UGM Annual Gathering dinner set for April 24

COEUR d’ALENE — The Union Gospel Mission will put the spotlight on one of the underlying causes of homelessness at its Annual Gathering.

The event, a dinner April 24 in Coeur d’Alene, will feature true stories of people who came to UGM. But the stories aren’t about homelessness — they’re about the trauma these adults experienced when they were children.

To help explain the damage done by childhood trauma, Dr. Mark J. Baird, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Whitworth University, will speak about the long-term effects of psychological trauma on the brain.

UGM Executive Director Phil Altmeyer said, “We’re all looking for solutions to fight homelessness in our community. At UGM, we’ve chosen to focus on long-term change, and that means addressing the underlying causes of homelessness, one of which is the ongoing effects of trauma. We know that Dr. Baird’s area of expertise coincides with a large percentage of the people coming through our doors.”

The April 24 Coeur d’Alene dinner seating will be 6:30 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn. Dinner registration costs $25 per person, For more information or to register, go to uniongospelmission.org/gathering.

Open since 1951, Union Gospel Mission has expanded to include four shelters and offers counseling, job training, health clinics, veterinary services and addiction recovery programs for men, women and children in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. UGM Thrift Stores and UGM Motors also provide job training, all toward the goal of partnering with the Inland Northwest to end homelessness.