Contents
BOOK REVEALS HOMELESS
STATS
Homeless in America: A Children's Story
has been published by the Institute for Children and Poverty. Some of
the statistics relating to homeless children are:
w 49% are girls, 52% are boys.
w 41% are under 5, 59% are 5-17 years of age.
w 63% are African American, 16% are White, 13% are Latino, 2 %
Native American, 1% Asian.
w 73% are homeless for the first time, 27% twice or more.
w 40% have witnessed domestic violence.
w 91% are enrolled in school, and 55% changed schools in the last
year. 63% have changed schools once, and 37%, twice or more.
w 33% have missed two weeks of school, 12% four weeks in this past
year.
Statistics on the parents are:
w 95% are female, 6% are male.
w 80% are single.
w 41% have less than a high school diploma.
w Annual median income was $12,480.
w 30% have received public assistance more than 2 years, 52% under 2
years, and 18% have never received aid.
w 13% have a history of being a foster child.
w 46% have a history of substance abuse.
w 36% last place of residence was their own apartment or house, 36%
were living with friend or family, 20% came from another shelter.
w Average length of time homeless was 9.6 months.
The study was done in 19 metropolitan
areas, and statewide in 2 states. A number of rescue mission women and
family facilities were included in the survey. For a copy of the
survey, call (212) 529-5252; check out their web page at http://www2.HomesfortheHomeless.com/hfh/.
BILL AND VONETTE BRIGHT
TO SPEAK AT CONVENTION
I am excited to announce that famed
Christian leaders Bill and Vonnette Bright; founders of Campus Crusade
for Christ will be keynote speakers at the Orlando Convention, May
27-31, 2000. Dr. Bright, as the college student ministry leader at
First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, had a vision to evangelize
college students on campus. His ministry is now one of the largest in
the world, and has touched millions. His booklet, The Four
Spiritual Laws, is one of the standards of today’s evangelism.
Vonette has been his partner in ministry and has served as National
Chairperson of the National Day of Prayer. They will speak Sunday
evening on the topic of ministry and family.
AV LISTED IN MAGAZINE
ARTICLE
"Hi, My name is Linda, and I’m
an alcoholic." This is the
title of a recent article in Today’s Christian Woman,
by Linda Wakefield Kelley, who shares her battle with addiction. In a
sidebar to the article, Alcoholics Victorious is listed as a
Christian support group. From that article, over 50 inquiries have
been made with us about AV. Every church is dealing today with addicts
and people who have struggled with addiction. AV offers a Christian
Support group. Why not start one at your church! Contact Dru Gray at
IUGM for a packet of information. This is a way that you and your
ministry can reach out to a larger group of people in need.
CMWA
CONFERENCE BROCHURE AVAILABLE
The first brochure on the CITY MISSION
WORLD ASSOCIATION (CMWA) TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE in Glasgow, Scotland,
has been mailed to each member mission, and to those who have attended
the CMWA conferences in the past. The Conference will be held in
Glasgow, Scotland, October 7-11, 2000 and will have mission workers
from throughout the world. It is the 200 anniversary of the birth of
David Nasmith, the founder of the first city mission in Glasgow,
Scotland in 1826. The CMWA is the association of world city-rescue
mission associations set up for the purpose of sharing information,
fellowship, aiding third world urban missions, and those in former
Soviet block countries. Steve Burger and Del Maxfield serve on the
Executive Committee. IUGM Member Ken Jarvis, from MISSION AUSTRALIA,
is Chairman. If you would like a copy of the Advance Prospectus for
the conference, call IUGM and we will send you one.
ACLU PUBLISHES
REPORT
The American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) has published a 62-page report, HIV, and Homelessness:
Policy and Practice. It includes a five-part teaching guide,
suggestions for improving conditions for residents with HIV, and a
model nondiscrimination policy that shelters are urged to adopt. The
report is endorsed by the National Coalition for the Homeless,
the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the National
Alliance to End Homelessness. The ACLU points out that "homeless
shelters are subject to the requirements of the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), which forbids discrimination against all
people with disabilities in any public accommodation, and that people
with HIV are protected against discrimination under this law, and
homeless shelters are public accommodations." Copies of the
report, an executive summary, and an HIV and the homeless fact sheet
are available online at www.aclu.org. We
have several copies in the office. If you would like one, give us a
call.
Steve Burger
Happenings
- Our Missions
t The OGDEN (UT) RESCUE MISSION
dedicated its new mission in November. The new facility will enable
the mission to provide residential rehabilitation for women, as they
have for men, as well as expand emergency housing, and the medical
clinic. According to eye-witnesses, Executive Director Howard
Langston presided over the event like a proud papa would over the
birth of his first born. Congratulations Howard to you and all the
team that made this happen.
t SANTA BARBARA (CA) RESCUE MISSION
has collaborated
with Oxnard College to offer
satellite classes in drug and alcohol counseling at the Mission’s
new Community Outreach room for the benefit of the recovery
community. Classes leading to state certification as a licensed
drug/alcohol counselor will be open to the public at a moderate fee.
This will enable rescue mission volunteers, and staff as well as
local resident’s easy access to this training.
t MISSION AUSTRALIA, the parent
organization of the SYDNEY CITY MISSION, was the National Winner of
the PRIME MINISTER’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS in 1999. The mission reports that 1999 was
one of the mission’s busiest years to date, "affording us
significant opportunities for impacting our society in a positive
way."
t MODESTO (CA) UNION GOSPEL MISSION
has been awarded doubly. They received the Heroes in Healthcare
Award, a five county award, and an award from the Family Resource
Council for outstanding service to families.
 International
Happenings
t Larry George, Executive Director of
the PORT MORESBY CITY MISSION, Papua, New Guinea, shares that they
are look for a replacement for him, and Mission Australia has agreed
to pay the salary for the right candidate. Larry is contemplating
moving to South Africa to assist Lorenzo Davids with establishing
city missions all over Africa.
Those interested in this challenge may
contact Larry by e-mail at POMCityMiss@aol.com,
or by mail at Box 5872, Boroko, Papua, New Guinea. Larry asks our
prayers for they have had a difficult six months.
t JESUS RESCUE MISSION, Georgetown,
Guyana, reports that their Children’s Praise Hospital is being
closed due to the government opening a new public hospital, which
standards are excellent, and services are free. The hospital building
is being turned over to an evangelical group to be used as an
orphanage. Larry and Winnie Wattell plan to continue to live in the
building. They ask for your prayers as they go through these changes.
From the February 2000 edition of
HAPPENINGS, monthly newsletter of the International Union of
Gospel Missions
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