Each month it seems as if I write about the homeless population growing. The situation is not getting better.
Regardless of what the press reports in reference to the economy and to the employment situation, things are not getting better from my point of view.
1. Do you have a spare moment and want to take a few seconds to feed five people a full hot meal for $10? Donate $10 to Union Rescue Mission. Text the letters URM to 85944. You will receive a confirmation text message. Reply with the word YES to complete the transaction.
2. Want to donate more or help in other ways? Go to http://www.urm.org/ where you can learn more about Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles California. Union Rescue Mission is the largest mission in Los Angeles and Los Angeles has the highest homeless population in the nation.
I wrote that things are not getting better. Is this just my point of view or something that can be substantiated with data?
Well, here is a bit of data. Let us compare January of 2010 to January of 2011 using data collected on some of the services provided by Union Rescue Mission.
The first figure is January 2010, the second figure is January 2011.
Total Mental Health Clinic Sessions 100 / 123
Total Health Center Visits 627 / 675
Total Meals Served 98,675 / 137,806
Total Nights of Shelter (per individual) 26,914 / 44,876
Total Nights of Shelter (per family) 2,016 / 2,468
Total Health Center Visits 627 / 675
Total Meals Served 98,675 / 137,806
Total Nights of Shelter (per individual) 26,914 / 44,876
Total Nights of Shelter (per family) 2,016 / 2,468
Breaking down one of the simple pieces of data above so people do not miss the point, in the month of January 2011 the average number of meals served each day was 4,445 meals. That is like feeding the crew compliment of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier for a combat shift. One difference, URM does not have the funds of the United States Government behind them. They rely on you and your donations.
URM served an average of 1448 people per night at URM, Hope Gardens , and the four Winter Shelter sites, with 150 of those being children. Included is an average of 80 families per night. There was an average number of 898 people sleeping at URM Downtown each night.
After this blog was published I received a bit of an update from Andy Bales, the CEO of Union Rescue Mission. I am adding this information now 0n 3/10/11: Thanks, Myles! The #'s reported are actually a bit lower than they actually were. We had an additional 9 families + kids and served approximately 2650 more meals during the month or nearly 100 more meals per day. I discovered it today. Blessings
People who have lost their home. People living in cars and vans on the street. People living in cheap motels who had a home their entire life. Many of these people are just like you and me. On Sunday night March 6, 2011 the show 60 Minutes aired this story which is one of many stories which illustrate the point:
URM served an average of 1448 people per night at URM, Hope Gardens , and the four Winter Shelter sites, with 150 of those being children. Included is an average of 80 families per night. There was an average number of 898 people sleeping at URM Downtown each night.
After this blog was published I received a bit of an update from Andy Bales, the CEO of Union Rescue Mission. I am adding this information now 0n 3/10/11: Thanks, Myles! The #'s reported are actually a bit lower than they actually were. We had an additional 9 families + kids and served approximately 2650 more meals during the month or nearly 100 more meals per day. I discovered it today. Blessings
People who have lost their home. People living in cars and vans on the street. People living in cheap motels who had a home their entire life. Many of these people are just like you and me. On Sunday night March 6, 2011 the show 60 Minutes aired this story which is one of many stories which illustrate the point:
Homeless children: the hard times generation
The broadcast can be seen from this link as long as it is an active link
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/06/60minutes/main20038927.shtml
Yes, services are at an all time high. Donations are at an all time low. Organizations such as Union Rescue Mission are the lifeline to many people in these troubled times.
Looking at just one segment of http://www.urm.org/, their Hope Gardens facility which houses mothers and children - 13,950 avg/day: 450 ( 29% increase). In case you miss the point here, there were 13,950 meals served in the month of January 2011 at this facility alone which was a 29% increase over the same month last year.
I could provide figure upon figure and breakdown things to the most detailed level but I will let you draw your own conclusion and do some basic math by repeating the figures from above which are quite simple, direct and to the point:
Total Mental Health Clinic Sessions 100 / 123
Total Health Center Visits 627 / 675
Total Meals Served 98,675 / 137,806
Total Nights of Shelter (per individual) 26,914 / 44,876
Total Nights of Shelter (per family) 2,016 / 2,468
Take a moment to head to their website at www.urm.org where you will learn a lot more about what Union Rescue Mission does and who they are.
Your contribution is fully tax deductible.
You can pay by just about any method including paypal. Just click on the donate tab at the top of their website.
You can donate $10 via your cellphone via a text message - Text the letters URM to 85944. You will receive a confirmation text message. Reply with the word YES to complete the transaction.
A meal is $1.84. $10 feeds a family of five. Something to think about. Last Thanksgiving a group of my friends all got together to sponsor meals at Union Rescue Mission. Here is the link to that event:
If you want to read some of my own views on Union Rescue Mission and the folks behind their work here are a just few links to some of my past commentary:
I could post dozens of additional links but I think these will get the general idea across.
Please give the folks at URM a hand. You can help. It only takes moments to help and make a change in a life.
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