How can we help the homeless in our communities?

Question

I know there are shelters but often the homeless choose not to live there. Where I live, the homeless stand at the roadside asking for help. My sense is that offering money is cheap, though I will admit to doing so. My sense is that on an individual level, we must be willing to see their humanity with all its pain and help them bear it.
Has anybody had any experience with radical hospitality?
What about advocacy work for the homeless? As compassionate people we MUST respond.
Open to all serious ideas, thanks.

Answer 1

To bad we can't replace illegal aliens, with homeless ppl.

Build em' a place to stay on/by the farm, pay em' minimum wage, maybe even run a kitchen so they are feed regularly.

--- I don't know, if it would work though.

Answer 2

Give out extra blankets that you have. Make sandwiches and pass them out. Have a coat drive and give away coats. Hats, gloves ect......... There is a lot of things you can do to help them. Help at a shelter. Be careful because there are people who pretend to be homeless for money and that is there full time job. They live better then you. But for the most part they really need help.

Answer 3

Individually, give of yourself. Your time as a volunteer or worker or give of your money if you can. James said that Faith without works is like a body without a soul...dead.

As far as giving actual cash to an individual standing on the roadside I would advise not to. Channel the resources and your efforts for the greatest good.

Answer 4

Feed the corporates to the homeless.

Also, help people realize that there is no god to pull them out of their situation, and that this is the only life they have so don't be content with remaining poor and thinking that it will all be made right in a non-existent next life.