Union Gospel Mission Expanding

Yakima's Union Gospel Mission is planning a $3 million expansion of its housing and medical facilities.

Director Rick Phillips says when the mission opened its medical center three years ago it served 6,100 people and now the number is up to 10,000 visits every year.

With the expansion, Phillips and the mission say they are hoping to help thousands more in the valley

"The potential to help a lot of those people in the valley what we consider on the bubble that could be homeless if they went through any crisis"

The mission also wants to expand its long term housing so it can help more people. The Yakima City Council is being asked to write a letter of support to help the mission secure a $1.5 million federal grant to help fund the project. If all the funding is lined up, Phillips says they hope to start the project some time in 2015.