This is where things get hard, because as I mentioned before – people are homeless for different reasons and there is no magic bullet that helps everybody get back on their feet. Their needs range from immediate (e.g. eating, etc.) to long term (e.g. housing, etc.). The good news is that their needs are so diverse that there’s a really good chance that you can provide great assistance for at least a few of these needs.

Government

Support government officials that actually care about making the homeless problem better. Avoid politicians who:

• Promise a magic bullet
• Promise to get tough with the homeless (they won’t make anything better and will likely cause more suffering)

The more boring their policy proposals are, the more likely they are to actually help.

Vote for Leslie Nope – not Councilman Jeremy Jamm!

Charitable organizations and homeless shelters

There are many to choose from – feel free to research them and find the ones that most interest you. Some will mostly want money, while others will provide hands-on opportunities to help. For those who work for companies like Microsoft that provide an employee match, volunteering your time can also translate to a financial donation.

Many shelters welcome groups to donate a meal for an evening.

Direct support of a homeless camp

Sanctioned homeless camps exist, and they are a great opportunity for volunteering. The upside of volunteering at such a camp is:

• The populations of these camps are generally very safe (they have been vetted and the camps have strict rules that they must follow).
• There are usually groups of people who organize volunteering, so it is easy to get involved.
• The population is relatively stable, so you can get to know individuals and help better meet their personal needs.
• These camps usually have a variety of needs, so chances are that you have a skill that will benefit them.

The downsides of volunteering at such a camp is that sometimes it represents such a small portion of the homeless population, that it truly feels like a drop in the bucket. But at least it is a drop that you can make, and you can see the benefit with your own eyes.

Direct support of an individual

This is tricky because each individual’s needs are different. Donating money will usually go towards food, but it could also be used for a less-beneficial purpose.

When we first got involved at the county sanctioned homeless camp, two camp members explained their needs and it was very enlightening. They want jobs, but it’s hard because most employers don’t want to hire people who look homeless. She said that fast food restaurants usually won’t hire a homeless person fulltime, but they are open to bringing them on occasions when they are short staffed. But these jobs usually have two simple barriers of entry:

• Black, non-skid shoes suitable for such work
• Black pants

It was great to hear such specific needs, and I was happy to supply them both (and they were extremely grateful). One of those two ladies has since moved into housing.

Parting thoughts

My friend Christopher Carter’s advice to everybody is to simply find a way to participate and to commit to it. It may be a small thing like making friendly small talk or buying somebody a newspaper or a cup of coffee. Every little bit helps.