Bowery Mission History and Best Practices

Rescue Mission History, Values & Best Practices

This podcast provides a comprehensive overview of The Bowery Mission. Much of the material for this podcast comes from the book “Bowery Mission Grit and Grace on Manhattan's Oldest Street” by Jason Storbakken (https://a.co/d/44YoZfj).

The Bowery Mission is very interesting because not only is it the third oldest rescue mission, but they have taken over the Water Street Mission (now the New York City Rescue Mission), which is the oldest mission still in operation in the United States. The Bowery Mission is also interesting to learn from because New York City is facing a homelessness crisis with the largest homeless population in the United States.

These sources trace the Mission's extensive history, from its founding in the 1870s and periods of financial precarity to its current multi-campus structure, highlighting key figures and significant events like its acquisition by the Christian Herald and various building relocations. They detail the diverse range of services provided, including emergency shelter, meals, clothing, showers, and long-term residential recovery programs focused on holistic personal transformation. Furthermore, the documents illuminate the Mission's impact on children and youth through initiatives like Mont Lawn Camp, discuss the broader context of homelessness in NYC and the role of faith-based organizations within government social welfare systems, and explore the Bowery Mission's architectural features and their historical significance. This podcast was generated by NotebookLM and reviewed by CVU faculty for accuracy.