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. [http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/losangeles/lawalk/skid/union2.html USC's geography entry] ] 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. [http://www.urm.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID312006|CHID646856|CIID,00.html URM About Us] ]

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". [http://www.urm.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID312006|CHID586624|CIID1504324,00.html URM History] ]

In 1994, the URM moved to a new $29 million, 5 story, convert|225000|sqft|m2|sing=on 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 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.urm.org/ Official website]