NATIONWIDE SURVEY: NEARLY ONE IN FIVE AT MISSIONS SAY GAMBLING A FACTOR IN THEIR HOMELESSNESS

Survey Coincides with Meeting of National Gambling Commission

(Washington) – Eighteen percent of men and women at America's Rescue Missions cite gambling as a cause of their homelessness. That is one of the key findings from a newly released nationwide survey of more than 1,100 Rescue Mission clients.

The survey also found that 70 percent of men and women at missions believe that the prevalence of gambling opportunities, including lotteries, makes it difficult for them to put their lives back together. And 37 percent said that, even though they are homeless, they still occasionally gamble or play the lottery.

"Gambling destroys lives," said Rev. Stephen Burger, executive director of The International Union of Gospel Missions. "State lotteries and casino gambling are creating a new generation of homeless addicts coming to Rescue Missions in need of our help. And it is taking money from the people who desperately need it for other purposes."

"Make no mistake about it: The man or woman stumbling into our mission, addicted to gambling, is just as sick as the person addicted to alcohol or drugs. The addiction may be different, but the shattering of the human spirit is the same."

IUGM released the survey four days prior to the March meeting of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. One topic to be discussed is gambling's social impact.

U.S. Senator Dan Coats, who appeared at the press conference, said, "As the National Gambling Commission goes forward, it needs the best, most reliable data to make important and long-lasting decisions. This kind of report is invaluable and I intend to personally convey the report to the people on the Commission."

The survey also found that 82 percent of Rescue mission clients gambled or played the lottery when they had steady employment. That number shrank to 23 percent as they became homeless. Ominously, it rose to 37 percent once they began to pull their lives together.

IUGM decided to conduct this survey after steadily increasing reports from Missions around the nation that casinos and lotteries were producing devastating personal stories. At the Peoria Rescue Mission, for example, Rev. Jerry Trecek cites examples of family breakdown, including a mother forced to sell her engagement ring after her husband ran up huge gambling debts.

At the Sunshine Rescue Mission in St. Louis, Jim and Carol Clarkson also report increased demands from families that have seen their life savings depleted by family members who became gambling addicts.

"The people running America's Rescue Missions – who are giving their lives to care for society's less fortunate – ask very little from the government. At a minimum, we ask that it not make our lives more difficult. And by promoting lotteries and cutting sweetheart deals with the corporate gamblers, that is exactly what is happening," said Rev. Lee Schmookler, executive director of the Goodwill Home and Missions in Newark and a reformed gambling addict.

Lotteries are by far the preferred method of gambling for Rescue Mission homeless. Eighty-six percent said they used to play, or still play, the lottery, as compared with 34 percent at casinos and 25 percent at horse and dog tracks.

Overall, 86 percent of respondents said that gambling, including lotteries, is addictive.

Respondents surveyed were 92 percent male. Eighteen percent were under 30; 56 percent were aged 31-45; 25 percent were over age 45. The IUGM survey was conducted "blind." Men and women at Rescue Missions were given surveys to fill out and either drop in a box or return face down.

The IUGM is an association of nearly 250 Rescue Missions nationwide. IUGM member missions 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, IUGM Rescue missions served more than 30 million meals, provided 12 million nights lodging, distributed more than 24 million pieces of clothing and graduated more than 20,000 homeless men and women into productive living.

Further information contact Phil Rydman at prydman@iugm.org. Or phone: 816/471-8020

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INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GOSPEL MISSIONS
1998 Survey on Gambling and Homelessness

In your opinion, do you think gambling - for example lotteries, horse racing tracks, casinos - is addictive?  Yes 86%  No 14%

Do you think gambling or playing the lottery makes it difficult for homeless people to put their lives back together? Yes 70%  No 30%

Do you think gambling is a factor in homelessness?  Yes 60%  No 40%

Do you think gambling was a factor in you becoming homeless?  Yes 18% No 82%

Do you think there are too many gambling opportunities (i.e. lotteries, casinos, tracks) in this city?
Yes 60% No 40%

Have you ever gambled or played the lottery?  Yes 85% No 15%

Which of the following is true for you (please check all those that apply)?

I gambled or played the lottery when I had steady employment. 82%

I gambled or played the lottery as I became homeless. 23%

I still occasionally gamble or play the lottery. 37%

Which of the following is true for you (please check all those that apply)?

I used to bet (or still bet) on horse or dog races. 25%

I used to play (or still play) the lottery. 85%

I used to gamble (or still gamble) at casinos. 34%

Demographic Information