The man sitting on the ground outside the South Ferry terminal carried a sign that read. “Homeless. I need money for beer. Please help.” Other street signs, of course, are more serious and tragic, involving veterans and AIDS victims, but as the weather warms, concerns for the homeless become less urgent. As a rule of thumb, I give only to the street indigents who are missing limbs or exhibit verifiable disabilities. Enabling substance abusers by providing them with funds seems unwise. Now I’ve discovered another recipient for donations besides my church because it also works toward genuine assistance for the homeless — the New York City Rescue Mission (www.nycrescue.org).

The name is slightly misleading because the first thing one notices on the door of its entrance on 90 Lafayette St. is a sign that reads, “Jesus Saves.” It is, in fact, a Christian mission — not a city agency. Jerry and Maria McAuley founded America’s first rescue mission in 1872, and it was first called the McAuley mission. The mission itself reminded me of an old-time hotel, with its small reception desk and wooden mail slots in the background. While I waited for my appointment with the director, Joe Little, I heard a man complaining to his counselor jokingly about restrictions on his departure and he said, “This is like when I was in prison.”

Mr. McAuley, a repentant thief, was transformed by reading the Bible while jailed at Sing Sing in the 1860s. After his release he married Maria, who shared a similar life experience, and they began a shelter for poor New Yorkers. The McAuleys were the first to open the doors of a religious institution every night of the year to the outcasts of society, no doubt, because they empathized with their societal disconnect.

This mission differs from the city shelters for homeless men by offering practical resources to help them escape their anguish. It addresses their current needs by offering emergency lodging and meals. Once residents apply for the residency recovery program, they receive preparation for self-sufficiency, GED preparation, job training, computer basics, and after-care counseling. By offering long-term solutions to poverty and homelessness, the program gives people hope and a chance at a better future. As it is also a Christian mission, Bible study classes and spiritual guidance are offered. A chapel is on the premises.

When I inquired about services for homeless women, Mr. Little explained that while the mission doesn’t have the accommodations for overnight stays for women, it does offer them meals and clothing. Daily lunch is also provided for all visitors to the nearby Family Court, which are, in the main, women and children. A special Mother’s Day banquet is held every year for homeless mothers and children from other shelters, who will be feted with a red carpet reception. Live music, VIPs, and gift bags will be provided at this year’s fifth annual affair on May 12 between 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The plight of the homeless is tragic, but city officials need to be aware that they are contributing to the problem. A staff member at the mission told me he is concerned for those who are ready to leave the mission yet have no place to go. There is no longer any housing anywhere in the city that is affordable for those with low incomes. My old neighborhood in East Harlem now rents apartments for $1,500 and up. Someone earning minimum wage simply cannot afford that. There used to be single room occupancy buildings throughout the city, but these disappeared in the 1970s, when the city offered developers tax breaks to build expensive condominiums. The SROs were torn down, and suddenly the city had a homeless epidemic. Today New York neighborhoods that are housing the working poor are rapidly being replaced by high-priced developments in all five boroughs.

The film “The Pursuit of Happyness” is a true story of Chris Gardner’s temporary bout with homelessness while training for a stockbroker position in San Francisco. He took shelter in a Christian mission with his small son and eventually his determination to succeed netted him a high-paying job and future affluence. Clearly Gardner was not the stereotypical homeless soul, but he does represent a growing segment of the New York City population that is finding it no longer has options for independent living.

If the city is not going to provide housing that is affordable for the lower middle class, then the New York City Rescue Mission may soon be providing shelter for someone you know.