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Emmaus House, Inc.
Emmaus House is a healing place for the homeless, an empowering community of homeless people and a house of hospitality for temporary guests. We have built our own housing, created our own work. We basically run the work and take responsibility for ourselves and others still on the streets. We fight using nonviolent change in an unjust society, seeking a just sharing of power, property and resources. We have moved from the cycle of dependency and taken on the values of family living, hard work and education.
Description and/or History:
To aid, assist, council and train the poor, needy and homeless, on an individual and community basis; to establish and operate facilities and render services for the shelter, nourishment and betterment of the poor, needy, homeless, and to provide transitional and permanent housing for them; to create a Christian community which serves and lives in solidarity with and provides spiritual support for the aforementioned groups; to collect and disseminate information to the public regarding the poor and homeless; and to otherwise work among, and develop, promote, establish, and conduct benevolent programs for the poor and homeless.
THE DREAM WHICH BECAME A REALITY
Emmaus House/Harlem was founded upon just such a dream. The dream of one man, to create a community for the homeless men and women of New York City.
The Rev. David Kirk, a longtime presence in the anti-war and civil rights movements throughout the Southern United States, had realized that the city's dormitory style shelters and soup kitchens were not the solution to integrating the homeless back into society. Father David dreamed of alternatives that would not create increased dependency and long-term homelessness, but instead, help the homeless help themselves.
The Dream begins
In the late 1960s, Father David took over an abandoned four-story brownstone at 160 W 120th street in East Harlem. He soon learned of a mother and child who were thrown out of their home in the dead of winter, and Father David welcomed them into the brownstone. That same day, an elderly gentleman left his apartment building because there was no heat, and he too was welcomed into the newly formed community. Emmaus House was born.
The Dream takes shape
While Emmaus House was located in one of the poorest parts of Manhattan, the community was modeled on the Emmaus movement established in France to aid the poor after World War II. The idea was simple: create a community that could restore the belief of trusting in one another, help those in need, and serve as a "Parliament for the Poor," to speak on their behalf in order to better their lives.
The Emmaus Way of Life enables residents to rediscover their faith and hope through spirituality, while living a life that is scripture based: "feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the poor, and caring for the sick and imprisoned." In return for the love and support they received when welcomed into the community, residents were encouraged to share that same love and support with others in need.
Contact people:
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David Richardson, Administrative Assistant, (212) 662-0211, (email)
Martin Kraus, Director, Community Outreach, (516) 483-3649, (email)
Daryl Wood, Employee, (212) 749-9404, (email) |
Office fax number: (212) 749-5363
Address:
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160 W. 120th St.
New York, NY 10027
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.emmaushouse-harlem.org
Directions:
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1. Take exit 29 A to merge onto I-495 W toward New York
12.7 mi
2. Take exit 22A toward Grand Central Pkwy
0.6 mi
3. Merge onto Grand Central Pkwy W
4.4 mi
4. Continue on I-278 E
Partial toll road
2.4 mi
5. Take the exit toward Manhattan
0.2 mi
6. Keep left at the. . . (more)
Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 125th St. (2,3),
Walk distance (in minutes): 5 |
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