What CAN we do about the homeless people we are seeing?

[JanMichael]

Another DUer's thread got me thinking about this. We will be seeing so many more people on the street next year...what can we do to make them more comfortable?

Last year, we were buying dinners for one guy that we saw often, provided him with a sleeping bag--etc...but, never ever felt that was "good enough."

We have one salary, an old car, and live in a condo that is unsafe for us to bring a stranger into. Limited resources on our part...and yet just walking by isn't going to work either.

So, ideas? Thoughts? We cannot be uncaring twits that can look at suffering...human OR animal (I want to make that clear...we took in a homeless kitty too)...

But, we are stretched this year, we will be worse next year....when Steph's job loses it's financing.

[YOY]

1. It depends on which ones.

Some truly need to be in mental institutions. Thank Saint Reagan for gutting those programs.

Most just need "a job and a little respect and they can get out while they can", like Phil Collins says.

A few (and hardly a majority) do truly need a boot in the ass like the conservatives say. Difference between them and our view is that they think all homeless folks belong in this category.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

2. Are there any shelters in your area? Or agencies serving the

homeless ? I suggest contacting them and seeing what they need. You might be able to organize a collection drive for items they request.

There was a story in the local paper about a woman who had worked briefly at a homeless shelter and was inspired to start a faith based program in her home town. The director of a homeless program wrote a LTTE and suggested that supporting an existing program run by trained personnel would be better than misguided but well-intentioned efforts on one's own.
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2008/11/10/opinion/doc4917ba6bce0f4699436879.txt

I think he made a good point.

[Warpy]

3. Clean socks, hats in cold weather

toothpaste and toothbrush, bar of soap, just the usual creature comforts we all take for granted when we have housing. Sandwiches are always welcome. Give cash if you can, they know what they need better than you do, and if it's a bottle, so be it. Untreated DTs are 50% fatal.

Just don't forget the socks. Homeless folks walk through theirs in record time as cops expect them to keep moving.

[Skittles]

7. YES

I've done that - handed out new socks and hats to the homeless in Dallas - in the winter those thick weatherproof ones are gold

[readmoreoften]

4. My partner works at a store that throws food away quickly. We give it to our neighbors.

Sometimes its breads and cakes, other times we can get nutritious sandwiches and feed whole families from the waste of a wealthy corporation. So I'm trying to get to know my neighbors better so that I can help out. They're not homeless, but my one neighbor admitted that sometimes he and his wife don't earn enough to eat every day.

[Greyhound]

5. When I had some bucks, I used to keep some blankets, shoes, clothes,

and a carton of cigs in the back of my car. When I ran into homeless folks we'd eat and talk and I'd give them what they needed if I had it with me, if not I'd get it and check back in a day or two. Dropping $20 bucks at the local thrift store can provide quite a stock of necessities.

If you do this, pay special attention to the women, you will not usually see them as they spend most of their time hiding/avoiding other people. Don't be offended by many of the reactions you will get at first, remember that they have spent years being shat on by us and are a little suspicious and are usually very damaged.

The main thing in my experience, is to listen to them, hear their stories if they want to tell you and give them the respect they deserve as human beings, you will not believe the shit that these people go through every damn day.

Mankind is a monument to man's inhumanity to man.

[JanMichael]

9. thanks

for this...and other suggestions such as socks.

Man, 2009 is going to be tough.

[ileus]

6. Put them up in an extra room of your house, let them sleep on your couch.

There's so many of us that could take in the homeless.

[JanMichael]

8. We can't do that.... yet...

that's the problem. If we could, we would. Seriously, I have met a couple of people that we would have put up for awhile--the problem is, we are living in a situation that will not allow that. I can't elaborate, but trust me---

[Kip Humphrey]

10. We provide: gift certificates to Luby's, prepaid cellphones, hats, gloves & goretex hooded jackets.

[SmileyRose]

11. Do you have time and energy to fight for them?

Here in Atlanta we are blessed to have a couple of really GOOD organizations that work all year to help both homeless on the street and homeless who manage to get a roof over their head by "staying with" various people a few days at a time. I got the bug a few years ago and , like you, don't live in situation where I am free to provide a home. I do spend considerable time coordinating to get more funding, donations, resources etc to help get people off the streets and into whatever mentorship will help them -- and to help the rare person determined to stay on the streets the basic needs of life.

If you have the time and determination, contacting just about any local charity and set you off in the right direction.