At any given moment there are as many as 12,000 men, women and children in the Washington area living without a home. Everyday, there are people who are "falling through the cracks" of our society, ending up in shelters, in transitional housing or on the streets. Many of these people have often been hit with a job loss, illness, domestic violence or eviction-all things that could happen to any of us.

Most face not only homelessness, but an increasing sense of hopelessness.

Mission Statement: To glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel and meeting the needs of hungry, hurting and homeless individuals and families in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Our Work

Our work at Central Union Mission is to proclaim the Gospel, lead people to Christ, develop disciples and work to meet the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the people we serve.

We display a gracious, sincere spirit of integrity and Christian love in everything we do. By displaying excellence in all aspects of this ministry, we honor God and inspire the people we serve, our community, donors, volunteers and staff.

The faithful and generous support of our donors makes it possible for us to:

Feed the hungry: We provide free meals at least three times every day and distribute free food and groceries through our Food PLUS program.

Serve the poor: The Mission serves homeless men, underprivileged families, women, children and youth, seniors, veterans, and others in need.

Provide a place of rest: We provide a safe night's sleep for overnight guests, and a 220-acre retreat and conference center for rest and recreation.

Give to those in need: Families and individuals rely on the Mission's food assistance program in emergencies and as a steady source of food. In partnership with individuals, corporations and churches, the Mission distributes more than $5 million-worth of in-kind food, toiletries, clothing, household items and furniture each year.

Heal the brokenhearted: The mission operates a recovery program to restore once-broken men to productive lives.

Help needy children: Children are served through a number of community outreach programs, including meals with their families, a residential summer camp, and a program that provides free school supplies and Christmas gifts.

Invest in others: The Mission's free programs provide English language instruction, GED preparation, health consultations and vocational support.

Show we care: We celebrate the forgotten and friendless at programs and events throughout the year.