Tips for helping unhoused people
HOW DO PEOPLE END UP HOMELESS?
The many reasons can include:
- marriage or relationship breakdown
- leaving a difficult home situation, especially women & young people
- job loss
- the cycle of poverty (no fixed address for benefits or bank account or job applications)
-reno-victions (when their low priced apartment is no longer available due to neighbourhood gentrification)
- mental health issues
- lack of transition support after leaving jail
- youth aging out of foster care
- youth escaping an unsuitable home environment and no longr having couch surfing options
- feel safer outside than in some shelters (theft, gangs, bullying) or they have a pet for security and companionship and cannot access a shelter with an animal
- drug and alcohol addiction
The many reasons can include:
- marriage or relationship breakdown
- leaving a difficult home situation, especially women & young people
- job loss
- the cycle of poverty (no fixed address for benefits or bank account or job applications)
-reno-victions (when their low priced apartment is no longer available due to neighbourhood gentrification)
- mental health issues
- lack of transition support after leaving jail
- youth aging out of foster care
- youth escaping an unsuitable home environment and no longr having couch surfing options
- feel safer outside than in some shelters (theft, gangs, bullying) or they have a pet for security and companionship and cannot access a shelter with an animal
- drug and alcohol addiction
HERE DO THEY GO?
Many unhoused people try shelters if they can line up early enough to get a bed. Otherwise makeshift shelters include:
- tents
- cardboard boxes, tarps
- park benches
- dumpsters
- entrances with 24 hour bank machines
- Metro (subway) or railway tunnels
- construction sites and portapotties
- abandoned buildings
- cars
AND… some just walk around all night because they feel it’s safer
Many unhoused people try shelters if they can line up early enough to get a bed. Otherwise makeshift shelters include:
- tents
- cardboard boxes, tarps
- park benches
- dumpsters
- entrances with 24 hour bank machines
- Metro (subway) or railway tunnels
- construction sites and portapotties
- abandoned buildings
- cars
AND… some just walk around all night because they feel it’s safer
HOW CAN WE HELP?
- advocate for the needs of these vulnerable members of society
- write emails and letters to local government
- volunteer at shelters and soup kitchens
- ask your local shelter what they need most and collect that for them. They might have plenty of coats but need shoes and boots, or may have an overstock of toothpaste but want feminine hygiene products. Please ask!
- donate to local agencies – money helps them pay overhead costs, including trained staff and supplies
- request warming shelters in your community
- advocate for better mental health support
- advocate for drug and alcohol treatment centres
- support affordable housing with staff and services onsite
- advocate for the needs of these vulnerable members of society
- write emails and letters to local government
- volunteer at shelters and soup kitchens
- ask your local shelter what they need most and collect that for them. They might have plenty of coats but need shoes and boots, or may have an overstock of toothpaste but want feminine hygiene products. Please ask!
- donate to local agencies – money helps them pay overhead costs, including trained staff and supplies
- request warming shelters in your community
- advocate for better mental health support
- advocate for drug and alcohol treatment centres
- support affordable housing with staff and services onsite
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
- treat people on the street with dignity and respect; make eye contact, ask their name and remember it when you see them again
- give a $5 Tim Horton's card, not cash
- offer a homemade muffin in a ziplock bag
- hand out small packages of dog or cat food and a note with the location of low cost or free veterinary services
- keep a small supply of Care Bags in your car, backpack or briefcase and offer one to someone on the street.
- treat people on the street with dignity and respect; make eye contact, ask their name and remember it when you see them again
- give a $5 Tim Horton's card, not cash
- offer a homemade muffin in a ziplock bag
- hand out small packages of dog or cat food and a note with the location of low cost or free veterinary services
- keep a small supply of Care Bags in your car, backpack or briefcase and offer one to someone on the street.
WHAT CAN GO IN A CARE BAG?
Use a ziplock bag or cloth grocery bag or homemade drawstring bag.
You don't need all of these in each bag. Make sure it's not too bulky or heavy or you create a problem for the person you'd like to help and many items may end up being abandoned in the trash.
- coffee or grocery card for $5 (maximum!)
- bottle of water (for drinking and washing)
- small soap, hotel size shampoo, comb
- small package of tissues
- hard candies or mints. Candy canes are popular in the winter.
- granola bar or packet of cookies
- feminine hygiene products
- toothbrush and small toothpaste and deodorant
- pen and notepad and envelope with a stamp so they can write home to say they are safe
- coins for a phone call if there are pay phones in the area
- face cloth
- safety pins
- socks
- tuques or ball caps/ sun hats
- rain ponchos or folding umbrellas
- a folded up plastic grocery bag for trash or as a makeshift toilet
- a handwritten note of encouragement or a drawing by a child
- a list of available services, including a simple map
Use a ziplock bag or cloth grocery bag or homemade drawstring bag.
You don't need all of these in each bag. Make sure it's not too bulky or heavy or you create a problem for the person you'd like to help and many items may end up being abandoned in the trash.
- coffee or grocery card for $5 (maximum!)
- bottle of water (for drinking and washing)
- small soap, hotel size shampoo, comb
- small package of tissues
- hard candies or mints. Candy canes are popular in the winter.
- granola bar or packet of cookies
- feminine hygiene products
- toothbrush and small toothpaste and deodorant
- pen and notepad and envelope with a stamp so they can write home to say they are safe
- coins for a phone call if there are pay phones in the area
- face cloth
- safety pins
- socks
- tuques or ball caps/ sun hats
- rain ponchos or folding umbrellas
- a folded up plastic grocery bag for trash or as a makeshift toilet
- a handwritten note of encouragement or a drawing by a child
- a list of available services, including a simple map
LOOKING TO DONATE TO A SHELTER?
Check the Need Seeker link at breadandbeyond.ca for a current list of what each shelter needs. Please remember that dropping off items that have not been specifically requested -- while well-intentioned -- creates work for already busy shelter staff and volunteers to sort, store and distribute. Donating money to a shelter is always welcome!
Check the Need Seeker link at breadandbeyond.ca for a current list of what each shelter needs. Please remember that dropping off items that have not been specifically requested -- while well-intentioned -- creates work for already busy shelter staff and volunteers to sort, store and distribute. Donating money to a shelter is always welcome!