12 Easy Things You Can Do to Help the Homeless

As manager of an emergency food pantry, I am constantly asked “What can I do to help the homeless?”

It is estimated that nearly 3.5 million people are homeless in the United States. 1.35 million of these are children (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2004). Contrary to popular belief, many of these people do not choose to be homeless.

Why are people homeless?

Everyone is faced with a crisis at some point in their lives. For some, maybe a spouse suffers from mental illness, or has developed an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Others experience job loss, domestic violence, divorce, injury or illness. Many families are fortunate to have the financial resources to deal with these problems. For those that don’t, they soon find themselves out of money and homeless.

Lack of financial resources is the primary reason people are homeless. For those who lack education, job or social skills, it is extremely hard to extract oneself from the cycle of homelessness.

How can I make a difference?

Visiting shelters and volunteering at soup kitchens are one way in which a person can make a difference. But, there are many other ways you can help as well.

Prepare sack lunches. In some communities, soup kitchens are only open in the evening or on Monday through Saturday. Find the shelter in your community who is trying to feed the homeless on the weekends, and offer to make up a bunch of sack lunches. Sack lunches can be as simple as a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, a piece of fresh fruit and a canned beverage

Donate food for the homeless to a local food pantry. Many of the homeless come to emergency food pantries for nonperishable groceries they can tote in their backpacks. Instead of buying a case of 5# peanut butter tubs, why not buy some single serve food staples instead? Pudding cups, fruit cups, 4 oz peanut butter jars, cheese & crackers, 3 oz cans of tuna, and juice boxes are just a few examples of food that is easy for the homeless to carry. Bring your single portion food donations directly to a food pantry that serves the homeless. Your state’s Food Bank network can give you the name of a food pantry that ministers to this need.

Donate your hotel toiletries. Most people don’t realize that food stamps can’t be used for nonfood groceries . Deodorant, toothbrushes & tooth paste, shampoo, toilet paper, and all personal care products are a welcome donation at food pantries and shelters. Hotel sized containers are especially useful; bring shampoo and bar soap from home on for those business trips and save the single size containers for the shelter.

Donate your coats & sweaters to a shelter. When the weather gets cold, many of the homeless are without proper clothing. Instead of donating those old winter coats to a thrift store, why not donate to a local shelter instead? If you don’t have an old coat to contribute, buy blankets, or a dozen mittens and knit hats instead. Call your police department or city hall for a listing of shelters in your area.

Contribute to operating expenses. Shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks cost money. Find a shelter that needs some financial help to meet utility or food costs and commit to a set amount every month. If you don’t like the idea of donating money, contribute a bulk food item instead.

Donate bus tokens. Many of the homeless have no transportation and rely on public transport to receive medical care or search for employment. Find a shelter or agency that distributes bus token to the homeless and offer to purchase a regular amount every month.

Save your old books and bring them to homeless shelters and food banks. Many food pantries especially like having books they can give children.

Be a food runner and collect day old bread from local grocery markets. All grocery stores pull their day old bread off the shelf and will throw it out if no one comes around to claim it. Find a store in your area that is tossing out their daily baked goods and find a homeless shelter than can use it.

Save your deli containers and find an organization, such as a soup kitchen or community supper network that sends home leftovers.

Staff a crisis line on a set schedule. Organizations such as the YWCA, St. Vincent de Paul, and Safe Place Ministries all have hot lines for individuals and families facing emergencies.

Hire the homeless. One of the biggest challenges the homeless face is finding work. Most employers, including fast food franchises, will not hire someone that doesn’t have a phone or a call back number. Do you own a business that could use casual labor? Register with a Casual Labor office in your area and hire the homeless for tasks such grounds keeping and maintenance.

Share the skills you know. Volunteer with an organization that helps those living in poverty become more employable. Your state’s division of Commerce and Labor should be able to provide you with this information; if not, try calling your state’s Food Bank network or local Salvation Army office for programs in your area.

The problem of homelessness will never go away, but working together, we can make it a little easier for those that are facing difficult times. For more information about homelessness in America, visit the web site of the National Coalition for the Homeless to learn how you can get involved.