Union Rescue Mission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[1] 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.[2]
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".[3]
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. [3] 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 your feet and your mind from the daily grind of the street. The new building has a Main Chapel with church service and Sunday service at 11:00 AM.
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