Those of us facing homelessness need support and understanding. Comforts that many people take for granted, like having a safe place to sleep or clean clothing, are luxuries for someone without a home.
Although rough sleeping is often the most visible type of homelessness, many other forms exist. This includes people in unsuitable temporary housing, in hostels or refuges, and who are staying with friends or sofa surfing. Someone may have a shelter, but that doesn’t mean they have a home.
People need a range of clothing to keep them comfortable throughout the seasons. Warm clothing is crucial for winters and cold evenings, but people also need lighter options and breathable fabrics to stay cool in the summer heat. When donating clothes or accessories, think about what you’d want to wear over the next few months.
Hygiene is not only important for our physical health, but also our mental wellbeing too. Simple items like soap, shampoo, sanitary products and toothpaste can make a big difference to the wellbeing of someone facing homelessness.
Having enough for ourselves and our families to eat is something that many of us worry about. For someone experiencing homelessness, there’s no guarantee when their next meal will be. Donating to a food bank can help people facing all types of homelessness, whether that’s sleeping rough sleeping or being stuck in unsafe temporary accommodation.
People facing homelessness often struggle with feelings of isolation, loneliness and of being left behind. A supportive and non-judgemental ear can make a real difference and help people feel less alone.
Let the person talk to you about their situation and allow them to get their feelings about it off their chest. Be a good listener by giving them your full attention and responding thoughtfully, but without jumping to solutions or trying to fix things for them.
We provide practical one to one support for anyone facing homelessness who needs our help. We want to see an end to homelessness for good and there are lots of different ways you can help too.
If you like to get hands on and enjoy engaging with people, our shops and Skylight centres are always looking for volunteers. You could join us in campaigning for real change, get involved in fundraising, or simply donate what you can. It all helps us continue our work supporting people to start their life beyond find their way out of homelessness.
