The objective of the New York City Rescue Mission ( NYCRM ), America's First Rescue Mission, has remained the same since its founding in 1872: to provide spiritual hope, food, clothing and shelter to people in crisis in New York City. This model has been replicated by 300 rescue missions throughout the country. NYCRM overnight guests are offered nutritious meals, housing, spiritual guidance, medical/social service support and clean clothing. Our long-term residents are offered career development assistance, financial and job skills training, internet and e-mail access, and GED preparation courses. The men in our Recovery Program recieve weekly individual and group counseling, as well as Bible study and discipleship. Our facility has 100 beds, and many more can sleep on mats during inclement weather. Some beds are set aside for referrals, and others are given to men who queue up in front of the Mission each evening. First time visitors are offered a bed for a week ; after that, a man must stand in line or participate in our bed lottery system. 25 beds are held for participants in our long-term Residential Recovery Program. These men, while in recovery, help to maintain the building, staff the reception desk, and participate in the preparation of daily meals. NYCRM is funded through private donations from our friends, foundations, churches and other organizations. We are able to keep the average cost of a meal at $2.09 through the on-going support of organizations such as City Harvest, The Food Bank for New York City and other friends.