exciting to share with you that we have reached our $3 million fundraising goal! Our next step is to break ground on our Snake River Ave. property in the new year and officially open our doors in 2025. But, as mentioned in our September update, a higher bid from the contractor than expected means there’s more funding needed than originally projected.

With a promise in November of $830,000 from a foundation, that leaves us $1 million more to raise. We enter this new phase with motivation and encouragement as the community continues to express a desire to bring UGM’s ministry to the Valley. The Lord has great things in store, and we are humbled by His provision through friends like you.

Thank you for making 2023 memorable and joining us with a vision for the new year.

As of the start of 2023, we have raised over $800K of the $3M we’re asking from the Valley. The architectural plans are progressing well, we will soon select our builder, and we have scheduled a full calendar of fundraising and informational events starting in March! 

As of July this year, we’ve been granted a conditional use permit, and we’ve been given a date! We must break ground on the property no later than July 2023. As of September 20, our thrift store on that property is permanently closed in preparation. 

At the recent Lewiston City Council meeting, council members signaled they are now willing to consider raising the capacity limit for (high-barrier) homeless shelters from 50 to 100 beds.