Union Gospel Mission to Break Ground on New Shelter in Pasco April 27

Nearly six years ago, a plot of land was purchased in Pasco, at the corner of 3rd and Columbia, behind the vacant Thunderbird Motel. Now, in a week, the new Union Gospel Mission men's shelter will start to be built.

Andrew Porter of the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission said Thursday mission leaders realized in 2011 that the 100 year-old structure they purchased in East Pasco back in 1958 was just not able to meet the needs of the community. The current facility is just too small and crowded.

After six years of hard work and preparation, the groundbreaking ceremony will take place April 27th at 11:30am.

The new facility will be a men's shelter, and it's construction will allow the current building on North 2nd to take more of a role for women and children. While the facility DOES help a number of them, by far their greatest need to have a facility to help men, who far outnumber all the other demographics in our area.

Officials say the North 2nd location will remain the hub for the Mission operations.

The 40,000 square foot facility will be built behind the hotel, in the vacant lot pictured by way of Google Earth. Some preliminary work began last year, but officials say the ceremonial official groundbreaking is April 27th. It could be occupied hopefully by sometime in 2018.