Employer Survey Confirms Inner-City Missions Have Right Answer to Welfare Reform Debate

WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 20, 1995 - Employers overwhelmingly say yes to pushing welfare recipients and the homeless to work, yet hesitate to hire them according to a Roper Starch survey released by the International Union of Gospel Missions (IUGM). Leaders from 20 rescue missions representing IUGM's association of 250 inner-city missions were in Washington, DC, to announce the study results and persuade Members of Congress that missions are effective role models in the effort to reform welfare.

Employers surveyed overwhelmingly support the mission's approach. According to IUGM executive director Rev. Steve Burger, "We learned employers believe the right attitude is 10 times more important than work skills in entry-level employees. They cited interpersonal skills such as dependability (90%), honesty (89%) and the ability to follow instructions (86%) as far more essential than technical skills like typing (11%), prior work experience (15%) and knowledge of office systems (14%). These findings point to the need for comprehensive rehabilitation programs in order to achieve 'back-to-work' goals."

Burger said, "This survey raises the larger question: How do we cost-effectively transform the destitute into employable citizens? We believe America's rescue missions have the answer. IUGM missions are getting the homeless and the poor back into the mainstream of society by attacking the primary causes of poverty through programs which promote responsibility, eliminate dependency and encourage self-sufficiency."

In the Roper Starch Worldwide survey called "From Welfare to Work: Employers Speak Out," 93% of employers surveyed favor forcing welfare and general public assistance recipients to work.

Currently, the Senate is debating welfare-reform legislation which, in part, has work requirements and eligibility time limits for welfare recipients. The House of Representatives passed similar legislation (H.R. 4) earlier this year. While both Congressional leaders and the President support moving the poor from welfare dependency to work, they disagree on the methods to do so.

Burger said it's not enough to simply provide a meal, shelter or a welfare check. The poor need structured programs which allow them to gain the necessary life skills to attain self-sufficiency such as motivation and personal responsibility. Missions' comprehensive rehabilitation programs treat the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of each individual.

The homeless agree with this approach, too. In a 1992 Los Angeles Mission/Gallup survey of the homeless, the homeless themselves called for more job training and skills programs as their highest priority in services needed to help them. IUGM's 1995 "Snap-Shot Survey" of the homeless revealed their top need from a rescue mission is spiritual.

Rescue missions' whole-person approach has been hailed by prominent elected officials on both sides of the political aisle as well as by influential national opinion leaders.

Marvin Olasky, in his widely publicized book, "The Tragedy of American Compassion," points to rescue missions as providing the sort of effective compassion needed to restore the destitute to fully functioning members of society. Speaker Newt Gingrich lauded Olasky's book in his first speech to Congress as Speaker.

Burger said, "Moving the homeless and welfare recipients into the work force depends on elements that cannot be legislated. Laws Congress writes may spur some people to work, but their jobs are likely to be temporary and the pay insufficient to move them out of poverty if they don't have the right attitude and learn the right skills to maintain a job. Missions have proven that fundamental to curing chronic homelessness and poverty is creating opportunities for education, job training and drug rehabilitation coupled with a strong emphasis on spiritual healing."

According to Burger, spirituality strengthens discipline, self-esteem and sense of purpose, all qualities usually lacking in the homeless and destitute.

"This study validates the role spirituality plays in the rehabilitation process since it is through spiritual teachings that people develop the character traits most valued by employers," Burger said.

Today, though, missions also incorporate focused job training programs to generate some of the highest success rates in returning the homeless to mainstream society. "What's impressive is the low cost for rehabilitation found at rescue missions. This cost effectiveness is accomplished through little or no bureaucracy, no cash entitlements and extensive use of volunteers," Burger explained.

Nationwide, 305 employers in charge of setting their firm's hiring policies were surveyed by phone between Aug. 15 and 29, 1995. The margin of error is +/- 6%

Founded in 1913, the International Union of Gospel Missions is an association of 250 innercity missions and nearly 6,429 individual mission workers across North America, Australia, Guyana, India and the Republic of South Africa. In 1994, IUGM member missions served more than 27 million meals, provided 9 million nights of shelter and graduated 12,000 men and women from long-term rehabilitation programs. IUGM is based in Kansas City, Mo.