54 Ways You Can Help The Homeless
-Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff : July 17, 2001
1. Understand who the homeless are.
Myth: They want to be homeless. Fact: Less than six percent of the homeless are that way by choice.
Myth: They're to blame for being homeless. Fact: Most homeless are victims. Some have suffered from child abuse or violence. Nearly one quarter are children. Many have lost their jobs. All have lost their homes.
Myth: They don't work. Fact: Many homeless people are among the working poor. A person earning a minimum wage can't earn enough to support a family of three or pay inner-city rent.
Myth: They are mentally ill. Fact: About 25 percent of the homeless are estimated to be emotionally disturbed. One percent may need long-term hospitalization; the others can become self-sufficient with help.
Myth: They are heavy drug users. Fact: Some homeless are substance abusers; research suggests one in four. Many of these are included in the 25 percent who suffer from mental illness.
Myth: They are dangerous. Fact: Sometimes an encounter with the homeless may end in tragedy. It is extremely rare, though. In general, the homeless are among the least threatening group in our society. If anything, they are the victims of crimes, not the perpetrators.
Most homeless people are not drunks or drug abusers or former mental patients. Most are able or willing to work. They are not the perpetual social problem many people believe they are. So who are they? Full-time workers One out of four homeless is employed full- or part-time, according to the United States Conference of Mayors. The arithmetic is simple and frightening: a person who works forty hours a week at the 1992 Federal minimum wage of $4.25 per hour grosses about $700 a month, takes home less than $600-- and is a prime candidate for homelessness.
2. Educate yourself about the homeless.
3. Respect the homeless as individuals.
5. Respond with kindess.
6. Carry fast-food certificates.
We've all been panhandled for change to buy a cup of coffee or get a bite to eat. If you're like most, you've been suspicious from time to time, wondering what the money was really for. Instead of walking away and giving nothing, try carrying fast-food gift certificates. When you're approached for spare change, hand out a certificate and points the way to the nearest Burger King or McDonald's This way, you don't ignore someone who's in need, but you know your funds are used for food.
7. Develop lists of shelters.
8. Buy newspapers created by the homeless.
9. Bring food.
10. Give money.
11. Give recyclables.
12. Give proceeds from a craft sale.
13. Give clothing.
14. Give a bag of groceries.
15. Give toys.
16. Give welcome kits.
17. Give a portion of party expenses.
18. Give this information to others.
19. Volunteer at a shelter, and not just on Christmas.
Shelters thrive on the work of volunteers, from those who sign people in, to those who serve meals, to others who counsel the homeless on where to get social services. For the homeless, a shelter can be as little as a place to sleep out of the rain or as much as a step forward to self-sufficiency. Many people will volunteer yearly at Christmas, and while this is commendable, it would be even more helpful for you to do this on any other day when the shelter has even less help. Just pick a day and do it.
20. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
21. Volunteer your professional talents.
22. Volunteer your hobbies.
23. Volunteer for follow up programs.
24. Tutor homeless children.
The stress of being homeless isn't something felt only by the adults of homeless families--the children reflect it, too. And it can affect their school performance. It's easy for these youngsters to fall behind their classmates in learning--often resulting in a decision to give up and drop out. A tutor can make all the difference. Just having adult attention can spur children to do their best. Many Programs exist in shelters, transitional housing programs, and schools that require interested volunteers. Or begin you own tutor volunteer corps at your local shelter. It takes nothing more than a little time.
25. Take homeless children on trips.
26. Bring a meal to the homeless.
27. Organize a thrift shop.
28. Volunteer at battered women's shelters.
29. Volunteer job training.
30. Teach about the homeless.
31. Publish shelter information.
Despite all of our efforts to spread the word about shelters, it is surprising how many people -- including the homeless themselves -- are unaware of their own local shelters. Do you know where they are? Well-run shelters are often not noticed by the community at large. A published listing of area shelters, food programs, and other assistance for the homeless can bring these programs to the attention of potential volunteers and donors of food, equipment, and money. Contact your local newspapers, church or synagogue bulletins, or civic groups newsletters about the possibility of running a weekly or monthly listing of area services available to the homeless. This could include each organization's particular needs for volunteers, food, and other donations. If you are a graphic artist, create a poster that is readily noticeable, and list shelter location information. Post it on common city bulletin boards, and ask store owners to display it in their shop windows. You will increase general awareness and direct the homeless to the help they need.
32. Enlist community organizations as advocates.
33. Educate your children about the homeless.
34. Sign up your company/school to host fund-raising events, such as raffles or craft sales.
Using co-workers or other students for volunteer assistance, and donate the proceeds to nonprofit organizations that aid the homeless.
34. Recruit local businesses.
36. Ask your clergy to help.
37. Suggest your congregation offer tithes.
38. Create lists of needed donations.
39. Teach your children's friends.
Just as you can be an advocate for the homeless for the homeless, so can your children. Ask them to tell their friends what you have taught them about helping the homeless. If your family does volunteer work, bring along some of your children's friends to watch.
40. Collect toys and games for donations.
41. Prepare food and gifts.
42. Donate admissions fees from an event.
43. Use birthday parties to help.
44. Play with children in a shelter.
45. Start a Second Harvest program.
46. Employ the homeless.
"HELP WANTED General Office Work. Welfare recipient, parolee, ex-addict OK. Good salary, benefits. Will train." Invite the "unemployable" to learn to work.
47. Help the homeless apply for aid.
Governmental aid is available for homeless people, but many may not know where to find it or how to apply. Since most don't have a mailing address, governmental agencies may not be able to reach them. You can help by directing the homeless to intermediaries, such as shelters or organizations like Catholic Charities, that let them know what aid is available and help them to apply for it. If you want to be an advocate or intermediary for the homeless yourself, you can contact these organizations as well.
48. Stand up for the civil rights of the homeless.
49. Join Habitat for Humanity.
The community chapters of Habitat, acting as banks, hold monthly payments, the funds are recycled for the next home built. Typical payback on a loan is $150 a month, manageable even on a very low income. The average cost to a family for their Habitat home in the United States is $30,000 plus 500 hours of "sweat equity"--their own physical labor and their commitment to help construct other homes. Anyone can volunteer to help on a Habitat project. Since leaving office, Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn have spent one week every summer working on a Habitat project, one of over 10,000 dwellings built or rehabilitated worldwide since 1990. By having needy and affluent people work together in equal partnership, Habitat not only erects houses, but also builds new relationships and a sense of community.
For more information, contact:
Habitat for Humanity
121 Habitat Street
American, GA 31709-3498
912-924-693550. Form a transitional housing program.
These programs help people hang on to their current residences or assist them in finding more affordable ones. The methods include steering people to appropriate social service and community agencies, helping them move out of shelters, and providing funds for rent, mortgage payments, and utilities. One such program is the Elim Transitional Housing program, founded by Sue Watlov Philips in 1983 in Minneapolis. Starting as a shelter at the Elim Baptist Church, it evolved, with the help of the local utility, North States Power, into a transitional housing program which has benefited over 6,000 people. Elim's success is being duplicated across the nation by hundreds of community-based groups. Any city or suburban cluster of 50,000 or more people either has such a group has the potential to create it.
For more information, contact:
Homelessness Information Exchange
1830 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20009
202-462-755151. Write to organizations.
52. Contact your government representatives.
Our legislators rarely receive more than three visits, or ten letters about any subject. When the numbers exceed that amount, they sit up and take note. Personal visits are the most potent. Letters are next; telephone calls are third best. Housing issues don't come up that often, so your public officials will listen, particularly if you write as a constituent who is not a housing advocate whose job depends on increased funding or a tenant trying to hold on to an apartment. So let your government representatives know that you're concerned about housing, job training, health care, inner-city education, and support services. And keep letting your legislators know that your vote may be decided by their stand on those issues.
53. Push for state homelessness prevention programs.
54. Send us your ideas.
Buy Rabbi Kroloff's book, "54 Ways You Can Help The Homeless" ( ISBN 0-88363-888-6 ) Published by Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, Inc. and Behrman House, Inc. Distributed by Macmillan Publishing Company. Additional copies of the book can be ordered directly from the publisher. All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to organizations that are serving the homeless people of our nation.
NOTE: Fifty-four represents a multiple of the number 18, which in the Jewish tradition represents "life."
Copyright © 2001 - Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff
