Project Renewal began over 57 years ago as a pioneering 48-bed alcohol detoxification program on the Bowery—one of the nation’s first successful treatment programs for publicly intoxicated individuals. We were revolutionary from the start, proposing long-term solutions when short-term responses like arrest and incarceration were the most common reaction.
Over time, PRI would expand, introducing programs that met the needs of clients where they were, when they needed it. This included creating interdisciplinary solutions for those who are experiencing homelessness, are active users or have a history of substance use, living with a mental illness, or have a history of justice involvement.
While PRI continues to grow to meet our communities’ most pressing needs, our goal remains the same: to respond to NYC’s homelessness crisis with creative, comprehensive, and compassionate responses.
“It was groundbreaking! We would tootle around town in a VW Van, two social workers and a driver. The drop-in centers didn’t have services for this population [people experiencing street homelessness], which is why we started the mobile psychiatric outreach team.”
— Susan Dan, Senior Vice President, Programs, retired
What Makes Project Renewal Different?
Health
We are constantly innovating, integrating healthcare services across all the pillars of our work
Homes
We know that supportive housing is the answer to homelessness, and we are bringing thousands of units to market in the near future
Jobs
We work with our employer partners to build our curricula, ensuring graduates are ready for their new jobs
We rely on monitoring, data, and evaluation to guide the strategy for our programs, and ensure we are delivering concrete results to best serve our clients.
See Our ResultsProject Renewal In Action
7 Emergency Shelters
5 Transitional Housing Programs
10 Permanent Supportive Housing Residences
3 Mobile Clinics
5 Primary Care Clinics
1 Dental Clinic
