Face of Homelessness
The number of homeless people in America is increasing
faster than the overall population growth. Studies reveal that forty-five
percent of all sheltered homeless are single men; fifteen percent are
single women. The remaining forty percent are members of families; with
thirty percent of those being a single parent with a child.
The TV stereotype of the homeless derelict in the long-trench
coat with a paper bag clutched in his hand is now obsolete. The new face
of homelessness in America is a young mother with children at her side.
In fact, studies show that women and children are the fastest growing
segment of the homeless population. Most metropolitan and urban areas
find this represents up to half of the people living on the street. Nationwide,
up to 500,000 American children are homeless everyday.
Saginaw continues to mirror national statistics. Last year
the City Rescue Mission of Saginaw provided 74,788 meals for sheltered
guests. These services were also provided to 470 men and 718 women and
children.
Homelessness is on the rise and it is usually accompanied
by difficult circumstances. However, it does not have to become a state
of being. The passion of the City Rescue Mission is to break the cycle
of poverty through the application of godly living.
(Statistics provided by
Annual Report - City Rescue
Mission)
Women and Children
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
on any given night, 600,000 men, women, and children will find themselves
sleeping on sidewalks . . . in doorways . . . and on park benches. In
1980, this number was estimated at 100,000, revealing an astounding 500%
increase.
Families, single mothers, and children are among the fastest
growing segments of the homeless population. Families with children constitute
approximately 40% of people who become homeless (Shinn and Weitzman,
1996). A survey of 30 U.S. cities found that in 1998, children accounted
for 25% of the urban homeless population and unaccompanied minors accounted
for 3% (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1998).
A December 1999 report released by the Department of Housing
and Urban Development revealed that a female parent heads 84% of all
homeless families. Sixty percent of homeless women have children 1 to
17 years of age and 62% of these children are 8 years old and younger.
In 1983, the City Rescue Mission of Saginaw was among the
first missions in the country to open emergency shelters for women and
children. Every year since the Saginaw Rescue Mission opened its Family
Shelter, the number of families using these services has increased. Since
1995, the Mission has experienced an annual increase in the number of
shelter days provided for children. In 2001, the Mission provided 7,315
nights of shelter for children compared to 4,154 in 1994.
Gambling and Homelessness
Alcohol, drug use, loss of work, and poverty are the most
recognized causes of homelessness. But there is an increasing trend of
acceptable behavior that is destroying families and adding to the problem
of homelessness … gambling.
A 1998 survey conducted by the Association of Gospel Rescue
Missions at 265 randomly selected rescue missions found that eighteen
percent of the men and women in rescue missions cite gambling as one
of the contributing factors to their homelessness.
“Gambling destroys lives,” says Rev. Stephen
Burger, Executive Director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.
State lotteries and the ever-growing casino gambling are pushing more
and more borderline homeless people into rescue missions. The subtle
lure of gambling is often just as strong as the pull of cocaine or alcohol.
Although the percentage may be smaller with gambling, the effect is just
as devastating.
(Statistics compiled by
AGRM and National Commission
on Gambling)
Homeless Veterans
Veterans are one of the most complex populations among
the homeless in America. Veterans comprise approximately 30% of the homeless
population. Eighty percent have completed high school training or higher
and the average veteran served for three or more years.
There has been a substantial problem with homelessness
among America’s veterans since the Vietnam War. On any given night
there are 275,000 homeless veterans with 47% having served during the
Vietnam War era. Many servicemen developed a substance abuse problem
during their military service with their addictions increasing after
discharge.
Typically, the homeless veteran is suffering from mental
illness, a substance abuse problem or both. They have fallen into a pattern
of failed job experiences, and have become isolated from family contact
and influence. With Michigan currently ranked 8th in the nation of homeless
veterans population, the City Rescue Mission of Saginaw in coordination
with the services provided by the local Veterans Administration are in
the middle of the battle to fight the circumstances that have claimed
so many casualties.
(Statistics compiled by
the National Coalition for
Homeless Veterans) |
