Dan Clem Selected to Lead the Union Gospel Mission

The Board of Directors of UGM has selected Dan Clem as the Executive Director. Salem’s Union Gospel Mission serves the needs of the homeless with shelter, meals, recovery, transitional housing and services, employment, education, and hope throughout the mid-Willamette valley.  Clem will lead this non-profit organization with six facilities in the Salem-Keizer area, including the Men’s Shelter, Simonka Place for women and children, the Mission Thrift Store, the Restoration and the Grear Street transitional housing locations.

Board Chair Lee Klampe states: “Dan’s passion for serving our community and the staff at UGM will play a huge role in our plans to build the new Men’s Shelter within the next few years. Clem adds: “With increasing numbers of homelessness, we have to take a bold step in providing shelter, food, recovery, and hope – it is time for Salem to shine in caring for the least fortunate. It is a privilege to return from retirement to contribute to the Union Gospel Mission.”

A new Men’s Shelter is planned for construction in 2019-2020 and will be located on the west side of Commercial Street, across the street from where the new Salem Police Department Facility is being built.   With the anticipated sale of the current Men’s Mission in downtown Salem later this year, the fund-raising will commence publicly next year. The new Men’s Mission project title: “Hope Has a New Address” will double the current capacity for overnight shelter to 300 beds and overflow for another 200 men, add needed recovery services, including health screening and addiction counselors.  Current estimates shared with the Homeless Coalition is that over 450 people are unsheltered each night in the greater Salem area.