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Step 1
Find someone willing to facilitate support group meetings. This could be a volunteer social worker, therapist, doctor, priest or anyone with experience leading group meetings. It doesn't have to be a licensed professional, but it helps.
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Step 2
Find a location. Look for churches, hospitals and community centers that already host support groups and ask if they would allow you to hold your support group there. Ask local homeless shelters and social service agencies if they have a board or meeting room you could use to hold your meetings.
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Step 3
Gather a list of resources in the area. You are not making official referrals, but providing information for anyone who may want it. This information should include mental health services, food banks, clothing banks, free clinics, shelters, case management services, homeless services agencies, subsidized housing resources, social security and other resources, such as children and family services information and drug or alcohol addiction services. Type this list up, make copies, and keep a stack of them with you to place on the table at your meetings.
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Step 4
Invite area agency representatives to your meetings to offer advice or assistance to people with questions about community resources.
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Step 5
Advertise your meeting at local agencies. Go out into the community and invite people to attend.
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Step 6
Once you have the basic structure of the meeting down, repeat this process to other areas of town or at other times of day to bring in the maximum number of people.
