here - Education Management Corporation

Los Angeles
Student Shows Homeless
the Way Home
Argosy University, Los Angeles student Tharsha Braden is on a mission to help the homeless in Los Angeles. While
working on her Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology, she is also working as an intake coordinator at the Union
Rescue Mission, helping homeless members of the community with drug and alcohol problems.
The Union Rescue Mission (URM) is one of the largest missions of its kind in America, bringing needed services
to homeless men, women and children in downtown Los Angeles. The organization was founded in 1891 by Lyman
Stewart, the 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.
“We work to help these men and women get on their feet,” said Braden.
“While the need can be overwhelming, the experience is both humbling
and emotionally rewarding. Every day is a reminder of how blessed so
many of us are and how many of us go without.”
In one year alone, the Union Rescue Mission provided 1,335 mental
health clinic sessions, 959 legal aid clinic visits, 5,096 dental clinic
visits, 5,813 health center visits and 14,866 volunteer visits. It has also
served more than 735,909 meals to those in need.
These days, the need is even greater. According to the agency’s website, up to 142,000 people experience homelessness
over the course of a year, and up to 74,000 people experience homelessness each night in Los Angeles. The agency is
working to provide a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services that include food, shelter, clothing,
medical and dental care, recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling and job training
to needy men, women, children and families.