Homelessness

How Homeless Shelters Work

Homeless shelter operations aren’t really regulated. As such, you can’t expect a “standard” when it comes to these types of places.

How homeless shelters work varies widely depending on who’s running them and where they get their funding from. In general, well-funded shelters tend to have more programs and better facilities. Though these types of shelters also tend to be more overcrowded than smaller, less-funded ones.

To help you understand how homeless shelters work, let’s break down the different factors that affect their operations:

Funding

Most homeless shelters are run by charitable or religious organizations. As such, their funds come mostly from private donors and fund-raising events.

Some shelters also partner with corporate sponsors like banks, hospitals, and multinational corporations. While others get funds from the government. In fact, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards yearly grants to selected community-level homeless shelters.

As stated, the funding a shelter gets usually determines the type of services they offer. Government and corporate-sponsored shelters typically have formal organizational structures and are run by employees rather than volunteers.

Facilities

A typical homeless shelter has a common sleeping area with bunk beds, common bathrooms, and sometimes a dining hall. Though like everything else, these facilities can vary significantly.

On the one hand, there are shelters with facilities built for their resident’s comfort. On the other hand, you’ll see shelters that don’t even have beds. Instead, they hand out blankets and yoga mats, and people sleep on the floor. And in between these two extremes is a whole range of living and sleeping conditions.

Regulations

Shelters often get a bad rap among the homeless population for having “too many rules”. But this isn’t always the case. Each homeless shelter has its own set of policies and regulations.

For instance, some shelters require that someone be completely sober before they are allowed access to their services. While others allow everyone in regardless of their sobriety.

The most common policy among homeless shelters is probably the curfews. Almost all shelters have set opening and closing times. Most of the time, they open at 5:00 PM and close at 11:00 PM. For homeless people working night shifts or irregular working hours, this can be a deterrent.

Some homeless shelters also charge a fee. Yes, contrary to popular belief, not all homeless shelters are free. Though they don’t always ask for money. Some may take half of the resident’s food stamp allowance. While others require their residents to work up to 40 hours per week in the shelter in exchange for board and lodging.

Services

Each shelter has different approaches to helping the homeless. Some only offer temporary accommodations. While others offer a whole range of services to help them get their life back together. This usually includes:

• a regular feeding program
• medical assistance
• provision of basic necessities
• employment assistance
• rehabilitation

Homeless Shelters vs. Soup Kitchens

Both homeless shelters and soup kitchens help the homeless and underprivileged. It’s probably why one is often confused with the other. 

While shelters offer a wide range of services for the homeless, soup kitchens focus mainly on providing them a freshly-cooked meal that they can eat in a place free of prejudice. Besides, you don’t necessarily have to be homeless to be able to eat at a soup kitchen. They serve people from all walks of life.

Some soup kitchens like Our Father’s House Soup kitchen also provide their guests with toiletries, seasonal clothes, and even formal outfits that they can wear to work or interviews.

(Related: 6 U.S. Cities With the Highest Homeless Population)

3. Volunteer

If you can’t afford to make a donation, you can always donate your time. Non-profit organizations and homeless shelters are often in need of volunteers.

Depending on the organization, the tasks given to volunteers can vary widely. But most of the time, it will depend on your skillset. For instance, if you’re good at bookkeeping, you can take care of the inventories. Or if you’ve got great people skills, you may find yourself working on the frontlines.

You can coordinate with the local homeless charities in your area to find out if they have any volunteer opportunities.

4. Practice Kindness and Respect

Apart from food and clothing, what homeless people (and all of us for that matter) really need is a little bit of kindness and respect.

They might have fallen on unfortunate circumstances but that doesn’t make them less respectable than everyone else. Just like you and me, a kind smile or a simple “good morning” can brighten up their day. In the same vein, a small act of kindness can go a long way in helping them turn their lives around.

So whenever you meet a homeless person, treat with the same respect and kindness that you give everyone else.

5. Raise Funds

As mentioned, homeless charities rely on the generosity of the community. So if you can’t donate or volunteer, you can also help them raise funds for their project.

Raising funds for the homeless doesn’t need to be an elaborate campaign with a lot of fanfare. Sometimes it can be as simple as doing a garage sale or asking for donations from your friends and family. In instances like this, it’s really the intent that matters much more than the amount.

6. Advocate Against Homelessness

One of the reasons why there are still a lot of stereotypes around homelessness is because the people experiencing it often have no voice. If society and those in power were to decide, they’d much rather forget that homeless people exists.

This is why raising your voice against homelessness is already a big help for the homeless. The more we talk about homelessness, the faster we will break those stereotypes and change society’s attitude towards homelessness.

Advocating against homelessness will also lead to the creation of more laws and government initiatives that will benefit the homeless.

7. Make a Care Package

A homeless care package, as its name suggests, is a type of kit that contains things a homeless person needs. This includes non-perishable food items, toiletries, and thick warm socks among others.

But if you don’t have all those items, just grab some biscuits, cup noodles, or cereal bars in your pantry and put it in a paper bag. Then give it to a random homeless person you see on the street. It might not be that much but if it can help them survive a few more days on the streets, that’s already a lot.

8. Hire Homeless People

The stigma and stereotypes surrounding homelessness often prevents the homeless from getting a job. And without a job, they can’t get their own place and get out of the streets. It’s a vicious cycle that traps homeless people in perpetual homelessness.

That’s why if you have a business or are in need of a helping hand, hire homeless people. If you give them a chance, many of them are actually willing to work. Giving them a job won’t only help them sustain themselves, you’ll also be giving them a major confidence boost.

Helping the homeless doesn’t really require a lot of time and effort nor a substantial bank balance. Even simple actions like those mentioned above can go a long way. What matters most is the willingness to make life better for others and the drive to make a difference.

The Dangers of Living on the Streets

Every living space has its own share of risks. But when you’re living on the streets, the risks of bodily harm or even death is significantly higher.

Reports of violence against homeless people usually include incidences of:

• being deliberately hit or kicked
• having things thrown at them
• being urinated on
• sexual assault
• verbal abuse
• intimidation and harassment

Aside from these acts of violence, homeless people also have to contend with the ever-present threat of starvation. On particularly harsh winters, the danger of freezing to death is also a grim possibility.

Common Struggles of People Living on the Streets

Aside from the dangers mentioned above, living as an unsheltered individual comes its own set of challenges such as:

Social Stigma

This is one of the biggest struggles for people experiencing homelessness. Despite many documentaries saying otherwise, many people still believe that the homeless are a bunch of addicts and bums who are a threat to public safety. This often prevents them from getting the respect due them as human beings.

Because of this prevailing social stigma, they usually find it hard to get a job or even keep a job. It also affects their housing prospects since there aren’t many landlords willing to rent out to homeless people, even if they can afford to pay the rent.

Lack of Stability

As mentioned, for people who don’t even know where to get their next meal, planning for the future is a luxury. Unlike most of us, homeless people have to focus on survival every single day. This is especially true for unsheltered individuals. Most of them have to sleep in a different place every night. This robs them of the stability that a home provides.

The lack of stability, in turn, affects them in various ways – especially the children. According to a study, children exposed to residential instability tend to have poor academic and social skills. This often leads to behavioral problems, poor vocabulary, and an increased risk of dropping out of school. For adults, the lack of stability for extended periods of time prevents them from developing close relationships leading to various mental health issues.

Lack of Access to Health Care Services

When you’re sleeping rough and have nothing to eat, worrying about your health is the last thing you’ll think about. This is why a large number of homeless adults don’t have access to even basic health care services. In fact, one study reported that many homeless adults have substantial unmet needs for multiple types of health care. This is largely due to both a lack of health insurance and the high cost of medical treatments.

Sanitation

As you can imagine, living on the streets can severely limit your hygiene and sanitation options. Some even have to go for days without taking a bath, washing their hair, or even brushing their teeth. Obviously, poor hygiene and sanitation can lead to poor health and various medical conditions.

Homelessness by the Numbers

According to a report by the US Department of Housing and Development, there were 580,466 Americans experiencing homelessness on a given night in 2020. About 61% of them are staying in homeless shelters and transitional housing programs. While the rest are living in unsheltered locations like the streets, abandoned buildings, parks, and other public places.

Though unfortunate, this is the reality of homelessness in the US. The report also disclosed that the number of unsheltered individuals increased by 7% in 2020. This means that more homeless people are now living on the streets than in shelters. Experts blame it on the pandemic as many homeless people avoid shelters for fear of contracting the virus.

These numbers are echoed in many highly urbanized places around the world. In Canada, for instance, the number of people experiencing homelessness in a single night has grown to about half of the US. The BBC reports that the number of people living rough in London had increased by 23% in 2020.

With these numbers, we can only imagine how many people are sleeping rough both in the US and around the world. They may not be that visible to us but they do exist and they need our help. And when it comes to helping the homeless, every single effort can go a long way.

Myths About Homelessness

In addition to the social stigma, there are also a lot of myths surrounding homelessness, such as:

1. Homeless people are lazy.

Fact:

Many homeless people have jobs. In fact, it’s estimated that about 25% of America’s homeless are employed. Unfortunately, they’re not making enough to afford a place of their own. 

2. It’s their fault they’re homeless.

Fact:

As mentioned, there are a lot of reasons why someone can end up homeless. Obviously, like you or anyone else, they didn’t want to be homeless. But sometimes, life can be cruel, and you find yourself in situations beyond your control.

3. Homeless people are addicts.

Fact:

Yes, some homeless people are dealing with substance abuse. But not all homeless people are addicts. Many are actually trying their best to stay sober and work their way out of their unfortunate situation.

4. There’s no way to end homelessness.

Fact:

As proven by countries like Finland and Japan, homelessness can be eradicated. In the space of a few years, these countries have succeeded where many didn’t. They’ve managed to reduce their homeless population to almost 0% by implementing groundbreaking policies. Finland adopted a Housing First Policy while Japan enacted a law to promote self-sufficiency among the homeless.

Even if you are not in a position to enact public policies, you can still help end homelessness in your own little way. Start by showing empathy and compassion to the homeless. Instead of shaming or condemning them, try to understand their circumstances. Be the first to break the stigma.

Ending homelessness is not just something the government can do. It takes all of us working together to make adequate housing a reality for everyone.

2. Individual and Relational Factors

Failed Relationships

A divorce or a bad break-up can cause someone to end up homeless. This is especially true for women and children. Most homeless mothers who end up in family shelters are victims of domestic abuse.

Mental Health Issues

It’s an undeniable fact that our country’s jails and pavements have become our de facto mental institution. You may not notice it but many homeless people are suffering from various forms of mental health issues. This usually prevents them from getting a job or holding on to a job and thus becoming homeless.

Death of a Loved One

Losing a loved one can have a profound effect on us. It can lead to depression and a tendency to “let go” of ourselves. For children, the loss of a parent or both parents can put them in a very vulnerable situation and increases their risk of homelessness. Most of those who don’t have anyone willing to take them in often find themselves jumping from one foster home to another. While those who are too old for the foster system end up in shelters, or worse, the streets.

Addictions

We all have things we are addicted to. But some addictions can ruin lives. Unfortunately, our society’s pre-programmed reaction to addiction, particularly illegal drugs, is endless condemnation. They are often derided by the people who are supposed to help them. This is why a lot of them end up homeless.

Family Problems

A lot of the homeless kids who end up in shelters have run away from home, mostly due to family problems.

3. Systemic Factors

Lack of Mental Health Support

Despite the country’s glaring problem on mental health, it only has a little over 600 non-federal psychiatric hospitals. The country also has less than 5,000 outpatient facilities. While the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that there are about 46.6 million adults in the US who are living with a mental disorder.

Even if we don’t crunch the numbers, it’s fairly obvious that we need to ramp up our mental health support system. With no one to turn to, people struggling with mental health issues often have trouble finding a job and keeping their homes.

Lack of Access to Medical Care

The rising costs of healthcare in the country often puts disadvantaged people in perpetual debt. The money that was supposed to be for rent also goes to their medical expenses. So it’s not surprising that a lot of them get turned out of their homes.

Effects of Homelessness

You may not realize it but homelessness affects not just the individual experiencing homelessness, it leaves an impact on society too. Some of the most significant impacts of homelessness are:

On an Individual

1. Health Issues

Sleeping rough and exposed to the elements can take a toll on someone’s health. Plus, not eating regularly can weaken one’s immune system. This is why homeless people are very much prone to diseases, especially in winter and during the flu season. This includes tuberculosis, cardio-respiratory diseases, HIV/AIDS, and skin illnesses.

2. Personal and Psychological Issues

When someone loses their home, it can also mean losing everything they have and all they’ve ever worked for. This, in turn, can do a number on their self-confidence. It affects their self-worth and how they see themselves, often leading to depression and other mental illnesses.

3. Increased Propensity to Substance Abuse

While many people lose their homes due to substance abuse, it’s also one of the biggest consequences of homelessness. According to studies, over a third of the homeless population have drug and alcohol problems. Another study reported that up to two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness have a lifetime history of alcoholism and drug abuse.

4. Worsened Violent Tendencies

Part of surviving on the streets is learning to be aggressive. That’s why for many chronically homeless people, aggression has become a norm. So if a person already has anger management issues before becoming homeless, living rough will only worsen their violent tendencies. Needless to say, this can pose a security risk not just to the homeless person but also to the community.

5. Increased Risk of Incarceration

According to the American Psychological Association, homeless people bouncing from shelter to shelter are more likely to commit a crime. It can range from “nuisance offenses” such as panhandling or turnstile jumping in the subway to serious felonies like robbery or assault.

6. Sexual Assault

Homeless women with mental illness are 97% at risk of violent victimization. This is why sexual assault and harassment are such common experiences among them. While 27% of homeless men and 38% of transgendered people have reported incidents of rape. That’s how prevalent sexual abuse is for people experiencing homelessness.

On Society

1. Increased Cost of Public Services

Studies reveal that the government spends more on public services for the homeless than if they were to give them homes. And that money came from your taxes. So before you shrug and say that the country’s homelessness problem doesn’t really concern you, better think again.

2. Social Barriers

Homelessness widens the existing social barriers. It underscores the wealth gap in the country which, in turn, fuels hate and division among the people.

3. Public Health Threat

Not only are homeless people more prone to illnesses, but they are also more likely to transmit infectious diseases. This could pose a threat to public health, especially during epidemics.

What We Can Do to End Homelessness

Now that you have an idea about the causes and effects of homelessness, let’s talk about what you can do to end it. Yes, you, me, and everyone else, in our own little ways, can all help in addressing homelessness. Here are some of the things we can do:

Educate

The first step to eliminating homelessness is to change the world’s perception of it. Start by educating your family, neighbors, and acquaintances about homelessness.

Create Awareness

Since not everyone has experienced homelessness, the true extent of the problem is only known to those who have been through it or those who are working against it. What we can do is to create awareness so as to drum up public support and effect policy changes.

Volunteer

Many local charities like soup kitchens and shelters are actively helping the homeless and they are usually in need of volunteers.

Empathize

Rather than criticizing the homeless, try to put yourself in their shoes. Understand where they’re coming from and why they ended up in such dire circumstances.

Eradicating homelessness is not something that can be done overnight or by the government alone. It’s an unfortunate cycle that has affected and will continue to affect many generations. And according to the US Department of Health, it will take more than just providing adequate housing to keep people out of the streets. It takes the collective effort of everyone from government officials to private individuals. Together, we can make this world a better place to live in.

Food

When packing foods for the homeless, you need to keep in mind that they don’t have anywhere to cook. So pack food items that are ready-to-eat but will last for days. This includes:

• peanut butter
• cup noodles
• bottled water
• instant coffee packets
• granola bars
• instant oatmeal packets
• dried fruits
• individually wrapped chocolates
• crackers and biscuits
• canned soup (with pop top lids in case a can opener is not available)

First Aid Items

Though not commonly included in care bags, homeless people need first aid items too. Living rough makes them more prone to situations that necessitate first aid. You can include items like:

• Band-aids
• Tylenol or Advil
• antibacterial wipes
• lip balm/petroleum jelly
• moleskin
• gauze bandage

Toiletries

Being homeless doesn’t mean they have to look the part too. They’re still human beings after all. That’s why you should throw in some personal hygiene items in the kit too such as:

• soap
• shampoo
• toothpaste
• toothbrush
• comb
• toilet paper
• disposable razor
• washcloth
• stick deodorant
• facial wipes
• Q-tips

Tools

Aside from food, clothing, and toiletries, homeless people also need certain tools like:

• can opener
• flashlight
• paracord rope

Extras

Aside from all of the above, it doesn’t hurt to include extra items such as:

• personal notes of encouragement
• supermarket coupons
• restaurant gift cards

What Not to Pack

For their safety and for that of the community as well, these items should never be included in a homeless survival pack:

• lighters
• matches
• sharp or bladed objects

Keeping all these in mind, it’s quite easy to make a DIY homeless survival kit. You don’t have to spend more than you can afford. Just grab some food items in your pantry, some old clothes, and extra toiletries. Put them in a ziplock bag and give it to a homeless person you see on the street. It may not be much but they’ll surely appreciate the gesture.

2. Cats of Mirikitani

This highly-regarded documentary explores the life of Japanese American painter Jimmy Mirikitani. When filmmaker Linda Hattendorf met him in 2001, he was 80 years old and was living on the streets of lower Manhattan.

As the two struck up an unusual friendship, Hattendorf slowly learned about Mirikitani’s life. The film narrates his life as an artist working with the likes of Jackson Pollock to being imprisoned in an internment camp during World War II. It also revealed why he ended up in the streets of New York painting cats to survive.

3. Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home

With a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this documentary needs to be watched with a handful of tissues on hand. The film centers on eight people from Skid Row in Los Angeles which has one of the largest homeless populations in the country.

These eight individuals have managed to make a home for themselves within the homeless community. The film showed how gentrification and criminalization of poverty put them in that position. It also exposed the country’s struggle with mental health issues and the lack of response to address it.

4. A Street Cat Named Bob

When you lose everything and everyone else abandons you, pets will stick by your side. This is proven by the true-to-life story of James Bowen, a homeless man, and a recovering heroin addict and a street cat he named Bob.

At first, James thought he was helping the cat when he found it rifling through his food one day. But as the movie progresses, we see that it was the other way around. James found a friend in Bob when everyone else deserted him. Together, the unlikely duo embarked on a journey that would both change their lives.

5. Children Underground

This film documents what homelessness is like for unwanted children who were victims of a reckless reproductive policy during Romania’s communist regime.

It follows the story of five of these children who live in a subway station in Bucharest. While homelessness is common in the US, the film shows a harrowing tale of urban hell. The children are left to starve, steal, or even be subjected to prostitution while people are just passing them by. Their tales paint a raw picture of desperation and hopelessness at an age where they should have been cared for, educated, and protected.

Do you know of any other movies about homelessness that should be included in this list? Tell us in the comments or check out our post for homeless documentaries.