How to Help Homeless or Poor People in Kentucky
Poverty and homelessness affects individuals and families across Kentucky. At one point in 2010, the Kentucky Department of Education reported that 19,402 children were homeless. Many of their parents are not eligible for the housing programs and assistance available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can help make a difference in a number of ways including direct volunteering, donations and educating others about the issues facing the poor and the homeless.
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Instructions
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Donate money to the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky (HHCK). This is a statewide advocacy organization working to address homelessness and lobby for affordable housing in Kentucky. While not providing direct services, HHCK works with social services, non-profit affordable housing organizations and other partners to influence policy and increase affordable housing capacity.
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Work directly with an organization such as Welcome House of Kentucky which has both paid and unpaid opportunities. Staff provide housing case management services helping individuals with housing, finances and employment. Volunteers work providing emergency assistance for families approaching the shelter, childcare, administrative support and fundraising.
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Use the Volunteer Match website to search through many opportunities to help the poor and homeless in Kentucky. You can find volunteer work in shelters, working as an advocate or doing support tasks such as driving or fundraising. The website allows you to search by location and specify the type of volunteer work that you want to do.
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Take other types of action to help the poor and homeless. Discussing the issues with friends, family and work colleagues can raise awareness of the difficulties people face and encourage others to get involved. Tell people what they can do to help. Make financial contributions to organizations fighting poverty and homelessness when you can and encourage others to do the same. Educate your children that homelessness is unacceptable and try to lead by example in responding with respect if you are approached by a homeless person.
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Believe that action taken by fellow citizens can help to eradicate poverty and homelessness. Community organizations across the United States are making progress with local initiatives to support those without a place they call home and similar results can be achieved in Kentucky.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Homeless Person image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
