ATLANTIC CITY--A recent report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development states that homelessness is on the decline. While that may be true on a national level, here at home officials say its on the rise.

"Basically its not true we have more homeless people, this place is busting at the seams."

Johnnie Bond a 3-year resident of the Atlantic City Rescue Mission should know.

He said if the mission, "Had 50 more beds they would fill them."

The 60 year old became homeless when he had a nervous breakdown after he lost his restaurant job. Bond remembers having to search for a place to rest.

"You know where the entrance to the Expressway is? On the one side there's grass trips on each side, that's where I was sleeping." Bond said.

According to the HUD report, local communities reported there was nearly 124,000 chronically homeless people in 2007 compared to 155,000 in 2006.

Bill Southrey, President & CEO of the Atlantic City Rescue Mission said, "That means they left 125,000 homeless and they housed 50,000. Through their program 4 of these people in our community were actually housed by the HUD program."

Southrey says if the U.S. Government already knows the amount of homeless people, there should be more assistance. "I think it's interesting the Government could count them but not help them."

69% of the Rescue Mission Clients come from Southern New Jersey or Philadelphia, serving over 3,000 people a year, including senior citizens on a fixed income, medically needy people and mothers and children.

Bond added, "It was getting to be winter, it was getting nasty outside I wouldn't have survived."

Bill Southrey said the community should be aware of homelessness in our area, and that its real. "They don't have a clue that there's many people in our community that suffer each year without a place to stay. But hopefully this will help them understand." he said.

To see the HUD report log on to www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm
For the Rescue Mission go to www.acrescuemission.org