Union Gospel Mission Continuing Plans to Relocate Facility

DULUTH, Minn. — Union Gospel Mission is in the process of a three year plan that aims to transition its services to a new space.

The future Mission Engagement Center would be constructed across from the St. Louis County Government Center.

The new location would include hygiene and laundry facilities and a much larger dining hall and kitchen.

Currently the mission sees around 300 people each meal, with only 95 chairs in the current dining hall.

The new space would also include a drop-in center that can expand into an overnight warming center.

“The mission has been serving the Northland for over 100 years, and what we’ve recognized, especially in the last couple years, is we’ve just completely outgrown our space here, and throughout that century of service, we’ve relocated a couple times to accommodate what the need is in the community. And this we really envision to be our final chapter,” Katie Hagglund, Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission said.

The plans also include the Mission Heights Complex, which would provide 40 units of permanent supportive housing, located directly above the future Mission Engagement Center.

“Homelessness has gone up in the last decade here in the Northland, 41% chronic homelessness has gone up 157% and we need to be able to accommodate the folks that need services, and not just provide those basic needs, but also build systems that can help people get out of those systems as quickly as possible,” Hagglund said.

The project is currently in the fundraising stage and has secured funding from the City of Duluth and St. Louis County.

The new location looks to be completed by 2027.