Survey offers new insight into homeless and needy served at Union Gospel Mission
71% of homeless in Portland blame economy for plight, as opposed to 38% nationally

Portland, OR- A "snapshot" study done by the national organization, Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) offers insight into the homeless and needy served by Portland's Union Gospel Mission. While the statistics show that the homeless and needy served in Portland were very similar in some respects to the profile of the homeless and needy nationally, a few statistics were strikingly different. 71% of the homeless in Portland blame the economy for their plight, while 38% nationally state the economy as a reason for homelessness. Also, 64% of the homeless and needy in Portland have lost government benefits in the last 12 months, while the figure nationally was 22%. Nationally, veterans comprised 26% of the homeless respondents, and locally 15%, but Portland had a higher number of Vietnam veterans, 71% as opposed to 41% Vietnam veterans nationally. Those who have been homeless twice before in Portland is 44%, while nationally the number is 17%.

"The economy has been very tough in Oregon, often our state leads the nation in unemployment, and this has had an effect on the homeless and needy people we serve. The fact that Portland has such a comparatively high percentage of people that have been homeless twice before, confirms our commitment to offering a permanent solution to homelessness in our addiction recovery community, LifeChange," said Bill Russell, Executive Director of Union Gospel Mission.

Union Gospel Mission serves the homeless and needy through providing meals, clothing and referral services. Union Gospel Mission also offers LifeChange, an addiction recovery community for men and women. LifeChange residents live and work at Union Gospel Mission for two to four years as they overcome addiction and build new lives. Union Gospel Mission is in the process of expanding their facility to double the size of LifeChange and increase services to the homeless when the planned five story building, "The LifeChange Center" is completed. This is the biggest expansion in Union Gospel Mission's 76-year history.

The survey was the 15th annual "Snapshot Survey of the Homeless" conducted by AGRM. The survey seeks to gain basic demographic information about people coming to missions for

assistance. More than 20,000 homeless people responded to the study. The AGRM represents nearly 300 rescue and gospel missions across North America. Union Gospel Mission and several other missions/Christian outreach organizations in Portland are members of AGRM.

About Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission has been "feeding the hungry and restoring the addict" since 1927. Union Gospel Mission provides meals for the homeless and needy and operates LifeChange, a long-term addiction recovery community. In LifeChange, residents live and work at Union Gospel Mission for two to four years and learn to overcome addiction and build new lives. For more information about Union Gospel Mission and LifeChange contact 503-274-4483, or visit online at www.ugmportland.org.

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Note: The survey was conducted and compiled by AGRM. National and local figures were provided to Union Gospel Mission. For more information about the study, contact AGRM at 816-471-3718.