Ideas for a New Year

We are well into 2016. The winter in Northeast Ohio has been unusually mild with the warmest December on record. January, however, has welcomed the first brutal cold snap with single digit low temperatures and more in the immediate forecast. Winter is usually a difficult time for those who experience episodes of homelessness – particularly demanding for people who live on the streets.

If you are in the habit of New Year’s resolutions, or setting goals, or even making lists, here is a list of things you can do to help alleviate the plight of people who are in homeless situations as we begin a new year:

1.      Be Aware

The fact that there are people who have no permanent and stable housing does not appear on the radar of most people who live functional, “normal” lives. Wherever you live, realize that you are not too far from someone who has no place to call home. Additionally, most Americans are 1 or 2 paychecks away from being homeless themselves. Homelessness is closer than you think.

2.      Be Considerate

When you encounter homeless people, treat them with love, dignity, and respect. This may be difficult for some who have an aversion to “hobo’s” or “panhandlers.” But understand that no one wakes up one morning and makes a conscious decision to be homeless. It is always at the end of a series of events or choices poorly made. Know that the people you meet at a shelter or on the streets were once just like you.

3.      Be Engaged

Likely, you live near a homeless shelter, a rescue mission, or a food bank. These organizations thrive on volunteer involvement. You may volunteer to perform services that may seem insignificant, but they eliminate the need for those organizations to hire staff to accomplish those tasks. This is an invaluable service for organizations that depend upon non-profit dollars.

4.      Be Invested

Organizations that help homeless people usually are not-for-profit organizations that depend upon donated dollars to fulfill their mission statement. The appeal for donations may become wearisome, but the reality is that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Determine to become a regular donor to those agencies that exist to aid people in homeless situations. Like many of these organizations, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley relies solely on donations. We do not seek nor receive any type of federal funding to help us bring hope to the hurting and homeless of our valley.