The Best Ways To Help The Homeless
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The Very Best Way to Help Homeless People is to Do Something Rather than Nothing
I decided to take a crack at it and provide a "best way" for people to fight homelessness. I'll be honest, it might not actually be the best way to help homeless people but, with a "best way" in hand, perhaps more people will be confident enough to take some action. This approach is based on my experience as a homeless person and as a person who worked with homeless people and who has taken homeless people into my home as well as from my research on the issue.
If you have ever wanted to help homeless people but were too overwhelmed by the complexity of the issue or too unsure of how best to help, read through my plan to help homeless people. Then find a part of it that you can do, any part of it at all, and just do it.
photo by Leroy Skalstad
Change Attitudes about Homeless People
Spread empathy toward homeless people, then action will follow
The only way to fight the societal stereotype of homeless people as lesser life forms is to educate. To do this, more people need to be exposed to the realities of homelessness - its causes, its horrors, its nearness to them, and the stories and faces of the people without homes. To help this process, learn as much about homelessness as you can and talk about it wherever you can, write about, think about it, and take action.
Learn More about Homelessness and Homeless People
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Why Don't Homeless People Just Get Jobs?
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There are many assumptions about homeless people. Perhaps the most common is that homeless people are too lazy to work. Having been homeless myself and having worked with many homeless people, I have to say that for the vast majority of homeless peop...
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Some Reasons People Become Homeless
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Many people feel that homeless people are entirely to blame for their own miserable situation. They believe that under no circumstance could they find themselves homeless because they are better than "those people" who have become homeless....
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Answers to Questions about Homelessness
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Many people arrive on my lenses about homelessness via search engines. Squidoo's dashboard tool allows me to see what terms people searched for that landed them there. Often, these terms take the form of questions about homelessness. Because not all...
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Why Homeless People Don't Use Shelters
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I spent a lot of my time when I was homeless sleeping "in the rough" which is another way of saying outdoors. I've been asked a lot of times why I didn't just stay in shelters. The two answers most homed people will give as to why h...
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Homeless on Squidoo
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Homelessness is a serious issue worldwide. I believe that raising awareness about homelessness and working to help homeless people is an important task. Many people on Squidoo have taken up this task. There are many great lenses on S...
Become Friends with Homeless People
Begin to repair a homeless person's lack of a friend and family support structure
You probably feel pretty sure your friends and family would help you if you were to be in danger of homelessness. You'd also be pretty motivated to help if a friend or family member of yours became homeless, wouldn't you?Homeless people often entirely lack the support structure that most people take for granted. Homeless people often become homeless because they can't deal with a crisis, something people with good, strong family and friend support structures are far better equipped to handle. An elderly man with a strong support structure probably won't become homeless if his roommate dies leaving him with rent too high to pay with his Social Security income but the same man, without the help from family and friends would likely become homeless.
You can help rebuild or create a new friend/family support structure when you befriend a homeless person. You can also learn how to strengthen your own through this process. Begin with your friendship and encourage your homeless friend to partake in activities and social groups. Help him reconnect with family and friends and give him emotional support. Nothing gives a person hope like the love of a friend.
Helping Homeless People in the News
- Men's Wearhouse Launches National Suit Drive To Help Unemployed Men
- To expedite that process, business attire retailer Men's Wearhouse has launched their third annual National Suit Drive for the homeless and unemployed. ...
- Doctors Patrick and Elizabeth White honored for work to end homelessness
- ... Patrick and Elizabeth White, were honored last night for their outstanding work in helping to end homelessness for women and children in our area. ...
- Veterans "Stand Down" help event returns to Roseburg, volunteers needed
- The event is focused on getting help to veterans and their families who are either homeless or disadvantaged (sleeping on a couch, in and out of motels, ...
- New day center for homeless in the works; city wants loiterers off downtown ...
- By David Hunt Despite tight budgets for nonprofit agencies, plans are inching forward to help clear out the homeless from downtown streets during the day. ...
Give to the Homeless
Money, necessities, time, knowledge, labor, friendship, or simply acknowledgement
Like everyone else, homeless people have many needs. The difference is that many homeless people are unable to meet their needs themselves. So they need a hand and there's no reason that that hand can't be mine or yours.Donate to homelessness charities, whether you donate time, knowledge or money, it all helps. Give directly to homeless people - friendship, small gifts of necessities, help in finding a job or filling out assistance paperwork - all of this helps.
You can learn more ways to help homeless people without spending money at How to Help the Homeless without Spending a Dime. You can find ideas on what you can give directly to homeless people that will be both appreciated and helpful at From Your Hand to the Homeless and What to Buy if You are Homeless.
Learn More about How You Can Help Homeless People
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How You Can Help the Homeless Without Spending a Dime
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It can be difficult to give to charity when you aren't making much yourself. Many people simply can't afford to share their earnings without jeopardizing their own living situation. Many others are reluctant to harm their own standard of living to he...
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From Your Hand to the Homeless
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In an often uncaring world it's important that we reach out to each other. You can give to the homeless in an indirect way (and you should) but giving and caring directly gives homeless people something beyond price - human contact and recognitio...
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What to Buy if You are Homeless
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This may seem like a strange topic but when homeless people get money it's important they spend it carefully, in ways that will help them survive, get or keep a job, and possibly escape homelessness. When I was homeless almost twenty years ago I...
Push for Change
Homelessness is symptomatic of problems with our society
Research the laws and ordinances in your area. Many people are hindered in their fight to escape homelessness by laws - laws that make homelessness itself a crime and prevent future employment, laws that prevent those who wish to help homeless people from helping them effectively, there are laws that allow employers to pay insufficient wages, and there are laws that allow creditors to garnish debtors into homelessness. Find out what unjust laws exist in your area and in your country and then speak out.
And keep an eye on health care reform because the number one cause of bankruptcy in America is medical bills. No person should have to go homeless due to illness.
Changed by Homelessness
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What I Learned While Being Homeless
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I was homeless just over twenty years ago. During that period of homelessness I was badly injured, both physically and emotionally. I have Asperger's Syndrome which was both a contributing factor to my homeless situation and a barrier to escaping...
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Writing From a Homeless Heart
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My experience living without a home almost twenty years ago changed the course of my life forever. It changed the possibilities open to me and my perceptions of the world both for good and for ill. Being homeless scarred my body and mind in ways that...
Get Involved
The only way to help homeless people is to get involved
Here's my favorite link:
Can One Person Make a Difference in a Problem as Big as Homelessness?
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What do you think is the best way to help homeless people?
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Obscure_Treasures
Aug 10, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
- Very cool gift ideas! great lens, great suggestions.
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GreenLink May 17, 2010 @ 11:07 pm
- I just first want to say that I am happy you were granted the gift of the pen because it is SO important to have as much awareness out as possible.
I think one thing I would emphasize would be recognizing the difference between panhandlers and homeless invididuals. The thing is, I have seen men and women and such young people panhandling and I've noticed something of a pressure source usually hanging around checking up on what profits are being made for the day. Drugs are easy to fall into when you have people around you who have lost hope and turn to artificial love and complacency.
I've done things like collect abandoned clothing (especially in the winter) hand them in to shelters or centers for Homeless people to take advantage of.
I'm coming at this from a Canadian perspective, and luckily the medical system set in place allows for more wiggle room, but a lot of homeless people who not only deal with being poverty stricken, but also suffer from a disability that prevents them from being able to adequately take care of themselves enough to function normally in society.
Plus, prescriptions only last so long, and can so easily be misused for quick money, as well as just not being able to deal with strict regiments that such prescriptions require for effectiveness.
Thank you for being strong and honest and intelligent, and showing people the reality of what having no place to go to and/or no one to rely on, really means.
Thank you;
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tysanders
Apr 15, 2010 @ 2:57 pm
- Thank you for writing this and sharing your experiences. I never give money to homeless people because I always felt that they could get a job working somewhere, even if it's the nearest McDonalds or closest gas station. Reading your blogs has helped me change my way of thinking. I never considered the idea that some homeless people are so down and out emotionally that they lack the hope and motivation necessary to even fill out an application for employment, more less work a job. This really opened my eyes and again. Saying thank you isn't enough.
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Kylyssa
May 4, 2010 @ 1:38 pm
- I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about the homelessness issue.
Many people don't take the time. And many people are surprised to learn that many homeless people do have jobs. Some just can't earn enough to scrape up first and last month's rent plus a security deposit or even pass the credit check many apartment complexes require. Or they may be getting their wages garnished to pay off student loans, child support, or the home loan they've defaulted on.
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prosperity66
Dec 27, 2009 @ 4:56 am
- What a wonderful lens, once again, Kylyssa! Other topics seem so... superficial when one reads our pages.
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About the Author
Lensmaster Kylyssa has been a member since February 25 2008, has rated 679 lenses, favorited 242, and has created 68 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "What I Learned While Being Homeless". See all my lenses
My Bio
I am a "retired" florist turned freelance writer and I enjoy cooking, keeping saltwater fish, and baking fun cakes. I have had some unusual life-experiences including experiences with alternative lifestyles and homelessness.
I am passionate about ending homelessness and helping people get by and enjoy life on less money.
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More Information on How to Help Homeless People
54 Ways You Can Help the Homeless
Amazon Price: (as of 09/02/2010) 
Used Price: $0.01
52 Ways to Help the Homeless People
Amazon Price: (as of 09/02/2010)
Used Price: $0.01
What You Can Do to Help the Homeless
Amazon Price: (as of 09/02/2010)
Used Price: $0.01
Why this Lens Does Not Donate to Homelessness Causes
I would love to donate the proceeds of this lens and all of my others to help homeless people. Unfortunately, I'm on the very edge of homelessness myself.
You can read about why I'm in financial difficulty here.
Get your own Tip Jar by Kylyssa
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-
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-
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