Union Rescue Mission
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
. 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.
, 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 meeting
s 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, 225000 square feet (20,903.2 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.
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
, Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, homeless shelter
Homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community...
in downtown Los Angeles's
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
skid row
Skid row
A skid row or skid road is a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a large, impoverished population. The term originally referred literally to a path along which working men skidded logs. Its current sense appears to have originated in the Pacific Northwest...
. It is the largest, private, homeless shelter in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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 StewartLyman Stewart
Lyman Stewart was a U.S. businessman and cofounder of Union Oil, which eventually became Unocal. Stewart was also a significant Christian philanthropist and cofounder of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles...
, founder of the Union Oil Company and Biola University
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
, as a Christian missionary outreach. It was initially called the Pacific Gospel Union, and it sponsored revival meeting
Revival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
s in tents. Only in 1903 did the organization purchase a permanent home. In 1926, the City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
purchased their property in order to build the Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall, completed 1928, is the center of the government of the city of Los Angeles, California, and houses the mayor's office and the meeting chambers and offices of the Los Angeles City Council...
, 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
Ferdinand Waldo Demara
Ferdinand Waldo Demara, Jr. , known as "the Great Impostor", masqueraded as many people from monks to surgeons to prison wardens...
.
In 1994, the URM moved to a new $29 million, 5 story, 225000 square feet (20,903.2 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
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
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. MartinVirgil A. MartinVirgil A. Martin was a business executive and member of the Los Angeles City Council between 1927 and 1931.-Biography:Martin was born October 15, 1874, in Tecumseh, Nebraska, the son of Judson W. Martin and Ennis C. Smith...
, 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