The Emergency Shelter Management Services, Inc. (previously known as Immanuel Baptist Shelter) established in 1989, became a nonprofit corporation in 1992. The Immanuel Baptist Church, the oldest and largest black church in New Haven, felt and still feels today, both a spiritual and moral obligation to lend a caring and helping hand to those who are poor, sick and disadvantaged.
Business History
In the late 1980’s the City of New Haven’s homeless population seemed to be escalating with very few adequate services available. Immanuel Baptist’s prior experience with a soup kitchen led them to develop this comprehensive 75-bed shelter service for homeless men.
We promote personal empowerment, assist in restoring dignity and self-sufficiency. Our aim is to be a conduit, providing access to transitional and permanent housing, job training and coordinating services to help reduce and eventually eliminate homelessness in the New Haven area. Emergency Shelter Management Services, Inc. (ESMS) is a tax exempt non-profit organization under the section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue code.