The mission of the Delancey Street Foundation is to provide a structured educational and living environment in which men and women, most of whom are ex-felons and substance abusers, can learn the skills they need to rebuild their lives. The residents of Delancey live and work together, pooling all of their income earned through a variety of business schools. Using the principle of "each one, teach one", the residents take responsibility for each other's welfare and hold each other accountable for achieving the highest possible standards in everything they do. There is no professional staff since the residents teach each other. A core principle is that people learn best by doing, and so everyone is active, learning job skills, acquiring an education, and practicing new ways of living.