There are many ways to help homeless people. Donating food and clothing to a homeless shelter is a great way to help them. You can also volunteer at organizations that provide assistance to the homeless. Educate yourself and others about homelessness, and share the facts about homelessness with others. Write letters to local newspapers, make posts on blogs and social media to talk about the problem of homelessness and what others can do to help.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Supporting Non-Profit Organizations
Step 1. Donate money
The easiest way to help the homeless is to donate money to a nonprofit whose mission is to serve the homeless. This way social workers and professionals who know very well how to help the homeless have the resources needed to carry out their important work.
- Consider making a donation to an organization that helps homeless people in your favor.
- You can donate through mosques, churches, temples, and other religious institutions that provide assistance to the homeless.
Step 2. Donate items
Donating used or new items is another easy way to help them. Donate these items to local organizations that give homeless people a lift or help them. Otherwise, you can provide these to local homeless people directly. Items you can give include:
- Equipment for the rainy season (e.g. raincoat, umbrella, plastic boots and jacket)
- New underwear and socks
- Small, easy-to-carry cleaning supplies (toothpaste, soap, etc.)
- Appropriate work clothes (the problem homeless people have to deal with is dressing up at a job interview)
- First aid kit (wound ointment, bandage, antibacterial cream, and hand sanitizer)
- Additional medical products (e.g. sunscreen, skin lotion, allergy medication, and wipes)
- Bus subscription card (perfect for helping them get to the job interview)
- Fabrics for everyday use (e.g. sheets, towels, pillows and pillowcases)
Step 3. Prepare the food
One of the constant struggles the homeless faces is getting enough food. Donate canned or packaged food to soup kitchens or homeless shelters.
- Before making a donation, contact homeless organizations and find out what items they need most.
- Otherwise, you can buy (or cook) lunch for the homeless people you meet on the street.
Step 4. Donate entertainment items
In addition to practical items such as clothes and cleaning products, you will need to provide toys for the children of homeless families. Homeless children often have few toys, and no toys at all. For homeless adults, you can donate books, magazines, or other reading material.
Toy donations are a great idea to make during the holidays, when homeless children often receive little of the gifts they've been waiting for
Step 5. Donate time
If you can't donate money or goods, sign up to work for an organization that helps the homeless. There are various volunteer jobs, depending on the organization you are contacting and the needs of the organization. Here's what you do:
- Packing boxes of food to distribute to the homeless
- Serve hot food in the soup kitchen
- Helping the homeless make the transition to work and self-reliance
- Provide training in skills such as gardening or playing a musical instrument to the homeless
- Use your skills to help the homeless in other ways (for example, by providing free haircuts or tutoring homeless children)
Method 2 of 5: Cultivating Awareness
Step 1. Educate others about homelessness
Many people find it difficult to empathize with the homeless because of the many negative stereotypes they have on them. Educating others can be as simple as correcting stereotypes shared by friends or coworkers, or talking to your local or city politician about the problems the homeless people face.
If you have children, start educating them. If you volunteer for an organization that supports the homeless, ask if it's okay to take your child along so that your child can see firsthand the difficulties that homeless people face
Step 2. Encourage local publications to display information about shelters for the homeless
Many people do not know there is a homeless shelter in their community. Contact local newspapers, religious institutions, and the editors of local community group newsletters, and ask if they would like to run a weekly or monthly list of services for the homeless. Thus, more and more people know and take advantage of these services.
Step 3. Write a letter to the editor
Writing a letter to the editor of a local newspaper can help raise awareness of homeless people in your area. You can also write to the editor of a national newspaper or publication. Share information about how many people are homeless in your area (or city, if you're writing to a national publication). Explain the various reasons why people become homeless. Conclude by suggesting ways that people in your area or country can help the homeless.
Step 4. Start a blog about the homeless
Instead of (or in addition to) writing to an established publication about homelessness, start your own blog to create awareness. Blogs are a great platform to share your understanding of homeless people and encourage people to help. Promote your blog through social media and invite others to provide feedback.
In addition to text, include videos and photos on your blog as well
Step 5. Manage a place for clothing or food collection
Manage clothing or food collection. One of the best ways to help the homeless and create awareness about homelessness in your community is to organize food and/or clothing collections. Talk to local business owners, schools and colleges, and religious institutions so that you can place large tubs or boxes in or near their lobbies. Place a mark on the bin indicating the purpose of the collection and a list of items most needed.
- Advertise the food or clothing collection by placing flyers in the city and by asking the local newspaper to post an announcement in the next issue of the gathering.
- Restaurants are a great place to put food or clothing collection boxes, because the restaurant has a lot of visitors. People will remember bringing some packaged or canned food with them the next time they visit the restaurant.
- If you run a collection center or work with a nonprofit that provides assistance to homeless people, ask them beforehand about what kind of food or clothing people should donate. Write this information on the instructions that you post on the donation collection box or tub.
Method 3 of 5: Using Political Gestures
Step 1. Support mental health services
Mental health problems can be both a cause and an effect of homelessness. One of the best ways to make a difference for homeless people is to encourage and support access to free or low-cost mental health services. Support mental health clinics and write letters to politicians about their importance.
Step 2. Support affordable housing initiatives
Another problem that makes homelessness worse in many cities is the lack of affordable housing. Support a vote on affordable housing and write to local shelter organizations to help them understand the need. Express your objections to the construction of a new house that is not affordable.
Step 3. Support free and inexpensive health care
Basic health care is a major problem facing the homeless. They tend to have serious health problems, but can't do anything about it because there's no help. Support local clinics that are free or low-cost, and try to have more free clinics in your city.
Step 4. Support the daily shelter
Daily shelter is a service that can help homeless people become self-reliant. These shelters provide a safe place for the homeless to live and store their belongings. Daily shelters are not familiar, so if there is no such shelter in your city, talk to your local government about building a daily shelter.
Step 5. Support the library
The local library is an excellent resource for homeless people. The local library is an excellent means of finding work, for example there is a free internet connection available to the homeless. Libraries are also an important source of information, and often host events that can help people learn skills to find work.
Step 6. Fight the law that makes homeless people criminals
In many places, homeless people can be arrested. When they are caught, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to be independent. To help the homeless, vote against actions that criminalize homelessness, and oppose politicians who support them.
Method 4 of 5: Discussing Live Action
Step 1. Create a job
If you're in a position that can give a homeless person a job, go for it! Whether offering them a job and training someone in a position such as a secretary or clerk, or asking them to do lesser jobs like digging trenches, this can really make a big difference to a homeless person.
However, make sure you don't take advantage of them. Pay the person a fair and sufficient salary
Step 2. Give recyclables to homeless people
Many homeless people rely on income from selling used bottles and cans at recycling centers to buy food and other necessities. If you live in an area with a recycling program, collect cans and bottles in bags. Ask the homeless people in your area to pick up the used items that can be recycled.
Step 3. Support economic initiatives that help the homeless
In some areas, homeless people are paid to sell newspapers that help the homeless. In some other areas, businesses can work with nonprofits to hire homeless people. Support the business and buy products or services offered by the homeless.
Step 4. Refer the homeless person to a ministry that can help him
Some people may not know where to go for help and therefore never get any help at all. If you see a homeless person, you can ask him if he needs help. If she says yes, ask if she has ever been to a shelter. If he hasn't been and is interested in it, point him out.
- Many organizations that help the homeless have printed maps or lists that you can print out, which you can give the homeless if they ask.
- Showing that you care like this will really help a homeless person feel that they are worthy.
Step 5. Contact organizations that help homeless people
If you see a homeless person on the street and don't want to approach them yourself, contact your local nonprofit that helps the homeless. The agency may send someone to talk to the homeless person and help him in the process of getting back on his feet.
Be sure to provide information about the homeless person's location, clothing, and appearance
Step 6. Call emergency services
If you don't feel comfortable approaching homeless people and can't contact your local nonprofit that helps the homeless, please contact emergency services. They will send an outreach team to help the person and find out his condition. Also, call emergency services if you see a homeless person who:
- Having a psychotic episode
- Harm yourself or others
- Drunk
- In danger due to weather conditions
- Engage in illegal drug activity. Ask for police intervention to deal with the criminal act.
Method 5 of 5: Seeing Homeless People As Individuals
Step 1. Understand homeless people
There is a wealth of literature on homelessness that can help you better understand the causes and effects of homelessness on both individuals and communities. By increasing your understanding of homelessness, you will be able to identify ways to help homeless people and educate others about the problem. You can also watch a documentary about homelessness or take a lecture related to the topic.
Step 2. Identify and get rid of stereotypes
Many people hold their own views about what homeless people are like and why they become homeless. For example, some people think that homeless people are the only ones on the streets because of their own bad choices. In fact, this is often wrong. Look for stereotyped thinking in other people, and gently correct them when you hear untrue statements about homeless people.
Continue to evaluate your own ideas about homelessness and have an open mind
Step 3. Respect the homeless
Homeless people deserve to be treated with courtesy and respect like anyone else. Treat them as well as you would any other friend or coworker.
Step 4. Be friendly
Homeless people often feel unaccounted for, which can hurt their confidence and their general attitude. Smile at homeless people when you happen to run into them. Smiling or greeting them will make them happy.
Tips
- You can take part in community service activities to help people who are struggling to find food in your area.
- Encourage people to donate by collecting food or goods by saying, “The class that collects the most donations will get free credit!” Thus, people will be motivated to help.
Warning
- Don't take risks that put yourself at risk. If in doubt, seek professional help.
- Always invite friends when sharing food and so on. Never do it alone.
- Be careful when giving money directly to a homeless person. Giving them food, drink and donating money to charities that help the poor are better options.
