14 Best Places to Donate Clothes for the Homeless

Published November 4, 2023

If you’re thinking, “Where can I donate clothes for the homeless?” you’re in the right place on the web.

As you probably know, homeless people have few personal possessions, including clothes. So, if you want your clothes to go to people who need them, donating them to the homeless is a great idea.

But with so many places that accept clothing donations, you can’t always ensure that your donations go to the homeless. That’s why, in this post, we’ll only cover those places that cater directly to homeless people.

Where to Donate Clothes for the Homeless

When donating clothes to the homeless, the best places to start are local homeless charities.

Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with national charities like Goodwill and Salvation Army. However, these places sell donated goods and use the proceeds for their programs. So, your donations are more likely to end up in a thrift shop than in a homeless person’s wardrobe.

With that, here are some of the best places to donate clothes for the homeless:

1. Homeless Shelters

This is one of the most obvious choices if you’re looking to help the homeless in your area.

Aside from temporary accommodations, homeless shelters provide their guests with basic necessities. This includes food, hygiene items, and clothes. They usually need seasonal clothing items like jackets, socks, etc. If you have linens and towels, you can throw them in, too, as shelters often lack those.

Coordinate with the local homeless shelter in your area to see what items they accept. Some places may offer pick-up. But most of the time, you must bring your donation to their office.

2. Soup Kitchens

Despite their name, soup kitchens don’t just serve soup to the homeless. Many places offer a full meal, not just to the homeless but to anyone in need. But aside from hot meals, many soup kitchens also provide clothing and other basic necessities.

At Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen, for instance, we provide clothing items to our guests. Among them are shorts, pants, socks, and even shoes.

Not all soup kitchens, however, accept clothing donations. So call your local soup kitchen first to verify if they accept donations and what items they accept.

View a list of the donations our soup kitchen receives here.

3. Youth Emergency Shelters

Many young people who run away from home are in youth emergency shelters. And many of them left home with nothing but the clothes on their back. As such, your clothing donations will surely be appreciated.

Like many places on this list, youth emergency shelters often need seasonal clothes. Some places also accept swimwear and activewear.

Remember, however, that the guests in these places are people in their teens or 20s. So if you think your used clothes aren’t appropriate for that age bracket, you better take them elsewhere.

4. Domestic Violence Shelters

As their name suggests, domestic violence shelters provide a safe haven to victims of domestic abuse. They usually take in families with the mother, her children, and pregnant women.

So, if you have used baby clothes, pregnancy clothing, and children’s wear, this is an excellent place to donate them. Make sure to coordinate with them first before hauling out your donations to the front steps.

(Related: 10 Ways to Give Back to the Community Even With No Money)

5. Animal Shelters

Homelessness doesn’t just happen to humans. The world is filled with millions of homeless animals, too. Many of them found refuge in animal shelters. If your pet has some clothes, collars, or toys that they’ve outgrown, don’t let them end up in landfills. Donate them to animal shelters instead.

6. Transitional Living Programs

Transitional living programs are designed to help homeless young adults recover and live healthy lives as productive adults. Most people through this program live in host families or group homes. At the same time, others are living in supervised apartments rented by the community.

Since most of these young adults have been homeless for some time, they don’t have much in the way of clothes. Also, these people are training for work, but most don’t have or can’t afford work-appropriate clothes.

Giving them your gently used coats, long-sleeved shirts, and any work-appropriate clothes would be a great start in helping them turn over a new leaf.

7. Emergency Response Programs

Emergency response or disaster relief shelters offer temporary accommodations to victims of disasters and calamities. Most people who take refuge in these facilities have few personal possessions. In some cases, all they have are the clothes on their back. Donating your clothes is a great way to help them start anew.

8. Places of Worship

Churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, and other places of worship usually hold donation drives for homeless people. If your local place of worship doesn’t have one scheduled, you can ask your worship leader to organize one. Or, if you’re not affiliated with any religion, you can ask your friends and family members if their place of worship accepts clothing donations.

9. Dress for Success

One factor that prevents homeless people from securing a job is the lack of work-appropriate attire. That’s precisely what Dress for Success hopes to achieve. Its mission is to help homeless and underprivileged women get jobs and gain financial independence. To that end, they give them free work clothes and professional styling advice.

Dress for Success partners with local charities across the US and 22 other countries. If you want to donate to them, visit their website to see if they have any partner charities near you. 

10. Foster Care Agencies

Foster care agencies work with children and teenagers who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Donating gently-used clothes to these agencies can benefit children who may not have access to appropriate clothing.

11. Community Centers

Local community centers often have programs and resources for homeless individuals. They may accept clothing donations to distribute to those in need.

12. Women’s Shelters

Women’s shelters provide temporary housing and support services for women who have experienced domestic violence or homelessness. Donating clothing items like women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories can make a difference in their lives.

13. Veterans’ Organizations

Veterans’ organizations often have programs to support homeless veterans. Donating clothes, especially winter attire such as coats and sweaters, can help keep them warm during colder months.

14. College and University Clothing Drives

Many colleges and universities organize clothing drives to support local homeless communities. Check with nearby educational institutions to see if they host any clothing drives you can contribute to.