How to Offer Meaningful Help to the Homeless
Their needs are much more varied than just food and shelter
My recent article Being Homeless: Other People’s Perceptions generated a lot of discussion. Many commenters said something similar to, “I want to do more than just hand a man a sandwich in a park. I want to do something meaningful. But I’m not sure what that should be.”
I’ve been homeless for six months now. In that time, I’ve gained an understanding of what needs often go unmet or under-met. My goal here is to show you opportunities to offer life-changing help — not just help that kicks the can down the road until the next day.
Food is almost always a met need
In 2019, a local church contracted me to put together a list of organizations that aided those in need. What I found as I was compiling the list was that, depending on the day of the week, there were between 3 and 7 opportunities to get a meal or snack within walking distance.
If you really want to offer food, provide a treat they are unlikely to get anywhere else. For instance, hand out prepackaged cups of ice cream in the summer (don’t forget spoons). When it’s cold, how about hot chocolate with marshmallows?
