1998 IUGM Family Ministries Survey - Questions Asked & Results

IUGM conducted the survey to provide a better understanding of the background and family history of homeless clients served by mission family shelters. More than 60 missions, and 1325 clients, participated in the survey. We've also provided our press release and the response to the findings by IUGM leaders.

Sex: 14% Males 86% Females		Age: 8% <18 15% 18 to 25 32% 26 to 35 28% 36 to 45 16% 46 to 65 1% 65+
Race: 41% White 45% Black 10% Hispanic 1% Asian 3% Native American		Highest level of education completed 8% 8th grade or less 30% Some High School 33% High School Graduate 23% Some College 5% College Graduate 1% Post Graduate Work
How long have you stayed at the mission? 42% <1 month 31% 1-3 mos. 15% 3-6 mos. 13% More than 6 mos.		Describe your family situation 53% Single 17% Married 12% Separated 17% Divorced
How many children to you have? 1.97 (average)		How many currently live with you? 1.01 (average)
If any of your minor children are not currently living with you, where are they staying? (Check all that apply) 22% Spouse 49% Family 5% Friends 15% Foster Care 9% Not sure		Which of the following is true about your childhood - Most of the time I grew up with: 49% Both parents 37% Mother 3% Father 12% relatives, friends or foster parents
Which of the following is true about your children - Most of the time my children grew up with: 33% Both parents 54% Mother 5% Father 8% Relatives, friends or foster parents		Have you ever spent time in foster care? 18% Yes 82% No If yes, how long were you in foster care? 28% <1 year 31% 1-2 years 16% 3-4 years 26% 5 years or more
Have your children ever spent time in foster care? 18% Yes 82% No		If yes, how long were they in foster care? 45% <1 year 32% 1-2 years 8% 3-4 years 14% 5 years or more
Do you know who your biological father is? 90% Yes 10% No Did your biological father ever live with you? 70% Yes 30% No How long did he live with you? 11% <1 year 7% 1-2 years 10% 3-5 years 15% 6-10 years 56% More than 10 years		Do your children know who their biological father is? 86% Yes 14% No Did their biological father ever live with you? 66% Yes 34% No How long did he live with them? 14% <1 year 20% 1-2 years 24% 3-5 years 20% 6-10 years 22% More than 10 years
Why are you homeless? (Check all that apply) 23% Alcohol/Drug Problems 6% Bad Credit 21% Changed Locations/Moved 12% Domestic Violence 14% Family Break up 1% Gambling 5% Illness 15% Lost Job 4% Lost Government Benefits 12% Lost Housing 16% Poor Money Management 14% Put out of housing 3% Utilities shut off 14% Other How many times have you been homeless before this time? 42% Never 29% Once 24% 2-5 times 3% 6-10 times 2% More than 10 times		Have you lost government benefits in the past two years? 25% Yes 75% No If yes, which government benefits did you lose? 58% AFDC 66% Food Stamps 15% Housing/Low lncome/Section 8 14% SSI Disability 11% Other State Benefits Why did you lose your benefits? 13% Benefits period expired 3% Failed to find work 5% Failed to attend work training 1% Failed to meet with employment counselor 11% Failed to re-apply for benefits 23% No longer eligible 5% No longer covered 7% Rules Violation 24% Other reason 9% Unsure why I lost benefits

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 15,000 homeless men and women into productive living