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While the general impression is that the homeless are primarily the chronic and episodic those unfortunate individuals often seen living on the streets in the downtown areas of our cities the fact is that more than half the homeless are families with children. The vast majority of these have been thrust into homelessness by a life- altering event or series of events that were unexpected and unplanned for. The number of Americans who are homeless at some point during a year changes constantly as people move in and out of homelessness sometimes for days at a time sometimes weeks or months. USA Today WWW.AGRM.ORGMARCHAPRIL 2016 13 Who Comes to Rescue Missions A quick look at homelessness numbers at AGRM-member missions According to AGRMs 2015 Snapshot Survey conducted near the end of last year 85 percent of those who seek help at AGRM-member missions identify themselves as homeless. Of that number 30 percent have been homeless for less than three months 21 percent for three to six months 20 percent for six months to a year and 30 percent for more than a year. Almost one third 30 percent are experiencing homelessness for the first time 45 percent are facing homelessness for the second or third time and one out of four say they have experi- enced homelessness three or more times. Those served by rescue missions also bear out many of the risk factors of how people succumb to homelessness. Accord- ing to the survey 37 percent struggle with mental illness and 22 percent were victims of physical violence in the past year. 85 identify themselves as homeless 30 first time 37 mental illness 22 physical violence 25 three or more times 45 second or third time NUMBER OF TIMES HOMELESS IDENTIFY AS HOMELESS RISK FACTORS