NATIONWIDE SURVEY SHOWS MORE CHILDREN WILL BE SERVED THANKSGIVING MEALS AT RESCUE MISSIONS THAN EVER BEFORE

Kansas City, Missouri -- This year, thousands of children will be among the 75,000 people eating Thanksgiving dinner at a rescue mission. The high numbers reflect an alarming increase of homeless and poor children whose parents can't adequately provide for them, according to Reverend Stephen E. Burger, Executive Director of the International Union of Gospel Missions (IUGM).

Rescue missions will be serving Thanksgiving meals to more children and adolescents than ever before because they represent the fastest growing group among the homeless, according to the "1995 Snapshot Survey of the Homeless," a nationwide survey of 13,000 homeless people conducted by the IUGM, an association of more than 250 rescue missions in the United States and Canada and one of the largest service providers to the homeless in North America.

Children and adolescents under the age of 18 comprise 11% of the total homeless population, an increase of 3% over 1994's Snapshot Survey, and women with children make up 62% of the family units seeking shelter at rescue missions.

"It wasn't many years ago that children were a rarity at rescue missions -- today they're the norm," according to Burger. He estimates that IUGM rescue missions will provide more than 1.4 million nights lodging to homeless children over the next year, based on the survey results.

"No child should be without a home," Burger said. "No child should spend the winter in a parked car or abandoned building. Rescue missions are working hard to see that children have a loving, caring environment as their parents get stabilized."

Lorraine Minor, Director of Education and Counseling at City Union Mission, Kansas City, MO, said the survey results prove homelessness has become an inherited problem. "Children are being born into homelessness," Minor said. "The underlying cause of homelessness is the breakdown of the family. Our experience shows us the rate of homelessness will not slow down until we can address the issues of the family."

Overall, rescue missions are also becoming increasingly populated by residents of the local community. The survey indicates that 71% of the homeless have been residents for more than six months in the city where they receive service, a rise from 67% in 1994. Sixty-six percent of those questioned say they have no plans to move to another city, up from 61% last year.

"The reality of who the homeless are has changed dramatically over the past few years," states Burger. "The idea of old, alcoholic male drifters passing through a community is now a proven myth." According to the survey, 79% of the homeless are under the age of 45 years, 58% are minorities (African-American and Hispanic), and many suffer from addictions.

The survey also shows that besides food, shelter and clothing, the homeless seek spiritual guidance (30%), drug and alcohol rehabilitation (23%), job training (14%), education (10%), and refuge from violence (6%). Only 17% of those responding said they desired no more than food and shelter.

"The homeless actually know what they need to turn their lives around," Burger explained. "They know they need the right attitudes and the right skills. The only way to achieve this is through total transformation - a change in the mind, body, and soul. By dealing with the whole person, that's precisely what rescue missions do. The federal government could learn a lot from our successes in helping the homeless," concludes Burger.

The "1995 Snapshot Survey" provides a one-night snapshot look at the people coming to rescue missions for assistance. IUGM collects basic demographic information, including: sex, age, ethnicity, marital status, and period of time being homeless. The survey has been conducted every year since 1989. Copies of the survey results can be obtained from the IUGM. Please call (816)471-8020 or e-mail: iugm@iugm.org.

Last year, IUGM member rescue missions provided more than 27 million meals, 9 million beds and 13 million pieces of clothing to homeless men, women and children. Founded in 1913, IUGM members provide emergency food, shelter, youth and family services, jail ministries, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, service to mentally ill persons on the streets, and assistance to the elderly poor, inner-city youth and street kids. The IUGM is based in Kansas City, Missouri.

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF GOSPEL MISSIONS

Fall Survey Statistical Comparison