How can I help the homeless this year?

Question

I'd like to do something like helping the homeless this year. Any ideas?

I'm in the UK

Answer 1

Encourage your government to provide the proper care for the mentally ill (who make up the majority of homeless people) and to also provide for services for alcohol and drug addicts (who also fill up the ranks of the homeless).

You need to write letters to all levels of government officials who are charges with the responsibility for caring for these people.

Then, you volunteer to work at a homeless shelter, on other agency that has been established.

Giving money to the homeless does nothing to solve their underlying problems. Until the cause of their problem is addressed, they will not receive the help they really need.

Answer 2

Baby, you're a good person.

You've gotten some very stupid answers here, from a bunch of knobs who think they're really funny but are unaware we read their idiotic replies and think they're just nose-picking, crotch-scratchers.

You've also gotten some very compassionate, helpful advice from those who know or have been there, or have helped the homeless before. These people, as well as you, deserve a pat on the back because they understand.

If you did nothing else for the homeless than to reach out to an idiot like "SL," who suggested you tell homeless people to go home and shower ..... (THEY HAVE NO HOME OR SHOWER, YOU GIT!) ... and change their closed, narrow little minds to understand the plight of the homeless ... you would have done more than give one a blanket or serve one homeless person a bowl of soup.

This is reality:
Something happened in their lives that left them with no home, no money and no help. Family show their true colours quite often when a family member hits hard times and needs them. Suddenly, they have problems of their own and can't (or won't) help.

So the newly disadvantaged person wanders the streets in absolute shock and despair. Who EVER knows how to immediately recover from instant poverty? Maybe he or she stays in shelters for a while because they have no money to rent an apartment. They are alone and afraid and terribly, terribly sad. Wouldn't we all be if it happened to us???

So if they have $10 in their pocket, it won't buy them a roof over their head but it will buy them a few hours of blissful forgetfulness. Some answers you received said, "They'd only spend money on beer, anyway." Well, what do you spend YOUR money on? Do you ever drink beer? Have you ever had a drink because somebody you had the hots for rejected you? Try having someone take your home and your things away! Then let's see how ha ha funny you can be!

You see, Baby, there are thousands of ignorant, intolerant idiots out there that need to be educated about how it is for the poor and the homeless. If you have no money, it's impossible to help yourself get out of poverty and into a better life. All they have is us. Whether we give them some of our blankets or a pair of boots or mitts or a dollar or two to spend on whatever they choose ... we are doing the right thing. Helping is always the right thing.

Answer 3

The way I can help the homeless this year is by knowing whom the homeless and visiting them in their base and converse with them to find what made them to be homeless and find an organization that takes care of the homeless and invite them to the base of the homeless. Haven invited the organization,I who have been family with them will continue to check on the homeless for strenghtening.

Answer 4

You sound like a very kind person. The holidays should be a happy time, but for some it is just a reminder of how much they are lacking. One of the great ways that you can help the homeless is by volunteering a your local soup kitchen. They usually need help cooking and serving food during the week or help with their holiday dinners. Also, most soup kitchen accept donations of food that they will hand out to needy families. In the past I have made up a little care package of toiletries, snacks, socks or gloves and coupons for fast food and have handed them out to people I see in my local park.

Answer 5

The desire to help is great. It should not be seasonal. One good thing which doesn't cost money is to Talk to and Listen to Them. Find out what they need.

As with any part of the population their can suffer from mental illness which would be a danger to you. Most forms of mental illness only harms those who endure it. To be on the safe side talk and listen to them perhaps at soup kitchens where others are around.

The Bible answer the question of "how much should we give to the beggar?" as "Give all which is needed." following that line of reason, we should give 100% of the need to 100% of those in need.

Being ready to help is the start. There is a book called 54 ways of helping the homeless. Sometimes help is just simple as saying Hello. That act alone can give that person enough courage to go on living.

You have generosity in tour heart. That is required before you can help.

Answer 6

Helping the homeless can be simple. If youre area has like soup kitchens, you could go on one of the openings and serve food for them in the morning. Or even just to donate a few items that you dont use anymore to a foundation around your area. Did I help?

Answer 7

If you mean "rough sleepers" as opposed to people who have to endure hostels/B&Bs/friends' floors etc, you should know that there are only around 550 of them at any one time in the UK (Crisis and government figures). This means that any that you see are in a pretty bad state. It means that they don't have the oomph to look for help, and they probably avoid the help offered them by charities. The best thing you can do is to give them a sense of value as a person. That means, most importantly, *not* ignoring them when you see them. If you have it in you, you should go and chat, ask them if they want a hot drink or a sandwich and go and get one for them. Otherwise, give them 50p. This isn't enough for beer or crack but it's enough for a cuppa and, more importantly, it shows that person that you value them. My half penn'orth.

Answer 8

Some organisations like people to help on Christmas day such as Vinnies an Salvation Army. They prepare lunches for homeless people.

Answer 9

Get a bunch of friends, and sleep along site with the homeless like camping out.

Answer 10

Give them some pence or donate food to a food depository for the homeless.