44 years of pioneering service

Project Renewal Deputy Director Stephanie Cowles will retire in January 2020, after 44 years of service. Today, she oversees our substance use treatment and workforce development programs—including five programs at our Third Street Men’s Shelter.

Deputy Director Stephanie Cowles (left) with Barbara Hughes, Director of Project Renewal’s City Beet Kitchens & Culinary Arts Training Program

Why did you join Project Renewal in 1976?

I was the chief social worker at Beth Israel’s substance use disorder treatment programs. I saw how the standard five-day hospital detoxification did nothing to help people break the cycle of addiction— and it was expensive. When I heard that Project Renewal (then Manhattan Bowery) received funding to start an experimental detox program, I jumped at the opportunity to become the director. The goal was to create a warm, engaging non-medical setting, with a strong support team of people in recovery to demonstrate that many individuals could safely withdraw from alcohol and drugs outside of a hospital. Its success led to New York State establishing crisis centers modeled after our approach

How has Project Renewal evolved over the decades?

As the homeless population grew and changed, and we were seeing clients with more complex challenges, we needed to offer more programs. We started buying real estate and opening transitional and supportive housing to provide clients with services where they live, on an on-going basis. Increasingly, our clients also needed jobs, so we expanded on our pioneering workforce development services with new initiatives, like our Culinary Arts Training Program at Third Street. That’s the story of Project Renewal. As new needs emerged, we developed innovative, replicable and scalable programs to address them – like our shelter-based ambulatory detox unit, mobile medical vans, parole support program, shelter for homeless LGBTQ young adults, and many others.

What makes the Third Street Men’s Shelter so unique?

Aside from its history, the number of services all in one building sets Third Street apart. It’s really a one-stop shop, with shelter, case management, a primary care clinic, medical and non-medical detoxes, an outpatient recovery program, and a culinary arts training program. We talk about renewing lives with health, homes, and jobs and you really see all three of those elements at Third Street.