The best solution to help homeless people is obviously to find stable accommodation for homeless people, so they can give themselves and their dogs a home.
And the best way to do that, is to enable homeless people to receive free training, so they can train up to do jobs they love to receive income, so they can become financially independent.
There are presently around 250,000 homeless people in England (this includes rough sleepers, sofa-surfers and people living in temporary bed-and-breakfast accommodation). It’s important to know that homeless people can still claim benefits, even with no fixed address.
Homeless people can claim Universal Credit (give the address of a family member or friend or a local hostel or even job centre). If you don’t have a bank account, use the government’s Payment Exception Service to collect benefits from a local post office or PayPoint outlet.
If you see someone sleeping rough, the best help is to send a report to StreetLink, an organisation that has local outreach teams that mostly visit rough sleepers at night, to alert them of support to find benefits and accommodation (if the person is under 18, call 999).
Crowdfund The Dreams of Homeless People
Beam (London) works by crowdfunding people who tell you their stories. Learn why they became homeless and what their dreams up, then pool together to help train them up. Recipients so far have become gardeners, beauticians, builders and support workers.
One recipient had a job as a trained security guard, but was living in an overcrowded tiny flat with his son, who had a two-hour journey to school. Thanks to BEAM supporters, they now live in a spacious flat near shops, and there’s a bus stop nearby, so they both have to travel less, to reach work and school. He says he is immensely grateful (read the comments from supporters, it makes you realise that most people are good).
Buy a Copy of The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a magazine founded by Sir John Bird, who began his life as a London-Irish scallywag, went to prison (where he trained in print-making) and now sits in the House of Lords to help change policy on homelessness. Sellers receive a starter kit and earn a good portion of the income from each magazine sold on their patch. There’s also a version for northern England (and you can subscribe online if you don’t live near a local vendor).
Donate Furniture and White Goods to Emmaus
Emmaus has nationwide shops where you can donate unwanted furniture and white goods, which are restored (and PAT-tested for safety) by homeless people who receive jobs, training, homes and income in return.
This charity was founded by a Catholic French priest, after he heard of a baby who had died on the cold Paris streets (and a young woman froze to death, clutching her eviction notice). There has been recent controversy over homeless people being ‘removed’ from the city to house the Olympics. And also allegations of sexual abuse by the charity founder, which is leading to an upcoming change of name.
