Ways to help the Homeless as Winter Approaches

by admin
December 29, 2022

There are plenty of other ways to help the homeless besides handing over cash; from spreading awareness to simply showing compassion.

How to go about effectively helping the homeless

If you are one of the fortunate, the world of a homeless person is utterly alien to you. For any of us, the loss of a job, the illness or death of a spouse or a child, or a severe physical disability could be the route to total despair. Many people living on the streets today were simply struck by a personal tragedy and lacked a support system to get help when they needed it. These people still need help, and you can be there for them right now. By giving of your time, money, services or skills, you can make the difference in the life of a homeless person. Sometimes the smallest actions can have the biggest impact. Resources: TreeHugger, wikiHow, JustGive.org, YouGiveGoods.com, MiniMoneyBlog.

1. Educate Yourself There are myriad reasons why a person becomes homeless — lack of affordable housing, loss of a job, divorce, illness, substance abuse, domestic abuse, et cetera. One of the first steps you can take toward helping the homeless is trying to understand how they got there in the first place. Source: Unsplash/Ben Hershey

2. Show Some Respect. Don’t treat a homeless person as if she were invisible. Say, “good morning,” when you pass or strike up a conversation on a park bench. Many people experiencing homelessness say that the loss of dignity that accompanies their situation is harder to bear than the actual loss of physical things. Source: Unsplash/Zac Durant

3. Donate needed items. Clothing is a big one here, as are shoes and food. Non-perishable items are always in short supply at food pantries and homeless shelters. Other items that might be needed include blankets, coats, books and small kitchen items, such as cups and utensils. If you are donating to a homeless shelter or another organization that helps the homeless, consider donating office supplies, electronics, appliances, phone cards or other items that might help those who help the homeless. If you see someone who is homeless in winter, offer blankets, food or tarps (if you can’t convince them to go to a shelter). Source: Unsplash/Ev

Source : Credits brightvibes