Citing the dramatic growth in the homeless population and rising expenses, the Union Rescue Mission announced they were closing the doors to the single women's homeless shelter on April 5, 2001. Women without children will still have access to the Mission's Day Room, providing them with an address where they can pick up mail, cashier/banking services, referral services, and free access to the Mission's health, dental, legal, and counseling clinics.

The decision to close the single women's shelter came after studying the Los Angeles homeless population using the service. Mission leaders determined that women who came to the shelters without children had more resources and mobility than women with children. Women with children, especially those with large families that include teenage sons, have practically no where else to go.

Part of the problem stems from the growth of women and children who are homeless. It has grown 1,000% since 1996. The Mission's women's facility was built to sleep 110, but for several years they have been accommodating over 300. There are at least 16 other area shelters that can provide a bed for women without children, and the Mission staff will help single women find an alternative site. In addition to closing the single women's shelter, the Mission was forced to cut 20 staff positions and as well as some other services.

Knowing that the shelter for single women will not reopen until the Mission raises the $320,000 annual program cost, the American Association for Single People (AASP) announced a challenge grant, "Single People Helping Single People". For every three dollars donated, AASP will give one dollar, up to $80,000. According to the AASP executive director, Thomas Coleman, "We chose that theme for two good reasons. First, we want the general public to move beyond the stereotype that single people are more selfish and only interested in dating and socializing. But more so because this theme invites, indeed challenges, millions of single people in the Los Angeles area to come forward to help other single people who are in desperate need of temporary shelter."

KRLA radio in Glendale has pledged that it will help raise these matching funds by devoting airtime each day to invite its listeners to contribute to the cause.

The Union Rescue Mission is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization dedicated to serving the poor and homeless. Established in 1891, URM is the largest rescue mission in the United States and the oldest in Los Angeles. They provide an array of emergency and long-term services, including food, shelter, clothing, medical care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training for needy men, women, children, and families. URM receives no government funding and relies solely upon the contributions and support of concerned individuals, churches, corporations, and foundations.