How to Help the Homeless

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There are currently over 500,000 unhoused people residing in the United States. That’s a lot of people in need of support to get back on their feet.

But, how do you get in on the fight against the homelessness crisis? Find out how to help the homeless.

Fight for Legislation

The top way to help homeless people in your life is to participate in the political process. There are lots of laws and legislation in every city and state that particularly discriminate against homeless people.

For example, you can support initiatives that provide more affordable or low income housing.

You can also help fight for legislation that helps target the causes of homelessness. People struggling with mental illness are more likely to become homeless, so legislation that provides more access to mental health care can help lower the number of homeless people out there.

You can start a petition to show your support. You can contact your representatives and voice what needs to be done to help homeless people in your community.

Or, you can try protesting. There are likely to be advocacy and activist groups in your area.

Donate Items

Of course, unhoused people still need all the things to sustain their livelihood that people with homes do. Some of the items you might want to donate include:

Toys
School supplies
Sleeping bags
Tents
Clothing, both for kids and for adults
Personal hygiene supplies, like toothpaste or deodorant
Blankets and pillows
Feminine hygiene products
Bottled water
Food items, such as granola bars

If you’re not sure what items to start with, why not reach out to unhoused folks in your own community, and see what they need?

And, if you don’t have any spare items, you can always donate money. Look for nonprofit organizations that help homeless people in your area that are currently accepting donations.

Volunteer Your Time

Helping the homeless does not always mean giving money. If you have time, but not money, volunteering your time is a good way to improve the lives of homeless people. You can volunteer at a homeless shelter, or at a soup kitchen that helps homeless people get the food they need.

You can also volunteer your services if you have a career background that might be helpful. For example, if you work in mental health, you can offer your services to the unhoused people in your community. If you have a business, you could even offer jobs to homeless people to help them get back on their feet.

If you’re not sure exactly what needs to be done to keep unhoused people safe and healthy, you can take a look at www.fredvictor.org for some of the information that you need to know.