NEW YORK - Forty-four years. That's how long it's been since Stephanie Cowles first walked through the doors of Project Renewal’s Third Street Men’s Shelter.

The beginning of a long career helping New Yorkers hoping for a second chance at the 175-bed facility.

Her career that came to a close earlier this month.   

Project Renewal is a citywide non-profit that helps those struggling with substance abuse and homelessness get back on their feet. 

"What we quickly realized was after detox you needed a lot more support - you needed housing, you need vocational programs, you needed psychiatric care. So slowly we began to develop and establish programs in this building to deal with that need," Cowles said.

Through counseling, medical, and psychiatric treatment, Cowles and her team have helped thousands of clients over the years as they fight addiction. 

Knowing job training was a key to their clients’ success and sobriety, Cowles developed a culinary arts program. Each year, 120 people go through the training and 75 percent of program participants have jobs waiting for them after graduation.

"Cooking is something that everybody can feel comfortable with. There are so many people that will say - oh I love to cook! I remember cooking with my grandmother," Cowles said.

And there are many success stories like Edwin Colon, a formerly incarcerated, recovering addict. 

In part thanks to Cowles’ programs, Colon is now not only sober – but he is also the Assistant Director of Operations at Project Renewal, the very place he says gave him a new life. 

"Now my life is exciting, now I can laugh naturally, I can go out and enjoy myself naturally, not because of a substance or to be in a fantasy world a drug used to be me into," Colon said.

"That's our mission - health, homes, and jobs. All of the things that a person needs live their life as best as they can," Cowles added.

While her time with the organization has come to an end, Cowles has left her mark. A detox facility within the shelter now bears her name.  It's a fitting honor for someone who has touched so many.

So, for spearheading programs that have changed so many lives, Stephanie Cowles is our latest New Yorker of the Week.