Union Rescue Mission

The Union Rescue Mission (URM) is a private, Christian, homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles's skid row. It is the largest, private, homeless shelter in the United States. Founded in 1891, it provides emergency and long-term services including food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling, and job training.

History

The URM was founded by Lyman Stewart, founder of the Union Oil Company and Biola University, as a Christian missionary outreach. It was initially called the Pacific Gospel Union, and it sponsored revival meetings in tents. Only in 1903 did the organization purchase a permanent home. In 1926, the City of Los Angeles purchased their property in order to build the Los Angeles City Hall, so the URM moved to a new building which came to be called "the Mission on Main Street".

In 1955, Helga Bender Henry, wife of Carl F.H. Henry, wrote a centennial history of the nation's largest rescue mission. Henry reported in the book that the URM had served 328,822 meals in 1953. In the preceding 20 years, the Mission had served over 5 million meals. At that time, Clinton Goodwin, who had a well known story, was house manager. Another counselor of note was FW Demara.

In 1994, the URM moved to a new $29 million, 5 story, 225,000-square-foot (20,900 m²) facility. The new shelter includes a computer-based learning center, a library, children's play and study areas, and a gymnasium. The new facility is located at 545 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, 90013. Today the Mission feeds thousands of meals a day to the needy and the homeless in downtown. The guest chapel offers a place to rest. The new building has a Main Chapel with church service and Sunday service at 11:00 AM.

See also

• Virgil A. Martin, Los Angeles City Council member (1927–31) and Union Rescue Mission board chairman

External links

• Official website
• Mission on Main Street Google Books
• Rev Andy's Blog Up-dates directly from the CEO