About Homelessness

Homelessness can happen to anyone.

Homelessness in Hampton Roads

More than 2000 people came for shelter at The Union Mission Ministries last year because they had no place to call home. If you are hungry, tired, and in need of shelter, get help now.

Have you seen a homeless person on the street asking for help? Consider keeping a care package in your car to give to them. Print out a Union Mission Information Card to put in the care package. You can help them restore their dignity and get the help they need.

View our most urgent Summer Needs which includes suggestions for a care package.

Facts

About_homelessness1Local Statistics from January 2016 – Point in Time Count Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition (Norfolk, Chesapeake, Western Tidewater)

  • 1,162 persons counted (includes cities of Portsmouth and Virginia Beach)
  • 61 chronically homeless individuals
  • 118 veterans
  • 133 victims of domestic violence
  • 135 reported substance abuse
  • 213 reported serious mental illness
  • 7 reported HIV/AIDS

 

Why are so many homeless?

About_homelessness2It can happen to anyone, anytime. Sometimes it’s a result of circumstances beyond our control: natural disasters, job loss, eviction, divorce, domestic violence, mental illness, medical bills. Most often it’s a result of substance abuse.

It is difficult to say exactly how many homeless people are in the Hampton Roads community, but in 2014, officials counted 1,371 homeless people in area cities including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. Every day the Mission houses over 375 homeless men, women, and children. There are other shelters with less capacity throughout the area that also house the homeless. This means that on any given day, there could be more than 1,800 homeless people in the Hampton Roads area. A still-recovering economy means that more and more people are experiencing homelessness for the first time — and many don’t know where to turn.

More families on the streets

The face of homelessness is changing. 40 percent of the homeless people in large metropolitan areas are families, usually a single mom with children. They live on the streets or in a temporary shelter. They are the fastest growing population of homeless people today. Reasons for homelessness vary and include job loss, and lack of social support systems.

At least half of homeless women are employed (or employable), but do not earn sufficient wages to support themselves and their children. Families experiencing homelessness move frequently between shelters, overcrowded apartments, and temporary arrangements with relatives or friends. Homeless children are twice as likely to experience hunger, health problems, and repeat a grade in school. Homeless families need assistance with housing, employment, childcare, school enrollment, transportation, recreation, and parenting

You can be part of the solution

Our Women & Children’s Shelter is a beacon of hope for these families. We are currently in the process of expanding our shelter to provide for larger numbers of single women and women with children.

Your gift to The Union Mission brings our city and community one step closer to wholeness as lives are transformed one person at a time. Food, clothing, shelter, education, addiction recovery, job and life skills training, spiritual renewal, and more – all because of friends like you who care.

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Learn more about homelessness

Facts about homelessness at The Union Mission are available in our Gratitude Report.

The Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) provides a survey of the homeless from over 130 rescue missions across the country.

Learn more

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