Everyone deserves a place they can call home. Yet in every community, there are people struggling to stay in their homes and others who have lost them. Regardless of your skills or time commitment, you can help neighbors, friends or family members stay in their homes or give support to people experiencing homelessness. That’s how to build strong, resilient communities.
There are countless ways to help; ask your neighbors what they need most so that your aid can make a real difference.
(Note: Personal finances can be an uncomfortable subject, so be sensitive to that when you ask if they’ve heard about the programs available to help them.)
It is devastating when someone loses his or her home—but it’s not the end of the road. And there’s plenty you can do to help.
The easiest way to help people who are experiencing homelessness—even if you don’t have time or funds to share—is to reaffirm their humanity: Stop as you pass by, make eye contact, smile and share a conversation.
Use the search engine below or reach out to service organizations, advocacy coalitions and other housing resources near you.
Students who experience homelessness face more challenges than their peers, and there are more students in this category than ever before. In the 2013-14 school year, roughly 58,000 college students nationwide had no home address. And since the recession, the number of youth experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in public school has doubled to 1.36 million..
To help them, contact your state's homeless education coordinator or reach out to youth shelters and housing programs, which provide places for college students to stay.
Organize a school supply drive in your community or check out the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth to learn more and get involved.