Community Service

Helping the homeless; it’s talked about everywhere. Everyone has given something to help the homeless. Usually this consists of giving money, canned goods, as well as coats and clothes. There’s just one problem I don’t think people actually think about. How is it going to help them in the long run? We keep giving, but the numbers keep rising. They are stuck in a vicious cycle, most likely due to lack of motivation. We are teaching them to rely on us to provide them with their needs. Instead, I think we should not only give them their physical needs, but also give them what they need to develop as an independent person. The majority of the homeless feel hopeless; it kind of goes hand in hand. We should encourage them to be confident and help them get a job. Not only that, but show them how to take care of themselves and teach them what it takes to be successful. One way we can set this up is by creating a free program, in which they will have to commit to. This program should have group classes, support, and individual attention for the homeless to acquire their achievements. Another way an individual can help the homeless is by being involved with a homeless person. First by evaluating where the person is at, what they have done in their life, and what they need to get out of the rut they may be in. Then helping the person with these needs and supporting him/her emotionally in their getting on their own two feet.
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Whois.pdf
http://www.homeless.org.au/
http://www.mungos.org/facts.shtml
http://www.doe.state.in.us/alted/whyhomeless.html
The following link has a similar program that I found interesting:
http://www.doe.org/help/?utm_source=google_nat&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=homeless