3 Simple Steps for Helping the Homeless

Many retirees think about contributing to the betterment of their community. In fact, giving back is one of most retirees’ core values.

One common problem seen in almost every community is homelessness.

Chronic homelessness is a big challenge faced by a lot of people, regardless of their age, gender, or even the area they live in.

In one of our recent episodes of the Retirement Revealed podcast, Katlin Hahn, development manager at Hebron Housing Services, addresses the problem of homelessness and provides effective solutions to help put an end to it.

In this blog, we will discuss some of her ideas, walk through 3 simple steps to help those experiencing homelessness, and in the end, talk more about the Hebron Housing Services and their efforts in tackling homelessness.

Read on to learn how you can make an impact in your community through 3 easy steps!

1. Understand the Problem

For several people, the idea of homelessness is limited to an image of a stranger asking for money on the streets in the middle of a big city.

In reality, it’s much more than that.

If you look past these stereotypes, you’ll find that homelessness is not always related to a low income level. It can simply be the result of some unfortunate life experiences that you have no control over.

People often tend to be more understanding of the children, knowing that they have nothing to do with their homelessness.

However, we need to show a similar compassion towards adults. Imagine if some people are living paycheck to paycheck, and suddenly fall sick or get injured. This is enough to put them into financial distress –– which can ultimately make them homeless.

Believe it or not, but domestic violence is also a major cause of homelessness. 

Understand that homelessness does not necessarily come from any one place or situation.

Plus, things become even more challenging in rural areas, where there is limited access to essential resources.

Once you better understand the problems that homeless people face on a daily basis, it’s easier for you to help them improve their quality of life.

2. Connect With Nonprofits

One of the best ways to ensure that your contributions are reaching the right people is to connect with local nonprofits and charitable organizations.

Hebron Housing Services is a great example. (We’ll dive deeper into its services and efforts towards the end of the blog.)

It has also partnered with several other organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Women’s Center Waukesha, UNITY Lutheran Church, and local community churches.

These organizations work closely with people affected by different challenges, such as homelessness, mental illness, and domestic violence.

So, if you want to help eradicate these problems from your community, you can connect with such nonprofit organizations and explore different ways to make your contribution.

3. Take Action

If you want to make a difference in the lives of the homeless, you can donate your time, money, or both!

A. VOLUNTEERING

For those who are unable to give away a lot of money, but are still passionate about helping the homeless, you can explore the different volunteer opportunities.

After all, it’s not just about providing a bed and a meal. The ultimate goal is to make everyone self-efficient and sustainable.

When you help those experiencing homelessness rebuild their self-esteem and skills, ultimately restoring their hope and dignity, their life changes forever.

If you want to learn unique ways to support the homeless, check out the exciting volunteer opportunities at Hebron Housing Services.

Spending your summer serving the homeless as a student, getting involved in construction projects, sharing a meal, making welcome kits for children using toys and crayons –– there are a million ways to volunteer.

Be creative, and you’ll always find some way to contribute.

For instance, there’s a woman at Hebron Housing Services who volunteers to watch the kids for a few hours every week. This might seem trivial, but it can actually be a great help to people trying to focus on house search, or attending job interviews.

B. DONATING MONEY

This is probably one of the easiest ways to get the nonprofits what they need.

It helps them pay their staff, fund their programs, extend support to the people in need, and further their charitable mission.

If you wish to make a donation to the Hebron Housing Services, visit their donation page.

No contribution is too small to make a difference. Every donation, big or small, collectively makes a significant impact in the development of the community.

About Hebron Housing Services

Hebron Housing Services provides food, shelter, and a variety of other services to the homeless.

Through its three shelters, Juno House, Siena House, and Jeremy House Safe Haven, it helps over 500 homeless people annually.

It’s available 24/7, 365 days a year, to help the people get through any emergency crises. Plus, it provides short-term and long-term services to help those who need more time to recover from their situation and get their life back on track.

To further its mission of helping people become self-sufficient, it also offers case management programs to help individuals find suitable housing opportunities.

Finally, it publishes guest success stories and monthly wishlists on its blog page. These wishlists share their primary needs during a particular month, so that donors and volunteers know exactly how they can make the maximum impact.

Remember, homelessness doesn’t have to be an ongoing problem. Together, we can put an end to it and create a better world for everyone.

Learn more about the Hebron Housing Services by visiting their website, or give them a call at (262) 549-8720.

As always, if you have any questions on how to achieve your life goals during retirement, feel free to contact us!