Donating to the Homeless

BY Grayc Njoroge. LAST REVISED ON August 20th, 2023.

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12 reasons why you should and how

This article explores donating to homeless charities by offering a list of helpful ones in communities nationally and worldwide.

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The increase in the number of homeless people is terrifying. It is no longer up to the government but up to you to help and make a difference. However, most people are tore between giving money directly and giving to charities. Direct money can fuel drugs and alcohol addiction. Equally, not every charity is trustworthy. Here you’ II learn more about homeless charities and how to identify the best to donate to.

What are homeless charities?

i Volunteers preparing food for the homeless.Volunteers preparing food for the homeless.

Homeless charities are organizations that raise money to help people who have nowhere to live.

Why should you donate to the homeless?

Below are 12 reasons why you should help the homeless.

1) They are people like you

Homeless people are people like you; they need basic needs to survive.

2) You would expect the same

You would want someone to help you if you were in their shoes.

3) Not everyone is kind

The next person might not be kind enough to help; it is up to you to take up the role.

4) Their future relies on you.

The future of homeless people is in your hands, you are the one to determine whether it's going to be bright or not.

5) To make a difference

You may want to make a difference and change the narrative of homelessness.

6) It’s the right thing to do

Donating is one of the best things you can do to change the lives of homeless people.

7) Anyone can be homeless

Today life is really expensive; most people are one paycheck away from becoming homeless. Hence, you should donate to homeless people. You never know you might be the next one on the list.

8) The feeling is incredible

After donating both of you feel good; it’s a win-win. It also comes with blessings.

9) It gives them hope

If there is one thing homeless people needs is hope. Donation gives them hope and strength to face tomorrow.

10) Change is necessary

One thing homeless people desire is a change in their lives. However, they can’t change their situation without your donation.

11) Support

Homeless people need your support to survive. Most of them can barely afford even a meal. They desperately need help.

12) You are capable of donating

You don’t have to be rich to give. You can donate resources that you have; it doesn’t have to be costly. You can also offer your time to teach a skill or so.

Are there any homeless charities you should not donate to?

Not every charity you come across is genuine. There is a very thin line between legit charities and ones that are a scam. Below are characteristics of charities you should NEVER donate to.

  • Do not donate to big charities; most of them are less transparent with how they spend the money. They are likely to divert the money to other things such as disaster relief efforts.
  • Some charities pressure you to donate now. Some even go to an extent of making you feel guilty for not donating. Do not donate to such charities. A trustworthy charity may welcome your donation when you feel ready.

Do not donate to charities that send you a ‘thank you’ message for a donation you can’t recall making. It is a trick used by scammers to lower your chance of resisting.

  • Some charities ask for cash and not check donations. Before you make your donation, ensure the details on the check are for the charity you purpose to donate to.
  • Do not donate to a charity you have never heard of or one that you suspect it is not genuine.
  • Do not donate to charities that have no identification. Focus; the identification can also be forged, be very keen.
  • Do not donate to charities that offer no receipts to donors or ones that offer receipts with personal and not charity details.
  • Do not donate to charities that ask for personal details, credit card details, or any other online account. They are scammers.
  • Avoid charities that ask donations to be made via money order, wire transfer, or any other electronic currency like Bitcoin. It’s hard to recover such donations.

Top 10 best charities to donate to today

Below are trustworthy charities you can donate to.

Pine Street Inn

This is the largest and transparent service provider in New England. They have come this far due to donors and volunteers. Pine street inn provides different services to over 1300 homeless people daily. Their mission is to end homelessness by providing emergency services and workforce development programs.

One family

One family’s mission is to combat homelessness. They focus on families dealing with homelessness or are a risk of being homeless. They provide coaching and scholarships to homeless families that help them get good jobs with sustainable wages. They believe if policies are set to prevent homelessness and programs are designed to promote opportunities, homelessness can end in Massachusetts.

Shelter Partnership

Shelter Partnership is a nonprofit organization rated by the charity navigator. They are leaders in combating homelessness in Los Angeles where the rates of homelessness are highest. They provide solutions to homeless people by providing affordable housing and housing policy to homeless people.

Chicago coalition for the homeless (CCH)

Chicago coalition for the homeless has been recognized with a platinum seal of transparency. They believe housing is a right for every member of the society. They advocate and prevent those people at risk of being homeless form becoming homeless. They have housing camping known as ‘bring Chicago home’ that advocates for city funding meant to address homelessness.

National Alliance to end homelessness

National Alliance is a trusted organization in the US. They have a leading voice on the issues of homelessness. They have come up with cost-effective policies to help solve the issue of homelessness. This charity works hand in hand with public, private, and nonprofit sectors in the fight against homelessness.

Homes of heroes

The increase in homelessness among Canadian armed forces is alarming. Approximately 5000 Canadian are vulnerable to homelessness. They are not able to transition from military carriers to successful civilian lives. Homes of heroes is an initiative that works towards addressing veterans experiencing homelessness in Canada. Your donations can help these veterans’ lives go back to normal.

Friendship place

Friendship Place is a charity in Washington Dc meant to end homelessness and rebuild lives. They are a nonprofit organization focused on temporary shelter for homeless people. They develop a lasting impact on the issues of homelessness. Their mission is to empower people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to get back on their feet again and attain a stable life.

Coalition for the homeless.

Coalition for the homeless is the oldest charity in New York that has been existing for 35 years. They believe everyone has a right to have a decent house, food, and a job with a good wage. This coalition helps 3500 clients get their life back together. They offer meals to rough sleepers in the city every night. Over one million New Yorkers have benefited from this coalition. They are highly rated.

FEANTSA

This is actually the only European charity that focuses on homelessness. Their slogan is ‘homelessness cannot be just another a fact of life.’ Their mission is to fight against homelessness which is a social priority. Their major achievement is the development of ETHOS (European Typology on Homelessness and Housing Exclusion) that helps them understand homelessness even more. They have effective measures set apart to combat homelessness.

Family promise

This is a highly reviewed charity in the US with a gold seal for transparency. They help low-income earners and homeless families to become stable through a community-based response. They provide meals, services, and temporary houses to families in need. They mentor and teach financial literacy to families at risk of experiencing homelessness. They work towards ensuring every family attains a bright future

It is clear that not every homeless charity is after helping homeless people. Some ask for donations in the name of ‘charities’ to benefit themselves. Be very keen. Do a thorough research to ensure the charity is genuine. Give but wisely.

Summary

The increase in the number of homeless people is terrifying. It is no longer up to the government but up to you to help and make a difference. However, most people are tore between giving money directly and giving to charities. Direct money can fuel drugs and alcohol addiction. Equally, not every charity is trustworthy. Here you’ II learn more about homeless charities and how to identify the best to donate to.

further reading

This article focused exclusively on donating to the homeless. What it focused little to none on, however, is why people help the homeless...

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WANT TO KNOW WHY PEOPLE HELP THE HOMELESS?

Read "Why People Help the Homeless - the 3 most significant reasons."

READ ARTICLE

key takeaways

  • Many reasons exist for why people donate to the homeless.
  • They are people like you, and if you don't, the homeless may never be helped are two.
  • Know which charities are best to donate to before giving out your money.
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