Small ways you can help
Hopefully you’ll have time for this video, but if not then there are some quick tips to read through at the bottom. Thanks for joining me today!
If you don’t have time to watch the full video then here are some quick tips
1. Have boundaries. It’s ok to set a few boundaries that make you feel comfortable & which will help you navigate speaking to a homeless person
2. Introduce yourself, ask their name, shake their hand. Sticking to you boundaries, you may not feel comfortable sharing your own name, so make one up! If shaking hands feels too intimate then maybe look to build to that at some point in the future. Goes with your own comfort levels, especially if this is your first time connecting with a homeless person.
3. Gift cards. Having a few gifts cards in your pocket makes for an easy & quick way of helping someone without having to get overly involved or even doing point no. 2 above. Come back to your boundaries. How much are you able to give in a week or a month. Decide how much that is and then how many gift cards you’d like to spread that across. Supermarkets are a great place to purchase a few different gift cards so you have a selection
4. Food & drink. If you would like to buy someone a drink or some food, ask them first what they might like from a shop or cafe that is convenient for you. Giving options & choices allows a homeless person to be treated with humanity & respect
5. Kids. I personally don’t put my kids in situations where they are interacting with homeless people. I started off by sharing with them stories of people I had met and how I had helped them, always explaining that they were too young to do it themselves but explained that when they were grown up they could make those choices themselves.
6. Streetlink. Streetlink is a quick and easy way of supporting a homeless person, particularly if you aren’t wanting to get physically involved yourself. Their website offers a quick online form for you to describe the homeless person you have seen and where they tend to hang out. You can request a follow up email to hear about whether they have been able to connect with this person and help them. It takes a minute & in my opinion is one of the best and easiest ways to support the homeless community.
7. Safety. Feeling safe is something you should put first. Don’t put yourself in a situation that you aren’t comfortable with. If you have past experiences that you think might be triggered by putting yourself in a vulnerable position then protect yourself first. That’s when streetlink is a great way to help. Or sharing a blog like this to your social media, or speaking to your kids and families to get a conversation going by spreading awareness.
8. Do what works for you. Some of the above might not feel good to you. Some might. You don’t have to do them all or you could try them all out. You don’t have to decide first time round what works for you or how getting involved with homelessness is going to work in your life.
9. Pray. If you pray then pray! Pray for someone as you walk past them in the street. Ask someone if they would like prayer. I have done this a few times. Sometimes people say no and sometimes they say yes. One guy said he didn’t believe in prayer but he was willing to try anything and so said I could. He is no longer on the streets due to streetlink helping him!
10. Local Charities. Investigate local homeless charities in your area. Maybe save their number to your phone. Or find local shelters and do the same. You could phone up and ask if they have room for the night for someone you would like to help.
I hope a few of these tips & this video help you to spend sometime thinking about homeless and ways in which you could personally respond.
Credit: Photo above found at https://invisiblepeople.tv/homeless-houseless-unhoused-unsheltered-or-person-experiencing-homelessness/
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