What Do Homeless Shelters Do for Homeless People?

If you have never been inside a homeless shelter, you are probably unaware of the full extent of services such venues offer the homeless. While not all homeless shelters offer a full range of services, the ones that don't may offer their temporary residents connections to agencies that do offer these services.

Employment Assistance

Homeless shelters often offer employment assistance in the form of direct job placement, job training or training in searching for a job.

Food and Shelter

Shelter often comes in the form of a single bed in a communal sleeping room. As for food, a soup kitchen is often offered which provides three basic meals a day.

Social Services

Additional social services can be therapeutic and often take the form of group therapy. Many homeless shelters offer their clients treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

References

• "Making Room: The Economics of Homelessness;" Brendan O'Flaherty; 1996