HOMELESS VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, SURVEY SAYS

Respondents On Streets Less Than 12 Months, Never Before Homeless, Older Than Previous Years

America’s streets are not safe for homeless people. Nearly one-in-five homeless people (18%) have been the victim of physical violence on the streets in the last twelve months, according to a national survey of 20,000 homeless conducted by the Association of Gospel Rescue Mission (AGRM). Reports of violence against the homeless have been in the news recently, but officials were deeply concerned by the frequent occurrence of violence among people on the streets.

“Personal safety has always been one of the greatest concerns among homeless people,” said Rev. Steve Burger, executive director of the AGRM. “Many were worried about being mugged for the cash in their pocket or purse. But now the fears are growing. The proliferation of Internet sites, online movies and television shows that make a sport out of beating defenseless people add to the danger for those on the streets.”

Burger said homeless responders from the Mountain states (25%) and Northeast states (23%) gave the most common accounts of violence on the streets, while mission guests in Mid-Eastern states (10%) were least likely to report being the victim of physical attacks.

City size did not appear to be an indicator of increased aggression, as cities like Atlanta, Miami, Houston and Seattle all had responses on par with the national average. Cities with missions reporting the highest incidence of physical violence included Buffalo (54%), Charlotte (52%), Vancouver, BC (49%) and Jacksonville (42%).

“These numbers give more cause for citizens to support their local Rescue Mission as a place of refuge and safety for homeless and hurting people,” Burger said.

Another surprising element of the survey was the change in the age demographic. People ages 46 to 65 made up the largest portion of those served – nearly one third (31%) – a significant departure from previous results.

“In the 18 years of this study, the 46 to 65 age group has never been the largest segment of those coming to Rescue Missions,” Burger said, “This group is up 4% from last year, and 13% from ten years ago.”

Burger indicated the reasons for the shift in the age demographic might include the aging of chronic homeless persons, changes in welfare laws and the removal of alcoholics and drug addicts from eligibility for SSI disability.

“Rescue Missions deal with the fallout and leftovers of society,” said Burger. “It may take a few years for the full effects of policy changes to be felt. I believe the impact of welfare changes of the mid-to-late 1990’s is just now showing up at the mission.”

The age breakdown for 2006 shows: Under age 18 – 10%; 18 to 25 – 10%; 26 to 35 – 17%; 36 to 45 – 28%; 46 to 65 – 31% and over 65 years – 4%.

According to Burger, the national survey shows, in general, people on the streets in 2006 are more likely to have become homeless in the past twelve months (62%), have never been homeless before (38%), and are older than in previous years.

The majority (72%) of those responding to the survey say they have been residents of the city in which they receive service for at least six months.

Most indicate that they rely on Rescue Missions for sustenance; 73% come to the mission daily, 14% every week and 13% every month for assistance.

Veterans made up 20% of the men served, continuing a ten-year declining trend among homeless vets.

The religious nature of Rescue Missions is also appreciated, as 80% said they preferred to receive services from an agency with a spiritual emphasis.

A racial breakdown reveals: Caucasian 48%; African-American 38%; Hispanic 8%; Native American 4%; and Asian 1%.

The survey, the 18^th annual Snapshot Survey of the Homeless, was conducted during the second week of October at 143 Rescue Missions across North America.

Founded in 1913, the Kansas City-based Association of Gospel Rescue Missions represents 300 Rescue Missions in communities across North America that provide emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, and assistance to the elderly, poor and at-risk youth. Last year, AGRM missions served more than 37 million meals, provided 14 million nights of lodging, distributed more than 26 million pieces of clothing and graduated 16,000 homeless men and women into productive living.

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For more information contact the AGRM website at www.rescuemissions.org or call

1-800-4RESCUE.

View the "2006 Snapsho Survey" chart with full statistics