Did you know?
February 13th, 2015
Memphis Union Mission (“MUM”) is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (“AGRM”), an organization founded in 1913 that consists of more than 300 missions. Each year on a specific day the AGRM conducts a snapshot survey of individuals served by member missions. Participating missions receive a compilation of the national survey data as compared to their local results. Across the country 21,308 homeless individuals were surveyed including 302 at MUM.
Highlights include:
Here in Memphis 36 percent of those we surveyed had less than a high school (or GED) education. Nationally it was 29 percent. As a community, we have our work cut out for us! A reasonable conclusion would be that low educational levels place an individual at considerable risk for homelessness!
Did you know that 33 percent of individuals served by MUM were under the age of 36? And, that this compares to 33 percent nationally? Tragically, we are seeing younger homeless individuals today!
At MUM, 34 percent of those surveyed volunteered that they struggle with mental illness, compared with 32 percent nationally. In Memphis, 19 percent indicated they have experienced physical violence in the past year, while 20 percent reported experiencing violence nationally. Both mental illness and physical violence significantly contribute to an individual’s risk of becoming homeless.
Did you know that 86 percent of the people we serve indicate they access MUM services on a daily basis, as opposed to 84 percent nationally? Missions become their temporary lifeline!
Last year (FYE 2014) about 3,200 unduplicated individuals were reported using emergency shelters in Shelby County. Of those, MUM served 2,898, or 91 percent, of all the homeless individuals in our community accessing emergency services. The average length of stay was 21 days. This does not include individuals in our transitional programs such as our Moriah House or Intact Family Ministry.
Did you know that during the same period, MUM served 3,031 unique individuals system wide? In doing so, we served 313,149 meals and provided 116,546 nights of lodging, an increase of 8 percent over the previous year.
Did you know that we could not have served any of these precious individuals without you? You are a valued ministry partner! We appreciate you! Thank you!
Serving with you,
D. Scott Bjork
President & CEO
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40