Delancey Street stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the extraordinary potential within ordinary individuals. Considered a leading residential self-help organization in the United States, Delancey Street extends its transformative embrace to substance abusers, ex-convicts, the homeless, and others who have reached their lowest point. What sets Delancey Street apart is not just what they do, but how they do it. Eschewing traditional reliance on paid staff and external funding, Delancey Street operates on a unique model of community and mutual support, proving that profound change is possible “against all odds.”
The average resident arriving at Delancey Street carries a heavy history. Many have battled severe drug addiction for over fifteen years, grappling with alcohol and multiple substances. Educational backgrounds are often limited, with many having dropped out of school as early as the 7th grade. Institutionalization and generational poverty are frequent experiences, and for some, gang involvement has been a part of their past. Instead of viewing these challenges as insurmountable barriers, Delancey Street sees them as the starting point for remarkable transformations.
Delancey Street’s philosophy is rooted in empowerment and self-reliance. Rejecting the conventional approach of hiring experts, they empower residents to become their own agents of change. This innovative model operates without paid staff and without government funding, fostering a family-like environment where residents are challenged to discover their strengths and support one another’s journeys. This approach, defying expectations at every turn, has yielded incredible results for over four decades.
When Delancey Street declared its intentions – to transform ex-convicts and ex-addicts into teachers, general contractors, and truck drivers – skeptics doubted. When they announced plans to construct a 400,000 square foot complex on the waterfront as their new home, built by 250 individuals with no prior work experience or skills, naysayers scoffed. Partnerships with colleges to enable functionally illiterate individuals to earn bachelor’s degrees were met with disbelief. The idea of running successful restaurants, moving companies, furniture businesses, cafes, and bookstores without professional assistance was deemed impossible. And the notion of achieving all of this without staff, government funding, or professionals was met with outright laughter.
Yet, Delancey Street has consistently proven the doubters wrong. For over 40 years, this extraordinary organization has cultivated a model of social entrepreneurship, education, rehabilitation, and profound personal change. It is a model brimming with hope, demonstrating the immense capacity of ordinary people to achieve extraordinary feats. Delancey Street is not just changing lives; it is rewriting narratives and inspiring a belief in second chances.
If you are seeking help or wish to contribute to their inspiring mission, please reach out to Delancey Street. More than anything, Delancey Street hopes to instill in you the same profound inspiration they derive from witnessing the remarkable achievements of individuals overcoming adversity. “ENTER WITH A HISTORY, LEAVE WITH A FUTURE” is not just a motto; it is the lived reality for countless individuals who have found transformation within the welcoming embrace of Delancey Street.
Related Media
- “It’s the Place for Second Chances” (San Francisco Chronicle, 9/11/11)
- “For 40 Years, an Advocate for the Underclass” (The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/11)
- “Delancey Street rejoices” (San Francisco Chronicle, 4/1/02)
- “Serving Time” (West Magazine, 9/17/06)
- “Hitting Bottom Can Be The Beginning” (Parade, 3/15/92)
- Delancey Street on the Jane Pauley Show (NBC) (1/05 – Quicktime)
- “The Power of Mimi” on 20/20 (ABC) (12/89 – Quicktime)
