The History of Our Organization
Based in Evansville, Indiana, United Caring Shelters, Inc. (UCS) was established in June 1991 thanks to the mission-minded willingness of the Bethel United Church of Christ Sunday school class. They wanted to serve people in need.
Shortly after, UCS opened a day shelter at St. Anthony’s Family Life Center and served 25 to 30 people about two meals a day. An emergency night shelter was added for single men with 12 bunk beds in an area of Emmanuel Lutheran.
They also added laundry facilities after realizing that this would help men and women save money in order to pay for the main necessities in life.
The Facilities
In 1996, UCS bought an abandoned brick warehouse on 6th Street. This building was four stories and had a basement. It was close to the main bus terminal and the services for employment, social service agencies, and government offices that assist those who are homeless and in need.
Volunteers remodeled the first floor in seven months. It soon turned into a one-of-a-kind day shelter for the community.
They are the only local shelter to offer laundry and shower facilities and allow the use of the shelter address to people who need to use it for job applications, social security disability benefits and so that their family can keep in contact with them. They currently assist 157 people a day in the day shelter.
Second Floor
The second floor provides a safe haven for up to 56 men to sleep from 7:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. There are bunk beds in a dorm-type atmosphere. We have a curfew at night and a wake-up service for those who need to get to work on time in the morning.
Third and Fourth Floors
For 20 years, the third and fourth floors were used for transitional housing. However, these units became low-income, permanent housing options in 2017 to provide more permanent solutions to those experiencing homelessness. They offer even greater stability and opportunities for self-sufficiency.
Each studio apartment has a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living area. Guests have access to on-site supportive services.
Emergency Night Shelter
In November 2011, UCS opened an emergency night shelter for single women. This program was located off-campus in the former St. Anthony Convent at First Avenue and Columbia.
On December 19, 2012, the board of directors of United Caring Shelters, Inc. and Ruth’s House approved a merger. The Ruth’s House facility became the new home of the UCS women’s emergency shelter program on January 1, 2013.
Ruth’s House continues to offer services and shelter to up to 24 single women experiencing homelessness.
Name Change
After a yearlong evaluation, United Caring Shelters announced that they would rename the organization and do business as United Caring Services on July 31, 2013.
The UCS board of directors agreed a name change would best reflect the growth of the organization and the movement to fulfill the vision of ending dependence and creating a community of caring.
Homeless Medical Respite Program
In November 2014, we opened up the community’s first and only homeless medical respite program (HMRP) (with six beds for men) in partnership with Deaconess. They expanded those services by adding four beds to meet the needs of women in 2017.
Organizational Growth
Fast forward to 2020–2021. UCS leadership began seeking further expansion of services to meet the needs of people suffering from intoxication, substance use, and/or co-occurring mental health challenges.
With the addition of recuperative care services and the expansion of the current respite program, UCS would be able to address the root causes of these barriers and divert people away from hospitals, EMS, and incarceration and toward supportive, stabilizing services.
Present Day
Today, the staff and board at UCS continue working to maintain the vital services their programs provide.
The opening of the diversion center is upon them in the near future. It will not only provide a path to health for those experiencing addiction and mental health challenges. It will also provide an alternative to jail or the emergency room.
This alternative will ultimately save taxpayers’ money. In addition, their good neighbors, Zion United Church of Christ, have graciously “gifted” their parsonage to UCS.
This generous transaction will establish what they believe to be Evansville’s first effort at Shared Housing for five men—getting five men off the streets and into supportive housing.
Lastly, UCS is looking at ways to develop property on Cherry Street, which is adjacent to Ruth’s House (women’s night shelter).
There will be more to report on that in 2023. Stay tuned as UCS continues to add to the story of providing values-based, low-barrier, sustainable, and high-quality homeless shelters, services, and solutions.