Who Do We Serve at UMD? 

When people ask Why We Serve, it's often easiest to tell them Who We Serve.  The answers are sometimes surprising.  "You serve veterans?" people ask.  "Shouldn't they be getting some well-deserved care from other sources?"  Yes, of course.  But it doesn't always happen, and that's why we're here.  "You serve children?" people ask.  "Aren't there other sources of support for them through the schools or the Department of Social Services?"  Yes, of course.  But that support doesn't always happen either, or it doesn't happen instantly, or it's not quite enough.  That's why we're here.

People come to poverty, hunger or homelessness through many different paths.

Here are some stats on our homeless clients in 2005-2006:

• Mental illness and/or addiction illnesses (alcoholism or drug abuse) was the primary cause of homelessness for 539 people, over 40% of the 1,319 homeless adults we served.

• Unemployment or underemployment was the primary cause of homelessness for 262 people, 18% of the total number (1,432 people) served.

• 74 people, 5.6% of the adults served, were released from prison into homelessness!

• 205 (14.3% of the total) cited a family crisis, e.g. divorce, separation, or overcrowding, as the cause of their homelessness.

• 93 (6.5%) had been evicted.

• 25 were victims of domestic violence/sexual assault.

• Nine listed HIV/AIDS as the cause of their homelessness.

• Four people were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and found shelter with us!

Here are some stats.  In fiscal year 2005–2006, we served 1,002 adult men and 317 women; 100 of the 113 children were age twelve or younger; nine children were under age one. Fully 20% of the adults served, 268 people, were veterans of military service. While most of those served were African-American (1,037 of 1,432 people or 72%), significant numbers (333 or 23%), were White or European-American.Ten were native Americans and 46 (3.2%) identified themselves as Hispanic.

It is good to remind ourselves that homelessness and hunger are not confined to one race or ethnic group, nor one gender or age group. People who experience homelessness, hunger, and poverty are as diverse as the broader human community of which they are a part.

And please note that the statistics, above are taken only from our homeless clients.  Every day we serve many more who have a place to stay, but who need a meal, groceries, food, or just a little bit of human warmth.