Would You Help a Homeless Person?

One of the greatest obstacles for the homeless, in addition to the lack of regular housing and other basic needs, is the lack of public awareness. The general public often relies on stereotypical assumptions about who is homeless and the reasons people are homeless and the public then bases their decision to help on those thoughts.

Those found to be homeless include: adults, families with children, veterans, the elderly, the chronic homeless and those who have experienced sudden homelessness. The reality is that there is no single cause of homelessness and, according to Marilyn Fountain, Director of Community Relations for the Star of Hope Mission in Houston, Texas, there are many different reasons that someone becomes homeless.


What is needed is for the public to understand the nature of homelessness as a societal issue that can, at any time, include each of us, in any number of ways. According to 2009 data from the National Coalition for the Homeless, the homeless include those affected by foreclosures, sudden unemployment, failed finances, the effects of an economic downturn and long term underemployment.


The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) of the National Alliance to End Homelessness indicate that many singles who are homeless come from institutional settings. The HPRP is designed to be a model system for rehousing the homeless.


According to Fountain, The missions need the public to help. Things like clothing, shoes, books,  survival kits, calling cards, blankets, soap and toiletries, in addition to donations and a smile, can make a tremendous difference in the life of a homeless person.  


The question is: Would you help a homeless person? Leave a comment...