One Very Simple Way You Can Help the Homeless

I have very mixed emotions when it comes to those experiencing homelessness in our city. And it’s not just Colorado Springs that has a large number of homeless people because it is a national problem. I personally want to help those I see in need but at the same time, I don’t want to hand over money that is going to go for alcohol or drugs. The thought of someone going hungry or being on the street in inclement weather though breaks my heart.

There are “those” who lump everyone experiencing homelessness as “bums” and who could never even imagine that there could ever be a possibility of they themselves ever becoming homeless. I myself have never been homeless and I have a very blessed life now. There was a time however in an earlier marriage when I was in my young 20’s where I was married to a drug abuser. It was a situation where I honestly didn’t know he had a drug issue or was even really using drugs, except for an occasional joint. I didn’t know in fact until the day I came home from work and my key wouldn’t open the door. When I went to the complex office to find out why, I found out we had been evicted. Evicted? WHAT?? I didn’t even know we had ever been late on rent much less that we hadn’t paid rent in over six months. I worked 40 or more hours each week, we both made decent money, and every two weeks I deposited paychecks that could cover our rent. What the hell was going on?

Long story short, I didn’t pay attention to our finances. My husband took care of all the bills… and he had a huge cocaine problem. I was totally clueless. (And I consider myself pretty intelligent and in-tune with what’s going on around me.) Anyway, I was fortunate enough to have family that could and did help. At the time I was living in another state, far away from any family and I didn’t really have that many friends as we lived in a very transient city in Florida. But I had family that immediately helped. Had I not, I do not know what might have happened. And it scared the hell out of me. (And after two rehab failures and continued drug abuse, I did divorce him.)

I wasn’t a “bum” or a drug user and I worked hard. But in the blink of an eye things changed and I could have found myself on the streets. Perhaps it would have only been for a night or two or I could have found a shelter or temporary sofa from a fellow employee but…

So when I see a homeless person on the street, I first of all, thank God that I’m not in that situation and then second, want to help but not enable. Which leads me to this really simple but really great way I found where I could help someone out who is in need without giving them money or perhaps putting myself in an unsafe situation.

We saw these premade bags at a fundraiser the other night which were available for $5.00 donations. Filled with some snacks, fruit, and personal products, it’s perfect to keep in the car or in your bag for those times you pass someone in need and want to help in a constructive way. The fundraiser, “Without A Roof” was created by a local volunteer outreach non-profit dedicated to serving people experiencing homelessness here in Colorado Springs. I thought the idea of putting these bags together was brilliant and something I could do at home, easily and affordably.

You could of course put anything in there you wanted. Items like nuts, crackers, beef jerky, cookies, hand sanitizer, bandages, socks, etc. I’m planning on making various bags for people I might come across, trying to fill different needs they might be experiencing. Perhaps a few bags for women who might need items like personal care products, lip balm, toothpaste, etc. You would want items that are easy to open and prepare when it comes to food so tins of something with protein with a pull-tab would be good and if you put a disposable fork in the bag too, that would be great. Also included in the bag was a card from Blackbird with information on how help could be found, which I plan to copy and put in my own bags.

Sure there are some homeless people who don’t seem to be motivated to get off the streets or have the desire to work or get off drugs. But I don’t think most people wake up suddenly one day and think to themselves, gee, I think I want to become homeless.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (from January 2016 statistics):

In January 2016, on a given night in the United States, there were 549,928 homeless people. Of that number –

• 194,716 were people in families

• 355,212 were individuals

• 35,686 of the total number of homeless were unaccompanied homeless youth, roughly 7% of total homeless

• 39,471 of the total number of homeless were homeless Veterans

The Alliance says circumstances can vary but the main reason people experiencing homelessness is because they cannot find housing they can afford. It is the scarcity of affordable housing in the United States, particularly in more urban areas where homelessness is more prevalent, that is behind their inability to acquire or maintain housing.

The Alliance adds that typically homeless families are a result of an unforeseen financial crisis such as a medical emergency, car accident, or death in the family that prevents them from being able to hold on to housing.

I have much more to say about this subject which I’ll save for another post. I did want to share the idea of these bags sooner than later though. As I said, I think it’s a great way for me to feel helpful in some way when I see someone in need without being worried money I might hand out ends up not being a good idea. If you are part of an organization looking to help those in need in your community, I think this would be a great idea too.

If you know of someone experiencing homelessness right now in Colorado Springs, Blackbird Outreach, is a great place to start in finding them help.

Blackbird Outreach can help in the following ways…

• They can help you to get SURVIVAL SUPPLIES (tents,, sleeping bags, etc.)

• They can help you access SHELTER BEDS if you want to go inside.

• They can help you access systems to get your ID, DOCUMENTS, SSI, SSDI, MEDICAID, SNAP, ETC.

• They can ADVOCATE for you as you access services and agencies.

• Most importantly, they can help you GET HOUSING and get off the streets for good.

If in the Springs, you can call Andi Van Gogh, Director of BLACKBIRD at 719.387.1315

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7yiCONRxDuVQ1JZd3huR05KQkk/view

Thank you Trygve and Charlotte Bundgaard, and the many others, for putting that fabulous event together. Char, brilliant idea on the bags!!

https://blackbirdoutreach.org/

And if you are outside the Colorado Springs area and experiencing homelessness or want to help in some way, the Alliance is a great place to start for resources and information.

http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/faqs

As I wrote earlier, I’m working on a future post about homelessness, where I hope to share more about this topic.

I realize that a bag of snacks or a pair of socks isn’t going to end homelessness but if I can help stave off a hunger pain, supply a simple toothbrush and paste, provide a woman some protection when she’s on her period…well, I’d rather do one simple thing than do nothing at all.