Is it Churches United or Micah’s Mission?

That’s a question we get a lot! And we’ve got an answer for you.

Micah’s Mission emergency shelter and community center is located at 1901 First Ave. N, Moorhead.

One question we get a lot is: Are you called Churches United or Micah’s Mission? What is the correct name for the shelter and the organization that oversees it?

Churches United is the name of our organization, a nonprofit that oversees Micah’s Mission emergency shelter and community center, Dorothy Day Food Pantry and Silver Linings and Bright Sky Apartments.

Churches United for the Homeless was founded in 1987 and moved into its current shelter location at 1901 First Ave. N in Moorhead in 2004. At that time, the shelter was called Churches United for the Homeless.

The shelter was called that until 2019, when the name was officially changed to Micah’s Mission. The reason for the change was to more clearly differentiate between Churches United, the organization, and the shelter that Churches United operates.

The name change was relatively recent history, and some confusion still lingers in the community, so hopefully this explainer helps make things clearer!

If you have any questions about our organization that you would like addressed in future articles, feel free to email Media Director Tris Anderson at trisa@churches-united.org.

About Micah’s Mission

Micah’s Mission has essentially two parts: the community center and kitchen on one side of the facility and the emergency shelter on the other. The shelter has 112 beds and is full year-round. There are three floors, one for men, women and families.

The community center is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day and is available for shelter guests and community members. Hot meals are served multiple times a day, including breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. There are two snack times, too. About 350 meals are served daily out the kitchen.

There is also a rec room where community members and shelter guests can watch movies and TV shows or play the piano.

The two main employees you’ll see at Micah’s Mission are case managers, who help connect guests and community members with vital services, such as housing programs or the VA, and advocates, who do just about everything from checking guests in to the shelter to cleaning and ensuring safety.