Union Rescue Mission History
Union Rescue Mission (URM) is one of the largest missions of its kind in America–bringing help and hope to homeless and desperately poor men, women and children of downtown Los Angeles.
URM was founded in 1891 by Lyman Stewart, president and founder of Union Oil Company. George A. Hilton served as the first superintendent of the Mission, originally known as the Pacific Gospel Union. During those early days, URM took to the streets in gospel wagons to offer food, clothing, and salvation to the less fortunate.
Over the years URM has continued and expanded its efforts to feed both the body and the soul, helping individuals and families break the cycle of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.
1893 URM serves over 500 people a day from temporary sites where tents were rigged for nightly revivals.
1907 URM purchases its first permanent home at 145 North Main Street – a haven of hope where the poor find three meals a day, clothing, and shelter, as well as employment assistance and free medical aid.
1926 After city officials purchase the North Main Street property to build the Los Angeles City Hall, URM purchases a building at 226 South Main Street – fondly referred to as “The Mission on Main Street.”
1934 During the Depression, the Mission supplies 42 percent of all free meals provided by private charities in Los Angeles.
1942 URM establishes the Victory Service Club – a spiritual haven and gathering place for nearly two million servicemen during the war years.
1980 Responding to the tragic appearance of women and children among the homeless, URM establishes the Bethel Haven Women and Family Shelter.
1994 Demonstrating vision and commitment, URM opens its $29 million, 225,000-square-foot facility at 545 South San Pedro Street specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s homeless population, especially women and children. The building can shelter a thousand people per night and includes a computer-based learning center, library, children’s play and study areas, gymnasium.
1995
The Bank of America Learning Center opens on the 4th floor, offering basic literacy instruction, high school diplomas, and computer training.
1998
In response to the growing number of homeless women and children, the Family Shelter opens on URM’s 4th floor, providing 84 more emergency beds, bringing the total number of beds for women and children to 194.
2003
February 25th: Opening of The Thomas D. Grimes Men’s Transitional Residence on the 5th floor.
2005 Late October: Escrow closes on the 71-acre landscaped property at the base of the Angeles National Forest and URM begins preparations to launch the Hope Gardens Family Center
2006
August 8th will always be a special day in the history of Union Rescue Mission. This is the day senior women began moving from the Mission to Hope Gardens Family Center to live in the Senior Permanent Supportive Housing Complex, Sequoia Lodge.
December 4th is the Mission’s 115th Anniversary serving the homeless and abandoned men, women and children of Los Angeles.
2007
January 31st The first Internet Café in Skid Row opened on our first floor, providing a welcoming atmosphere to the community and affordable internet and café services.
May. The women’s 4th floor exercise room on the fourth floor is completed and opened, complete with treadmills, exercise balls, a rowing machine, and more.
June. Hope Gardens Family Center was approved to house additional women and children. The first phase of families moved in on June 27, 2007. 4 families (4 moms, 8 children); 3 families from Union Rescue Mission’s 1st Step program.